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10 Suggestions for Better Preaching (Part 1 of 2)

April 6, 2011 in Ministry with 10 Comments

The following are ten suggestions that can make a significant difference in preaching. As I write these, I have in mind in particular those preachers/teachers who address the same congregation of people every week.


1. Communicate to the people in your church that you love them. You do this through your words, manner, and tone of voice. After all, these people are not a platform to be used to launch you toward something bigger and better. They are a precious local expression of the body of Christ. If they think you really don’t love them, what you say in a sermon will be greatly discounted.


2. Seek clarity not obscurity in preaching, . No, not all of the fruit must be low hanging. People need to hear a word from God. Many people come to church after a week of just trying to survive. Some preachers might be stunned if they were to see a composite list of all the difficulty and turmoil these people experienced that week.


3. Resist the temptation to trot out every new thought in this Sunday’s sermon. Some ideas and thoughts need to spend time slowly cooking in the crockpot rather than being prematurely presented on a Sunday morning.


4. Be careful about regularly communicating that you are different from the rest of the people in the congregation. For example, a preacher needs to be careful about belittling a local favorite, such as a favorite food. This preacher may do this in an attempt at humor. Such an attempt can easily backfire and can communicate that you really don’t value what they value. A similar mistake is to regularly talk about how much better things are “back home” instead of here. Sure it is fine to have your own opinions. However, one may unnecessarily use up some goodwill with such remarks.


5. Passion alone does not make a sermon. However, when a preacher rarely preaches with passion, one wonders how important the message is to that preacher. Passion is not turning red in the face or yelling at the congregation. Passion is what emerges from a preacher when there is a strong sense of importance to this message. When one preaches with passion, one senses the earnestness and the listener senses that this message is very important. Where does passion come from? Prayer. Thought. Reflection on God’s word. One’s own relationship with God. Passion begins to emerge as you realize what is at stake in this message.


(More to come)

3 Ways to Communicate High Value to Another

April 5, 2011 in Ministry, Relationships with 2 Comments

One of the great temptations is the desire for others to think you are a very important person. In fact, such a temptation can result in much effort being spent toward self-promotion.


There are many subtle and not so subtle ways to communicate a sense of self-importance. Perhaps a person is a name-dropper. She wants everyone to know she is important because of whom she ate lunch with or met at the reception.

Another person might think he is important because of his position in a company. He seems to come alive in situations in which he is given a microphone or is in front of a camera.

Still another person might want others to know that he is in high demand. A minister might speak of the churches that are clamoring for him to come work with them. Or, he might talk about the popularity of his class at a lectureship or conference.


Yet, the great demand is not for more self-promoters.

The great demand is for more people who are willing to communicate high value to another person.

Consider for a moment how we might communicate high value to another.

• We can be emotionally engaged in another’s life. We communicate value by being genuinely interested in another’s life and thinking. For many years, I have watched my mother-in-law communicate value through her interest in the details of her grandchildren’s lives. Other people communicate value by asking very good questions.

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• We can “show up” at events that are important to a family member or friend. Showing up is huge! Going to funerals, graduations, baby showers, etc. are just a few examples of occasions when showing up communicates value.

• We can do something practical to communicate that we value a certain person. One of our daughters was in the hospital a number of years ago. I remember one friend who called me several times each day to check on her. He knocked on her hospital door. I stepped out into the hall and he said, “I want to pray with you.” He put his arm around my shoulders, bowed his head, and prayed briefly in the hall. His brief visit and his prayer communicated value.


On the other hand, many people communicate mixed messages. We say we love our families and friends but then our behavior may not necessarily be consistent with what we say. Think for a moment about how we might devalue one another.

• We can ignore or minimize another’s pain. “Oh you are having surgery. No big deal! Why I know this person who had the same kind of cancer and she is just fine.” Or, sometimes people will totally focus on their own cold, toothache, etc. Some people will talk on and on about this kind of thing in a conversation while a person in a real health crisis listens in silence.

• We can ignore or minimize someone’s special moments while expecting them to be attentive to ours. Have you ever known friendships or family relationships that seemed to be one-sided? Maybe you went to all of their special functions but for some reason they never came to yours. After a while, you might draw the conclusion that you are really not all that important to these people.

• We can make little effort to stay in touch. If I don’t make the effort to stay in touch with a person, I will probably lose touch. Yes, it is frustrating to feel as if you are the one who must always take the initiative to stay in touch. However, I cannot simply be passive in my relationships and wait for someone to call me. One reality is that a high percentage of the time, I will have to take the initiative.


Question:

What do you do intentionally to communicate high worth to the people in your life whom you care about most?


Ministry Inside.40

March 31, 2011 in Ministry with 0 Comments

1. Here is a recommended reading list for church planters from Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City (Tim Keller).


2. Every minister, pastor, preacher, and church leader ought to spend time developing church “street smarts.” What I mean by this is being intentional about learning the system of a particular congregation. I can think of no other objective more important than this one upon entering a new congregation. As you may know, this is different than getting to know the individuals of a church. This involves knowing how things get done.

  • How are decisions really made?coffee1.jpeg
  • Are there certain people who occasionally make their wishes known and their opinions seem to carrya lot of weight?
  • How does this congregation typically implement new ideas? Who usually spearheads a new idea? Are there any patterns regarding new ideas that have failed?
  • Do these people laugh together? What seems to be the occasion for laughter?
  • Who has the ear of the ministers or other church leaders?
  • If tough issues were being discussed, who would usually offer an opinion? Whom do people seem to look to for an opinion?
  • What groups exist within this congregation? What informal groups seem to exist?
  • Who is perceived as knowing what is really going on in the congregation?

(I’m grateful to Roy M. Oswald for many of these insights.)


3. Tim Schraeder has a good blog. He is offering a free e-book entitled Creative Matters. This kind of book is helpful to me to get the creative juices flowing. I find that when my creative juices are flowing, my curiosity about life and this world is cultivated. You simply need to register and then download. (Tim takes outstanding notes on the Catalyst events and publishes them on his blog.)


4. Veteran newsperson Diane Sawyer speaks concerning curiosity on these three videos. These are short but insightful videos. Learning to cultivate one’s curiosity can greatly help preaching, teaching, and writing.


5. Margaret Marcuson has a good website for church leaders. Check out the resources that she offers, not to mention her excellent book, Leaders Who Last: Sustaining Yourself and Your Ministry.


6. Have you been to the new Mentor Network Facebook page? Please consider leaving a comment or a “like.” This new page is an opportunity for useful and encouraging conversation about ministry.

Ministry Inside.39

March 24, 2011 in Ministry with 0 Comments

You might enjoy reading the interview with Michael Hyatt in _corn-based_coffee_cups.jpg Productive! Magazine. You can get a free pdf here. Also, I encourage you to get a copy of Hyatt’s new e-book Creating Your Personal Life Plan.  You can still get a free copy here.


Far too many church leaders (ministers, pastors, elders, etc.) begin coasting at some point. This is a deadly practice and is toxic to ministry. Sometimes a seasoned church leader will become too comfortable in a certain way of doing ministry. This person begins to coast. The objective becomes maintaining the status quo. Often their defense is pragmatic. “Well it is working, isn’t it? Why shouldn’t I just keep doing what I’ve been doing?”

The problem with this mindset is that a person eventually stops learning, stops growing, and becomes stale. Congregations experience the same dynamic when they take this attitude. Such an approach to ministry severely limits the potential for effective future ministry.

Far better to realize that we often don’t know what we are doing and that we still have much to learn. Humility is a virtue, not a liability in Jesus’ ministry.


Have you been to the new Mentor Network Facebook page? If you haven’t already, please visit and leave a “like” or a message. I enjoy being a part of this ministry and believe this has the potential to make a difference for many Christian leaders.


Each morning, I have been reading a few pages of The Imitation of Christ by Thomas`a Kempis. Good book with lots of nuggets of inspiration and encouragement.


I wish every Christian leader would read this post: This is good wisdom for anyone living this lifestyle or for those of us who might envy those who live this way. (“6 Warning Signs of Being too Big for Your Britches.”)

Several years ago, I had coffee with the director of a para-church organization that is devoted to building up and encouraging families. This particular ministry had given him access to some people who were visible as marriage and family “experts.” At one point in the conversation, I asked him what it was like to interact with such authors. He replied that “For the most part, it has been great. I have interacted with some incredible people. I have also been disappointed a few times. There have been a few people who seem to be nothing like the impression they leave in their books.


The Secret Millionaire

March 23, 2011 in Ministry with 4 Comments

I have now watched three episodes of ABC’s secret-millionaire-0.jpg Secret Millionaire .

Each week, Secret Millionaire focuses on a wealthy person who has agreed to give away a large sum of money to agencies that are doing good works in tough places. The first three episodes have filmed in Gary, Indiana; Detroit, Michigan; and Knoxville, Tennessee.

In each episode the millionaire goes to the designated city and stays for a week in a house or apartment in a struggling neighborhood. Each day this person meets people working in different non-profit organizations who are trying to serve that community. The millionaire does not disclose that he is wealthy or is looking to give away a large sum of money. Instead, he works as a volunteer for a day or two.

In each episode, the wonderful people who work in these non-profit agencies are introduced and their work is highlighted. Some organizations might clean neighborhoods, cook food for the homeless, or work with children in after-school tutoring. One organization that was highlighted transported dyalisis patients for treatments.

The final day of the week is spent giving unexpected checks to these agencies. These checks are for different amounts. The total amount of the checks each week is about $100,000.

Why do I like this show?

1. The work of the non-profit agencies is recognized and appreciated. Maybe I am especially moved by this because our congregation works in partnership with a number of non profit organizations on a regular basis. These include organizations like: Mission Waco, CareNet, Family Abuse Center, Christian Women’s Job Corps, Compassion Ministries, Caritas, and other fine groups. I have been impressed with the wonderful people who make up these organizations that serve in our city. So, yes, I enjoy seeing these groups and their work recognized.

2. The people who give experience great joy as they share their resources with these agencies. After seeing three episodes, I can tell you that one of the highlights of this show is the opportunity to witness some very wealthy people give and do so joyfully. Very impressive.


Maybe, just maybe, I watch this show because it inspires me to look beyond myself, my little circles, and my congregation, to a world that needs acts of mercy and the ministry of Jesus.


Monday Morning and Life at Street Level

March 21, 2011 in Ministry, Starting the Day with 6 Comments

Life at street level is often difficult. Sometimes, it is very difficult.sunrise3.jpg


It is Monday, the beginning of a new week, but you may feel no optimism nor sense of anticipation about the week. Instead you feel a heaviness as you think about a particular problem in your life.

You may be single.   

You may be a young mother.

You may be a minister.

You may be a business person.

The roles and experiences may differ, but so often we share very similar feelings. You may know what it is to wake up early in the morning (maybe too early) and feel:


Disappointed–The job just hasn’t worked out. You really thought this was the right job and now you just aren’t sure.

Embarrassed–You can’t believe some of the recent decisions your child (married and in his late 20s) has made. You wonder at times where you failed as a parent.

Anxious–You realize you are completely over your head in dealing with a particular problem. You feel as if you have no options.

Sad–You grieve over recent losses. A death in the family. Close friends divorce. You lose your job. Now you are having some health problems.

Alone–You are not sure what to do about your marriage. You haven’t told anyone about the situation you are dealing with.

On one occasion, I woke up very early one morning. I remember being overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness. At the moment, I don’t remember what exactly triggered that sense. I suspect, however, it was rooted in some kind of disappointment. As I sat at our kitchen table during those early morning hours, I felt very discouraged. Yet, this discouragement was not permanent.


Again and again, I have been encouraged during these times by the faithfulness of God. In particular, I am encouraged by his promise to be a forever presence in our lives.


“I will be with you always” (Matt. 28:19-20)


Even as I write these words this morning, I think about how much I need this reminder for this new week.

God is faithful.


Question:

What is particularly encouraging to you when you feel overwhelmed by discouragement?

Ministry Inside.38

March 17, 2011 in Ministry with 2 Comments

1. This may seem obvious but I want to stress how important it is to your sanity as a minister to choose your attitude. It really is a choice. Now before you move on to the next item in this post, let me encourage you to stop and think about this. Ministry is hard, difficult work. Things don’t always go well. There are often discouragements, heartaches, and aggravations. Consequently, it is important to be very intentional about the attitude that you wish to display. I have to think about this regularly or I can easily default to a negative attitude.


2. Dean Barham has written a good post entitled “The Bridge: The Danger of Over-Responsibility.” This is a good post and much needed. Many of us who are ministers over function and take on the responsibility that actually belongs to others.


3. Are you isolated? Some ministers serve in populations that are sparse and there may be few churches or ministers anywhere nearby. On the other hand, there are many ministers who make no real effort to meet other ministers/church leaders/pastors, etc. You might ask yourself whether or not you have made any real effort toward meeting others in similar roles.

Why not make a list of churches in your area and seek to have coffee/lunch with a minister at some of those churches. When we first moved to Waco, I would often drop by church buildings to meet people. These brief visits often turned into a time for coffee or lunch later on.

Now many years later, I am very blessed by friendships with ministers from a variety of denominations.


4. I have always admired Dr. John R.W. Stott who is about to turn 90 years old. Read this piece from Christianity Today entitled: “John Stott: The Man Who Wouldn’t be Bishop.”


5. Be sure to read this interview with Dr. Tanya Brice, Professor of Social Work, at Baylor University. (She is also a part of the Crestview Church where I serve.) She is working on an important project examining the history of race relations within Churches of Christ. You can read this interview here.


6. Are you aware of Tim Schraeder’s blog? I have found Tim to be a great resource after an event like Catalyst is over. Tim takes very good notes of major sessions of such events and then posts them. For example the notes to Eugene Peterson’s talk at the recent Catalyst can be found here.


7. Interesting. Waco artists reveal how they recharge their creative batteries.   


Ministry Inside.37

March 10, 2011 in Leadership, Ministry with 2 Comments

Do you seek wisdom? Christian leaders need to desire and seek wisdom. Now maybe that is obvious. Yet, some of the mistakes ministers make with their congregations often come down to poor judgment and a lack of wisdom. Not every issue is a matter of right or wrong, moral orimmoral. Quite often, Christian leaders need to ask, “Is this wise?”


Great resources! The Truett Media Library offers much. Guest preachers, lecturers, workshops, etc. These were all delivered at Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University.


Do you read Tim Schraeder’s summaries? Most recently, Tim wrote summaries (in the form of bullet points) of some of the messages delivered at Catalyst West. For example, this particular summary by Eugene Peterson was very interesting to me.


coffee29.jpg

Do you take advantage of learning moments? Here is a practice I find helpful. Four to five times a week, I work out at the gym. I typically listen to something on my iPod. Each week, I will download particular podcasts to listen to during the time that I am on the treadmill or another machine. For example, a week ago, I did a search in the iTunes store for any podcast available by Tom Long. I put those on my iPod for the week, along with others podcasts that I regularly subscribe to. The following week, I then listen to someone else.

One of the advantages of podcasts is the opportunity to listen to a variety of people and/or programs instead of simply listening to the same two or three people and not varying your input.


Church leaders have a tremendous resource that is available to them but unfortunately is ignored. The resource I have in mind is their capacity to be used by God to encourage each other. It is startling to hear ministers speak of rarely, if ever, being asked encouraging questions by elders in their congregations. Very often, elders do not encourage one another or their ministers.

I really liked a tweet I saw from @garyLthomas (Gary Thomas) yesterday regarding marriage. Gary wrote: “The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s apathy. To love our spouses is to pursue them, not just avoid doing them harm.” The same is true regarding a minister and his relationship with a group of elders, or the congregation as a whole.

I have talked with a number of ministers whose elders are not doing them any harm. Yet, there is no “pursuit.” That is, there is no sense that this minister is really valued, as a person, by the group that he works most closely with. These relationships could be a source of energy and life. They can be energized by intentionally seeking to be a friend and encourager.

You might consider asking your preacher, pastor, elder, minister, etc. “How could I best encourage you in my relationship with you?”


Getting an Education from the Classroom to the Street

March 7, 2011 in Ministry, My Story with 8 Comments

I need to be reminded that “the sovereign Lord is my strength” (Habakkuk 3:19). Street.jpeg

God has always wanted his people to depend on him.

Yet, life at street level is often difficult. In fact, it can be very difficult.

Years ago, I went to seminary. I studied and worked hard. I took courses in biblical texts, theology, church history, and practical ministry. I wrote research papers. I read and read. This time of study was very important in my own development as a person and minister. Yet, in no way was my education complete.

As I entered a congregation and began my ministry with these people, my street level education began.


These moments included:

Standing in a dusty West Texas cemetery with a young couple who were about to bury their little baby who was stillborn.

Having coffee with a union steward, asking him about how the economic conditions of our area were impacting families of workers who had been laid off.

Sitting in a living room one week after we had moved to a church, only to have a very wealthy man tell me I had just begun working with a church full of losers.

Getting called to an emergency room to sit with a family whose father/husband had just had a serious car accident while drinking.

Watching from a front row seat what happens to a family when the marriage vows are broken. I had no idea the pain of betrayal was that intense.

Listening in my office to two young foster children as they told me the story of the abuse in their previous foster home and how they were moved to a safe home. Finally, these sweet little children were freed from this hell on earth.

Preaching and teaching message after message and realizing just how difficult this could be.

Entering a funeral home, only to hear a father wail as he grieved the death of his daughter, whom he had accidentally run over with his truck.

Witnessing baptisms and seeing the radical change in some peoples’ lives.


I am still learning. Sometimes this learning takes place because of what I read in a book. Sometimes this learning takes place within the congregation, the community of believers that I work with. Quite often, however, this learning takes place on the street where life unfolds and we are reminded again of our desperate need for God.


Question:

What has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned from being an observer of life?


Ministry Inside.36

March 3, 2011 in Ministry with 0 Comments

Each Thursday, I publish a post entitled “Ministry Inside.” These posts are especially directed toward ministers and church leaders.


1. Last week I heard Kenda Creasy Dean speak at Baylor University regarding her research at Princeton University that led to the book Almost Christian. While the research focused on youth in churches, the ramifications impact the entire church. You can view it (the video) here.


2. I regularly have conversation with ministers who receive little encouragement from people in their churches. It’s not that these people attack these ministers. Some ministers rarely deal with the rudeness of others. Many ministers, however, do find that their best efforts are met with silence and seemingly indifference. Sometimes, silence can be incredibly discouraging in a ministry.


3. This summer I am co-teaching a D.Min. class with Dr. Allen Black at Harding Graduate School of Religion (Memphis). The class is focused on preaching from the Gospel of Luke. In preparation for this class, I have enjoyed reading several important works on preaching. One book that has been particularly interesting is Wesley Allen’s, The Renewed Homiletic. Allen combines manuscripts submitted by Craddock, Lowry, Rice, Mitchell, and Buttrick in which these authors reflect on their earlier contributions to the literature on preaching (most popular in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s). They also talk about the state of preaching today.


4. I continue to be impressed with Evernote. Evernote is an outstanding tool for organizing and keeping track of a variety of resources in one place. This week I have skimmed through a number of past posts looking for stories I’ve told that relate to my family or my experiences in ministry. In seconds I placed a copy of a story in an Evernote file. Nice. (See this great post by Michael Hyatt regarding its usefulness.)



5. So would you rather serve as a shepherd or as a cat herder? (Maybe I should ask, “Do the people in your church see themselves as sheep to be led or cats to be herded?) I love this video.

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