Here's a great post on the importance of clearly presenting the gospel:
"The great Apostle Paul asked the believers of Colosse to pray for his gospel presentation to be as clear as possible. Wow.
If Paul needed prayer for to ensure a clear proclamation of the good news, how much more do we? This is the same brilliant and determined disciple who baffled the Jews after his conversion with his inarguable arguments for the grace of God. This is the same one-of-a-kind writer who penned the salvific books of Romans and Galatians, the Constitution and Declaration of Independence of the Christian faith. Yet, in spite of all his qualifications to preach the gospel, he asks for prayer to be clear as he presents this simple, yet astounding message." MORE -->>
I always like to learn how other pastors and churches do things, and preaching is one of those things. When I listen to other preachers, I listen for content (the message) but I also listen for transitions, applications, placement of illustrations, introductions, conclusions, etc. If video is available, I like to see what kind of microphone they use, pulpit, no pulpit, stand, sit, walk, smile...all of it.
This is why this blog post by Joshua Harris is so fascinating to me; he asked different preachers to send him their preaching notes and he posted them online. BTW, these are notes from preachers who preach to hundreds and thousands every week, which means they probably preach often and are good preachers. It's a great peek behind the veil, and another opportunity to learn.
You can check it out here. (FYI, the code on Joshua's page is a little funky. Just ignore it. The links work.)
This Sunday is part 2 of GBCK's Faith, Connection, Life series, a series about our vision, mission and values. At GBCK we are all about developing our faith, deepening our connections, and devoting our lives to God's mission.
Here's a preview of part 2:
Title: Deepen your connections
Main Passage: “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22)
Main Thought: We are created for relationships
• God created us in his image. Bearing his image means we are created for relationships.
• Sin has broken our design for authentic relationships evidenced in an increasingly narcissistic culture.
• The Gospel restores us to our original design and intention: Love God, love others.
• Three ways the Gospel restores us:
1. Movement: from inward to outward, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers…” The gospel doesn't drive us toward ourselves; rather, the progression of "obeying the truth" is to love your brothers.
2. Measure: from shallow to deep, "love one another deeply..." 'Deeply' is a measurement word. Two thoughts about loving deeply: a) to go deep with anything takes time. The difference between a six inch hole and a six foot hole is time. You 'take time' spontaneously and intentionally; both are needed. b) 'deep love' is limitless, unconditional love. I put so many limits and conditions on my love. To love deeply I need the love of Christ, not my insufficient love.
3. Motivation: from purpose-driven to Gospel-driven, "...from the heart." Deepening connections is not about getting rid of loneliness, or getting something out of someone. It's not about robotic obedience to scripture or a church's vision statement. Connection and relationship is a heart response to the incredible work of the gospel and the grace and mercy extended to us by the Father through Christ.
Re-reading A.W. Tozer's Man: The Dwelling Place of God. I appreciated his thoughts on how Christ is often presented as a "a cure to ills, a way out of troubles, a quick and easy means to the achievement of personal ends." The problem with this is selfish gain becomes the center of the gospel.
If Jesus is all about making our lives better, then why just Christianity? There are lots of other belief systems, faith practices, gurus, and techniques that can improve our lives.
The gospel is not about what we get, it's about what Christ has done. Jesus is the center of the gospel not us.
All Christ-followers are commanded to share the gospel, but let's be careful that we don't present the gospel as a benefits package, or a new and improved product. We are not salespeople, we are messengers.
Message preview for April 25.
"Party Time", part 4 of Crazy Love series.
Main Idea: It's crazy that we celebrate in the Father's grace rather than suffer in his wrath.
Main Text: Luke 15:11-32 - The father's feast.
Main Points:
• We are always being sold the newest upgrade or improved version of a product. We often want to upgrade and improve our lives. Six of the 10 best selling books of 2009 were self-improvement books.
• Many treat Jesus as an upgrade to their lives. That is, adding Jesus to your life will improve your life. The truth is my life doesn't need an upgrade, it needs an overhaul, transformation.
• Jesus didn't come to upgrade our lives, he came to change our lives.
• The party represents the Father's salvation and the change that happens in our lives.
Four ways the Gospel changes us:
1. Joy: My condition is changed from lost to found, so my joy is "in Christ" not in my circumstances.
2. Gratitude: thankfulness isn't a means to get something, it's a response to something that's been done for us. My response to the Gospel is gratitude - "thankful in everything."
3. Grace: I am no longer a "doer" trying to ascend to and attain God's grace; I am a recipient of grace, a beneficiary, no longer the object of the Father's wrath. My response: good works, "invest and invite" evangelism.
4. Full: my satisfaction is no longer anchored in the temporal, material, or emotional. The "Bread of Life" sustains me and satisfies me - I go to the party and I am full.
