Posts Tagged ‘Bible’
04/20/2009
I have had the privilege of preaching many times over the years.
I remember the first times I preached … I was extremely nervous. I had planned and studied and crafted it so well, that when I delivered it, it lasted a whopping 20 minutes long. I was aiming for at least twice that.
Preaching is a funny thing. Much like music style at church, there is a preaching style that is preferred. I have tried to change my style to fit in ways that people needed to hear.I used to spend hours preparing not only the studying portion of the message, but the presentation. That presentation would include the notes and the visual aspect (stuff on slides). I usually would wait until the last hours to produce the “visuals” and then stay up to the wee hours of the morn finalizing that … then going to the church to make the final copies. Ugh.
I have a routine/habit for preaching that tends to go like this.
- Decide on a topic
- Spend time researching the topic
- Realize that I didn’t pray enough and jumped the gun
- Pray
- Allow God to direct me to a topic or passage of Scripture
- Read the passages on the topic or the passage in context
- Read the passages in a BIGGER context
- Think through logical points (based on research)
- Take a break and play some kind of game or do something to distract me
- Create outline that makes sense
- Think that I don’t have enough to last for 40-50 minutes, so prepare more and repeat steps above
- Re-create outline
- Realize that I have to much to go with so trim
- Re-create outline
- Study more because now it doesn’t seem enough (again) …. repeat these steps a few time
- Usually on Saturday I pull my final stuff together and then go to church to practice in my head (not outloud) trying to get the message outline in my head
- Freak because it is either to short or too long
- Go through outline making edits
- Normally I take a nap in the sanctuary (not necessarily on purpose, I just lay down trying to go through the major points in my head and end up sleeping in between praying and preparing) … oh yeah, I didn’t mention this but I really do a lot of praying throughout trying to make sure that I am listening to what God might have me change and to make sure when I preach, it is His words being spoken but within my personality/style.
- After the nap (I mean prayer and outlining) I usually play around on the piano and think how fun it would be to be a rock star.
- Then I go over the message a couple more times and then realize that the whole message is dumb because I haven’t spent nearly enough time making sure that I am allowing God to guide my thoughts and just created MY outline.
- Pout
- Get up and read the passage in a bigger context to make sure it is fitting the point of the original author and that it is focused on Jesus.
- Before going back home, finish printing the final outline and visuals.
- Go back home and go to bed (usually Mer is sleeping by then ’cause it’s laaaate in the night/eeeeearly in the morning. While sleeping I am praying and going through the outline.
- Wake up in the AM, get coffee and something in my stomach resembling a breakfast that is not greasy.
- Go to church and if early enough stand on the platform and try to think through who might show up, pray for them and go through the message.
The last time I preached though … I didn’t follow my 567 step routine. I was sick. I had a final go/no-go decision to make by Saturday afternoon and at that moment I felt ok. Later that night I was sick. It was the worst that I have “presented” a message in years. What upsets me the most was my reaction though. I know that when I preached I presented our need for Jesus (if anyone who was there didn’t hear about Jesus, let me know so I am not off base), I was more upset at my presentation of it. That is just wrong. I should be satisfied that Jesus was preached (as in we are sinners and need a way out of our sinful condition so we can actually begin a relationship with God … all of that is done through Jesus who took our place for the penalty of sin … if we believe that, we can begin that relationship). I had thought I got beyond the “Randy is a good preacher” phase … but I guess not. I would honestly be ok (at this moment) if I never receive a compliment again. The only comments I really want to hear are “wow … I saw Jesus” or “That’s what God is?” or even “I want Jesus”.
I do recognize that to honor Jesus more with my skills, I do need to put some time into my “Craft” of preaching. I don’t want to just stand up and say “Jesus”. I need to develop a reason for him … sometimes just simply showing what He did so others can develop a love or appreciation for Him. But I don’t want the focus of my preaching to be about me. Nor do I want the focus of what I preach to be about whatever people want to hear – like popular topics, or how we should feel good about ourselves, or certain theology. All preaching should be focused on Jesus.
Enough from me … what about you?
Tags: Bible, deepthoughts, Jesus, ministry, prayer, truth
Posted in Jesus | 6 Comments »
01/03/2009
I sit here pondering if I will have another year like last year. A year filled with me pushing my own desires out instead of waiting for God.
I have talked much about this lately with others and haven’t found a simple non-cheesey, non-religious way of following Jesus.
For some this would mean MORE bible study, MORE prayer, MORE ministry, MORE meetings and MORE potlucks! Others it will mean as my friend stated “do I just sit in bed waiting for Jesus to speak to me to show me what to do next?”. This stinks for me, as having been a pastor for over a decade you’d think I would know how to best and quickly answer.
How I would love to live my life is different then how I actually live it. Does that make me a hypocrite? … Yes, yes it does. What do I do when I sense that about my life? I push harder, try harder, make things happen only to be found … once again, seemingly distant from God and not feeling like I am doing much in the way of eternal impact in peoples lives … shoot, I almost would be happier with any kind of impact – even if temporal.
I am not wanting to plan my year out for fear I will be in that same spot. I also don’t want to simply wait … and then second guess if that was “God’s voice” calling or my own.
I do have a job that I like, but it isn’t my calling. I really do yearn for doing ministry full time, but my debt is holding me back. I don’t see that I am pouring my life into my children so that they can “taste and see that the Lord is good”. My ministry at church is ok, but since the lay off I haven’t gotten plugged back in … and then when I did, I was frustrated at how many guys aren’t plugged in online to interact with easily. It would be easy to blame the complexities of my current job as the reason for what is going on … but I think it is much deeper. I think it is a longing to be near Jesus again, in a way that there is no doubt as to what His will is in my life.
How do I get there again?
All I know is to go back to the things I did when I was much closer.
What was I doing?
- I was spending time daily reading the Bible recognizing the intent is to know more about God. The Bible is God’s revelation to humanity to reveal not marching orders, but to reveal God himself in ways we might better comprehend.
- I was spending time talking to Him.
- I was spending time sharing Him with others in a way that people also want a relationship with God.
Simple, really. Just need to do it, without making it too complex! Do I really need to drag out all of my study books, just to read the Bible? Is it necessary that I write in a journal, just to pray? Do I have to set up a meeting and strategize with others, just to continue the story of God in the world today? WHY do I make things more complicated!?!
Jesus,
Take my life, make it how You want it. Allow me the privelege of seeing You work within my world. Help me not be so complicated in being with You. Let my girls tell I am connected with the Creator of the world.
Tags: Bible, faith, meaning, thoughts
Posted in ponder | 2 Comments »
07/20/2007
It is the night before MAN CAMP.
How am I feeling? I have to admit, a little stressed. I am not a detail kind of guy, and for this, I was really trying to be “big picture” and hope the details fall in place, they didn’t … those little things took their own sweet time. Oh well, that is the life of doing ministry. I love it, though I dislike these parts.
We have 25 guys now going to the camp. It is funny because there are a few that I can tell are leary of carpooling with others, but when refelcting on it a little bit, it is because they don’t really know each other … yet another good reason to go the camp!
We are pretty much maxed out for sleeping arrangements, and if it rains, I just pray the tents will hold well. Also if it rains, there is no back up plan. So I am hoping the same weather that God gives us on a lot of our outdoor church activities, will still be true with this event.
Strengthening the grip is the theme and I am trying to focus specifically on getting others to see our need to strengthen our grip with each other, so that we can strengthen our grip with God.
Those watching … pray for no rain, good connections and decent teaching.
Tags: Bible, church, ministry
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
07/07/2007
Today I had a conversation with a fellow co-worker. We ended up talking a little about church, more specifically about messages at the church. She had talked about how she had gotten frustrated lately and partly was that she was not connecting with the messages. She also stated how that she knows she needs to do right and not wrong (these are more my words now) but just wasn’t feeling satisfied.
Is the goal of preaching to try to get people to do right and not do wrong?
It seems like some of the major emphases of preaching would be:
- to make known God’s will to us as displayed within scripture
- to teach, rebuke/reproof, correct and train in righteousness
- to show off the Word – that is Jesus Christ
A response to this could be, but isn’t Jesus perfect? And if we live to be like Jesus, aren’t we practicing doing right and not doing wrong?
Practically it would seem the answer is yes.
But I know that we can NEVER live up to God’s standard of perfection with the law, or even live up to the life that Jesus demonstrated. Any humanly attempt at gaining favor with God will be useless … both before and after life in Christ. With Jesus we have the grace given us that no longer puts the hammer down on our lives when we do sin. However with Jesus, we have the ability to say “no” to sin and ourselves.
It would be stressful to always go to a church that states the “to do’s and not to do’s”. Don’t get me wrong, there is a responsibility to confront sin in it’s various and twisted forms. I think even more stressful would be the idea that Jesus came to save us in order that we do right and wrong!
I think preaching should always point to Jesus in some way and some manner. And I mean ALL of scripture preaching. Think about it … one of the things that Jesus did after he died was spend time with a couple of gentlemen on the road to Emmaus and explaining beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27 ). Some believers nowadays see no reason to have Old Testament preaching done at all because it is no longer relevant to us, yet Jesus decided to exclusively use it – mainly because there was no New Testament 
If preaching is pointing us to Jesus, what is a proper response? I believe to try and connect with him … an actual, cerebral and/or emotional connection. I also believe as we develop this relation with him, that we will understand our new nature … certainly that we were a broken people and that with Jesus we are restored. We have new hope within us! Hope that tells us that we don’t have to live like we are filled with sin, that we are accepted by God, not because of things we have done, but things he has done.
To preach and know Jesus is enough.
Tags: Bible, church, Jesus, sin
Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
05/21/2007
Hi all …
I have done quite a bit of meditating on the passage and letting it sink in. The problem is I am not patient enough to submit it all in writing (Like I said in a previous post, I think it through more than I write it down).
So, I am definitely extending the scope of the main text as all of Luke 15, I will also be stepping back into Luke 14 for context (and parts of ch 13, and parts of ch 5, oh and even ahead to ch 19 …)
When preparing for preaching, I tend to always run through a cycle mentally/emotionally. It goes pretty much in order of this:
- Pray, pray, pray (specifically on what to read, and that when I deliver it, it is correct and I don’t make God look stupid, oh yeah, and that I wouldn’t look stupid as well)
- Decide on a basic passage to start with
- Read, read, read, read it
- Check context
- Find it hard to narrow it down to a short text
- Expand text to include more text
- Read, read, read, read it
- Get a good grasp of the context and passage
- Begin to prepare for delivery
- Have too much to talk on!
- narrow down text to whittle down to a digestible amount (for listeners)
- Saturday before preaching: now I think I don’t have enough to talk about, fret, worry
- Pray, pray, pray
- make basic outline for preaching (very basic, containing short notes and cryptic writing that I forget about when delivering)
- Pray, pray, pray
- Preach
- After preaching, think about all the nice little things that I prepared but didn’t talk on.
So, I wouldn’t mind sharing more of what will be delivered on Sunday, but does anyone even read these posts? Comment … if you do, I will write more about the message.
Tell next time!
Tags: Bible, class
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
05/06/2007
Some more observations on Luke 15
I had originally thought that these were three separate parables (one on the lost sheep, one on the lost coin and one on the lost boy, etc). However, verse 3 states specifically “So he told them this parable” This parable (in the greek) is referring to a singular and not plural. With that in mind, my original thought had to change a little … now Jesus is specifically sharing these 3 parts of the parable for a specific reason, rather than Luke compiling 3 different parables together.
The sheep in stage 1 got lost on its own stupidity/sheepishness.
The coin in stage 2 got lost from someone elses care …. coins don’t get up and walk away … unlike my daughters toys that seem to get lost all on their own!
The son in stage 3 got lost from his own desire to leave the situation (rebellion and whatever)
The son who stayed in stage 3 got lost in another sense, he never left, but didn’t care about his brother.
Within the context of who prompted Jesus to share the parable, the Pharisees and their dis-care via their grumbling about the “sinners”. Jesus responded to them with this story, and the big blow at the end of the story was how the Pharisees would more identify with the brother who stayed … rather than the brother who strayed … hey, that will preach!
Also, the word receive in the 2nd verse “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” has an interesting usage even within Luke … the word is used below in the following verses –
Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Luke 2:38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 12:36 like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
Luke 23:51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
other uses within scripture are …. Acts 24:15 “cherish”, Titus 2:13 “looking for”, Heb 10:34 “accepted”, Jude 1:21 “waiting anxiously”
To add in the other words gives it a little different meaning than just … receive.
“This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
“This man waits for sinners and eats with them.”
“This man looks forward for sinners and eats with them.”
“This man cherishes sinners and eats with them.”
“This man accepted sinners and eats with them.”
“This man anxiously waits for sinners and eats with them.”
… more later
Tags: Bible, class
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
04/28/2007
This series will be for the recent class we finished on “How to study the Bible”. I knew I would preaching soon and wanted the class to see some of what I do to help prepare me to study for a message.
I think fairly randomly at times, so this may not be in exact order, because I sort of have my own way of studying that utilizes many of the things that we have talked about in order …. first of all we will begin observing some things.
The passage I knew I wanted to address was Luke 15: 11-32 (grab your Bible and read it).
After reading through a couple of times (using TNIV, ESV, NLT) and then going back
Observations
- Basic characters involved: father, son who left (younger), son who stayed (older), person who hired the son who left, and the pigs (I believe there names were Huey, Duey, and Louie).
- Asked for inheritance ahead of time (is this normal?)
- Took a couple of days to gather his belongings
- Younger son (or YS for short) spent all he had (how long did it take)
- YS traveled far (how far?)
- YS spent wealth unwisely (squandered in reckless living) (How reckless? Which way is it reckless?)
- YS Hired himself out to a citizen of another country to feed pigs (was the YS Jewish, could he handle pigs, how would this handling of pigs relate to Jewish audience?)
- YS was poor enough at this job to not earn enough to feed himself (or he maybe continued to squander his wealth?)
- YS wanted to eat the pods of the pigs
- YS realized what position he was in and could be treated better with his father as a hired hand
- YS planned to go to the father and apologize
- YS along way off when father spotted him
- Father felt compassion, embraced and kissed his son
- YS stated his practiced speech to his father adding not even worthy to be his son
- Father ordered other servants to put a robe, ring and shoes to YS (YS had it bad enough off to lose shoes?) … also bring a fattened (prepared) calf to celebrate and eat …. party!
- father sees YS as was dead, now alive, was lost and now found
- Older Son (OS) heard party and investigated
- OS asked servant what is going on, servant explained what happened
- OS became angry and refused to join in on the party
- father heard OS was out there and urged him to come back in
- OS explained that all this time he himself had served, obeyed, but not got a goat (is goat same as calf?) to party with friends ….
- OS explained “actions” of YS devoured property with prostitutes, and got the calf (again is goat different than calf?)
- father explained to OS you are always with me and all I had was yours.
- It was appropriate to celebrate because he was dead and now alive, was lost and now found (phrase was repeated)
After reading the context, I fairly quickly recognize that there is a more immediate context involved, the rest of chapter 15. The first two parables before the one of the father and sons shows a shepherd losing a sheep and searching, and a woman losing a coin and searching for it. That theme of losing, and searching and finding are common in all three parables.
more later.
For those in the class, please comment freely. OK .. fine, anyone.
Tags: Bible, class
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
01/21/2007
I find that …
…I suck and God doesn’t.
I truly have no business being in a relationship with God. He doesn’t need me. I offer him nothing that he can’t get from someone or something else. There is not a single talent I possess that tilts his love towards me. There is nothing I have acquired that would benefit him. If I were in a sports line-up, he would have no need to pick me for his team. I couldn’t twist God’s arm to do anything. I couldn’t blackmail him with any evidence of sin on his part. I couldn’t bribe him with money to be my friend. Even if I lived to a ripe old age, there is no wisdom or life experience I could impart to him that he would help him to grow.
In fact, in much honesty, I am a weight for him. I am more like one of those guys who calls at midnight an rambles on about some major issue that seems to trouble my mind, but in reality is a bunch of nothing that is simply consuming my mind. I am actually probably more like the guy that finds you out, schmoozes you, borrows money or things from you and then leaves immediately not to come back until he repeats the same cycle of seek, schmooze, borrow and flee.
What is in me that attracts God to me. The straight up answer is … nothing.
So, why do I have this relationship with Him (as one-sided as it seems to be)? The concept of “total depravity” seems to be an understatement in light of what the Bible says
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.”
“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.”
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
In fact, we also were “enemies of God.”
I don’t get it. I just don’t understand why God loves me. I know he has over-the-top in incredible, loving, momentous ways shown and demonstrated his love for me, but I don’t get why he does it.
What is someone to do with this kind of bold love staring at them?
Embrace it. Believe it. Accept it. Reciprocate it.
Tags: Bible, Jesus, sin
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01/12/2007
OK … I have been praying for a while for a majore project to do that could help guys out at my church. I had hoped that it would be able to meet a need. I have also been wanting to do a podcast as well (two kinds really). One kind that is pretty much a humurous commentary on glocal culture (global and local) that is much like a morning radio show … except I need a few others to help out in that, because I only have so many voice impressions I can do and who really wants to listen to Kermit the frog comment on the war in Iraq?
The second podcast relates to my goal. I would like to be able to create a weekly podcast that is somewhere between 10-15 minutes long. Each segment would be an overview of an entire book of the bible. I mean GENERAL … focusing on main people, themese verses within the bible … also focusing on how Jesus is the hero. I also wanted to do a segment on each of the major sections in the bible (penteteuch, gospels, etc.) Ifigured roughly about 80 segments … but I don’t want to do it all on my own and would definitely need help from others. (no, not Kermit).
I am hoping to have enough of a framework done by Spring ’07.
I think it will be fun.
Tags: Bible, podcast
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12/21/2006
There may begin to be a fight over the use of the Bible as what people swear on (in court and when “swearing in” a new official etc.) Read article here for more information.
Is it really necessary that we use a Bible to “swear” someone in? Is it necessary that we use any “religious book” to swear someone in?
A basic argument is … why the Bible? As Christians I can see an importance for it of course, but what do I care if someone who isn’t a follower of Jesus, lays hands on the Bible stating symbolically that they will rot in very hot places if they don’t live up to the “swear”? It neither makes them a follower of Jesus nor gives them brownie points in God’s eyes.
To me, what is funny is that the Bible states in James 5:12 “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes,” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.”
Our word should be good enough.
Maybe we could just say “cross my heart, hope to die, stick a thousand needles in my eye”?
By the way, who the heck invented that phrase? A bit grotesque in my opinion.
Tags: Bible, truth
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