Author: Administrador

The story of Eutychus (Acts 20:7-9) is a two-edged sword. It cuts on one side with humor and on the other with tragedy. Yet this story is repeated unknown times in churches each Sunday. Those of us who face our congregations weekly with hearts full of God’s good news probably feel the tragic side of … Continue reading “Apathy in the Pew: Preaching to the Uninvolved (Part One)”

Winston Jones wrote, “Storytelling is the most ancient of the arts, and the most universal.”1Preaching is a demanding task. William Barclay insisted that preachers should be chained to their desks four mornings a week and forbidden to rise until they have produced something worthwhile to show for their labors.Dogma is DramaDorothy Sayers made high drama … Continue reading “A New Look at Narrative Preaching”

A. Challenge the Assumptions They Live ByAll of us live out of our assumptions and presuppositions about life. One way to hook my interest, if not my anger, is to challenge or attack the presuppositions I live by. The same is true for most people I know. Preachers must have some idea of what their … Continue reading “Apathy in the Pew: Preaching to the Uninvolved (Part Two)”

Our newly acquired daughter-in-law had not been raised in a Christian home. She joined in Sunday worship with a vigor and interest that thrilled us. Each Sunday after and during dinner she questioned us about the sermon. She lapped up information like a sponge gobbles up water.One morning our pastor was away and a well-learned … Continue reading “From the Mouths of Babes: Tips on Preaching to Young People”

When you stand to preach, what happens? Are all your parishioners docile receivers waiting with open hearts? Is all resistance melted? Does all indifference and hostility evaporate when the congregation enters the sanctuary?What happens in the brains of your parishioners? Is the pew your regular meeting place for full, open and friendly sharing? Or does … Continue reading “The Triple Brain Test of a Sermon”

“I get so frustrated. I stand before a handful of people Sunday after Sunday, telling them about spiritual things, when what they’re really concerned about is what they’ll be doing at work Monday morning, or the football game that afternoon, or even getting to the cafeteria to be first in line if I’ll quit preaching … Continue reading “What Am I Doing Here Anyway?”

How does a preacher speak to a society that is possessed by materialism and self-indulgence, riddled with political corruption and a resulting disrespect for the law? If that sounds like a situation faced by American preachers in the 1980’s, it was also the situation faced by one of the greatest preachers in Christian history: Chrysostom.Even … Continue reading “Chrysostom: Golden Mouth, Practical Message”

During the past 30 years, I’ve been a member of ten churches in the United States and five foreign countries. Sharp theological debates may appear at times to separate the denominational hierarchy, but on the congregational level it’s the little things that count no matter where you attend.This point was brought home to me again … Continue reading “Little Things Make Difference to Laity”

I love gospel lecture films. The cameras play the audience, who are eager, smiling in rapt attention, waiting for the glorious gospel truths that are funny and sad, tearful but joyous beyond belief.Each of my “early” services is also like a film — a horror story of eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t … Continue reading “Awake O Thou That Sleepest!”

The coming of the Christmas season is a reminder of the glory of being a preacher of the gospel.Those who stand in the Christian pulpit to proclaim the Word are part of a rich heritage that leads back to a Galilean hillside where an angel brought “good news of great joy” to a band of … Continue reading “The Privilege of Proclaiming Good News”