Author: Administrador

Kris Barnett, one of my Anderson University colleagues, recently stepped into my office after hearing a speaker at a nearby conference, and said, “You know your sermon might be struggling if you say, ‘But I digress,’ and the congregation can’t determine what you digressed from.” He then rattled off a few more zingers, each of … Continue reading “Back Page Pulpit: You know the sermon is in trouble when”

You may be as I am on the second coming of Christ. You’ve listened to so many who’ve been wrong about it that you are reluctant to preach about it at all. I have lots of sermons on the subject, none of which are very definitive. After having made a 70-year study of it, I … Continue reading “Preaching Points: Keeping the Second Coming in First Place”

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). Did you know the steam engine was invented during the life of Christ by a … Continue reading “A Curiosity or a Tool to Change the World?”

While on mission to Indonesia, an American pastor felt insulted that the group of national pastors to whom he was preaching did not look him in the eye. For the duration of the sermon, these pastors kept their faces down, fixed solely on their papers. Of course his concern was relieved to learn each one … Continue reading “Preaching Through Your Church”

“Pastor, I’ve never heard anyone explain the meaning of that word,” Mrs. Norma said. The word was glory. I had just finished preaching from 1 Peter 4:10-11, where Peter said, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks … Continue reading “To Him Belong Glory: A Plea for Pastors to Unpack the Jargon”

He is the breath of abundant life, the source of all Scripture; and without Him what is sometimes called preaching is really not much more than a good (and maybe not all that good!) civic club talk. There is no such thing as preaching without Him. Who is He? Why, He is the Holy Spirit. … Continue reading “Preacher to Preacher: Allowing the Spirit to Take Control”

In a recent article for his blog, Ed Stetzer writes: “Too many churches love their church culture more than they love Christ’s mission. Yet if I follow Paul in the way he followed Christ, I will care for people of the culture who exist outside my church. The gospel has not changed. The mission has not … Continue reading “Loving Christ or Culture?”

Each year on Easter weekend, many tune in to see who will win one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional golf. The Masters attracts golf enthusiasts, as well as those who follow the sport only on occasion. Augusta National, the course where the tournament is held, has become a shrine in the world of … Continue reading “How the Church Has Become Like Augusta National”

Praying, planning, vision-casting, strategizing, tent-making, networking, visiting, witnessing, discipling, equipping, scheduling, rescheduling, reserving, meeting, drinking over-priced coffee, team-building, reading, writing, caring for a wife, shepherding the kids, advancing, retreating, shepherding the flock, leading small groups, researching, exegeting, outlining, preaching and on and on and on and on and on. On top of this, are the … Continue reading “Recovering Fervor Through the Gospel”

In his book Missional Preaching: Engage, Embrace, Transform (Judson), Al Tison says at its heart, missional preaching is rooted in scriptural teaching about the kingdom of God. He writes: “Preachers who have feasted upon the rich biblical story of the kingdom of God end up feeding the flock with the essential vitamins and minerals for authentic missional life. … Continue reading “Missional Preaching Is Kingdom Preaching”