I have been doing a lot of reading on preaching, evangelism, and church organization of late. Seeker friendly is a term that is popular today and I guess it is a loaded word that has lots of emotion because many people love it and many hate it. As I have been reading and talking with others I thought about what I think seeker friendly preaching should look like and what I wish all preaching was like. I think that if more preaching was like this then more people would drag their friends to hear the gospel message.
1. Message need to be firmly rooted in the bible. I hate people who misuse the bible or piece scriptures together to make some point. Preaching needs to be centered in God’s word and to help people learn to read and understand it in its original context. I recently listened to a lesson that had 10 passages and it was so fluffy and disjointed I didn’t learn anything about God.
2. Message that is clear. Have you ever listened to a lesson and walked away wondering what the point of the lesson was? The preacher may have used powerpoint and listed his points but you may still wonder what the point was. Andy Stanley in his book on preaching suggest we ask ourselves, “why do they need to hear this?” This helps us know the point of the lesson and helps the audience understand the point. Who wants to come and listen to someone speak when you don’t understand why he is sharing this information with you.
3. Don’t assume your audience knows. Remember the story when King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria attacked Israel? Why do some preachers assume people have been in church their whole lives? I had a friend of mine in college who asked for a children’s bible because he didn’t know any of the stories the preachers often said, “you all know the story of..”
4. Message that bridges then with now or has lots of life application. OK this is my biggest pet peve. I hate sermons that only tell me how the lesson applies to my life during the wrap up. If you want me to get fired up for God and his word then explain the text and explain how it looks in my life. Don’t spend 30 minutes telling me how it applied to them and only 5 on how it applies to me. How about spending 20 telling me what it meant then and 15 telling me what it means to me. Think about this if you only spend 5 minutes on me and 30 on them what was more important? How I live today or how they lived then? If we spent more time helping us know how to live out the bible then maybe more people would.
5. Message that everyone can understand. I have taken 4 semesters of Greek and understand its value in bible study. I don’t tell it to my students because they could care less and wouldn’t understand. Somethings they may not understand so I try to break it down so they can. Preachers would do well to remember that they are not only preaching to adults but students. Not just to the educated but the un-educated. Make sure we can all follow you.
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Fasting by Scot McKnight is the latest in the Ancient Practices Series. McKnight is a mega
I woke up this morning at 5:50am, took a shower, checked the weather, watched a little Mike and Mike in the Morning, then headed to the opening of Buffalo Wild Wings in Spring Hill. Barry Throneberry and I arrived at 7am and became #95 and #98 of the first 100. So as a result we have 52 coupons for 6 free wings. 6 wings cost 4.75 so I figured that for my 3 hours of standing in line I made $247 dollars of free food or $83 dollars and hour.
I am overweight and have been for years. In 2005 I weighed 240 and lost 30lbs. It was a great start but not where I needed to be. Then I went on vacation and thought why not splurge I’m on holiday and so I did and have. Well after more pints of Ben and Jerry’s and Dove ice cream that you could ever imagine I am back to 230. I hate this and feel terrible. I know that I am a prime candidate for diabetes. All my fat rest around my stomach. So I am determined to loose the weight. I have no number goal but to loose the stomach. So I am dedicated to eating better and doing some exercise each day. My real goal is to get off the deserts and the fast food. Exercise can be anything from walking, riding my bike, or basically something I enjoy doing. Dana and I have started walking the two mile loop around our neighborhood. We are able to talk about our day and see our neighbors. So I hope to make a bi-weekly post to let you know how the weight loss is coming.
I am a big Alabama fan and went to the UA to watch ball games. I made an A+ in sports and .. well I try not to think about my other grades. But you know to watch every football, basketball (men and women), baseball, and to catch an occasional tennis, track meet, gymnastics meet, and yes even one lacross game it was hard to fit studying for classes into my schedule.
Blue Like Jazz has been out for a while and it seemed like everyone was reading it a few years ago. I think that this is why I have avoided it for so long. But while on vacation Dana and I listened to it on our drive. This has become a tradition of trips. On another subject any thing narrated by Jim Dale is a good listen.