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Preaching

Tips, ideas, articles, and ruminations about the art and craft of preaching.

power in the pulpit

By Preaching
Here is an article by Thom Rainer on preaching that I thought I would pass along.  Enjoy! ******************* Power in the Pulpit In my last post I spoke to church members about things they should and should not do or say to their pastors.  Today, I would like to speak to the pastors about what people in the congregation need from the person behind the pulpit. After all, 90 percent of formerly unchurched individuals cited the pastor and his preaching as the key factor in their entering the ranks of the churched. So, what was it about the pastor that kept them coming back for more? Truth and application What may surprise some is that folks are not looking for a "feel good" message. A superficial reading of Scripture is not enough. People are drawn to in-depth teaching. They are not afraid to learn. In fact, many long for a deeper understanding of the…
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textable quote

By Church, Preaching
In this article over at PyroMarketing, the writer has an interesting suggestion: "Have a “Textable Quote” in every worship service and ask members to send it to one person in their life who they think needs to hear it and also to Ping it." What a great idea!  The most common way people 25 and under communicate with others is via text messaging.  If the church wants to get serious about reaching this generation, we must think about how they think.  By giving them a "textable quote," we are equipping them to communicate quickly and easily in the way that is most comfortable to them. Something to think -- or text -- about ...
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why preach

By Preaching
Why preach?  Why spend hours each week working on a thirty minute message that most people will remember less than thirty percent after one day?  Why put yourself in front of a crowd of friends and strangers and speak truth that might be uncomfortable to hear? “Do not preach because you love preaching.  Preach because you love Jesus.”  -- Paul Mallard
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couch preaching

By Preaching
I must admit, it felt nice. For much of my message this past weekend, I preached while sitting on a couch on the stage.  A nice leather couch with cushy cushions.  All I lacked was a good cup of strong coffee. I was speaking about how Moses fled Egypt after killing a man (see Exodus 2) and then began to argue with God when God called him to go back to Egypt (see Exodus 3 and 4).  Arguing might be a strong term.  He was making excuses ... why me?  Who am I?  What if they don't listen to me?  What if they don't believe me? If we're not careful, we can grow comfortable in the space between our disobedience and where God wants us to be.  With each missed opportunity to get back in the game, it becomes easier to stay on the sidelines.  The couch begins to feel…
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talking points

By Preaching
As a communicator, one of my goals each time I speak is to create at least one "talking point."  It could be a memorable phrase, story, or unexpected moment that then grows legs and gets talked about during the week. It doesn't have to be sensational, just memorable.  And being memorable is often a matter of being meaningful.  A meaningful phrase, story, or moment is one that connected with the heart of the listener.  The idea may have originated in the head, but it has to travel to the heart to become truly memorable. Since my main arena as a communicator is at church, that means my task is to give careful thought to what I hope will stick long after the message is finished and the parking lot has emptied.  What I've discovered is that the best talking points are word pictures.  It's a turn of phrase that creates…
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