292 Sermon Illustrations on Preaching

The story is told of a patient in a mental ward who attended chapel

services with the other patients in the ward. The chaplain who spoke

was so confusing that one of the patients going out was heard to say,

"There, but for the grace of God go I."

In A sermon, Greek and Hebrew are like underwear: they add a lot

of support, but you don't you don't want to let them show.

- Michael Green

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My Source:

VIGIL

Volume XXVI, Numbers 11, November 1998

Visit their website: \webpage{http://www.acoc.org}

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Author: Bobby Duncan

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File Under: TRUTH or COMMUNICATION or PREACHING or HERMENEUTICS

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LET US NOT BE AMBIGUOUS

by Bobby Duncan

An ambiguous statement is one which is susceptible of multiple interpretation. For example, one might say, "Baptism does not save." That statement may be interpreted to mean that baptism in and of itself will not save, or it may be interpreted to mean that baptism is not necessary to being saved. Without being qualified, it is an ambiguous statement.

When we make such statements they should be well defined so there can be no misunderstanding. Peter plainly states in 1 Peter 3:21 that "baptism doth also now save us." But Peter makes it plain what he means:

"Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering

of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a

preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved

by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also

now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,

but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by

the resurrection of Jesus Christ"

[I Peter 3:20-21].

The RSV has the following rendering of verse 21:

"Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as

a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for

a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Baptism is also said to wash away one's sins. Acts 22:16 says, "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Does this mean there is some power in the water to wash away sins separate and apart from the blood of Christ? Certainly not. But it does mean that in order for one to have his sins washed away he rnust be baptized.

No, baptism is not a work of merit by which one earns his salvation. But it is a work of faith without which the sinner cannot be saved. There is a sense in which baptism does save.

Another ambiguous statement is the statement that we are not saved by works. Understood in one sense that statement is true, but understood in another it is false to the core. The Bible affirms both that we are and that we are not saved by works. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." James 2:24 says, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." Both of these statements are true and neither one is ambiguous in its context. It is obvious that Paul in Ephesians is talking about works that would enable one to boast. But James is talking about works that perfect or complete one's faith. In this latter sense one can no more be saved without works than he can be saved without grace.

We sometimes hear it affirmed that the church does not save anyone. That statement is in a sense ambiguous. Usually when this statement is made it is made by one who is declaring that it matters not which church a person is a member of, or if he is a member of any church at all. That certainly is not true. It is true the church is not the savior, but it is the saved. All those who are ever saved are added by the Lord to the church. Acts 2:47 says, "Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." The ASV puts it this way: "And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved."

In New Testament times those who were saved were in the church, because that is what the church is; it is the saved ones.

Ephesians 1:22-23 says, "And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." This shows that the church is the body of Christ. Can one be saved and not be a member of the body of Christ?

Ephesians 4:4 says there is one body, and Ephesians 5:23 says Christ is the Savior of that body. Verse 25 says he gave himself for it. Acts 20:28 says, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

How can any student of the New Testament reach the conclusion that one can be saved and not be a member of that very church for which Jesus gave his life's blood?

It is a fact that every unambiguously stated proposition is either true or false; it cannot be both true and false, nor can it be neither true nor false. It must be true or false. But ambiguously stated propositions can be both true and false. Let us strive diligently in our teaching and writing to be unambiguous.

X. THE CHALLENGE TO RECRUIT MEN TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN A DAY OF DIMINISHING EVANGELISTS

As of late some of our preacher training schools have experienced a decrease of men in enrollment. Also, in some of our colleges and universities the number of Bible majors has dropped as well, With the world's population increasing, with numbers of stalwart soldiers passing over the great divide, and with the marvelous opportunities for mission work in countries heretofore impossible of even entering, the need is acute to turn this trend around.

There should be some elders' meetings dedicated to the motivating and training of young men to preach the gospel within the local congregation. We should all pray that the Lord will send workers into his harvest. Parents should pray that their sons will become gospel preachers. Those of us who preach should watch for young men who have potential to be servants of the Lord; and, then, put our hand, as it were, on their shoulders and say, “The Lord hath need of thee.” Also, financial assistance can be given by congregations and/or individuals to these young men who are Bible majors.

But, why is it that we are having fewer men willing to go into the work of gospel preaching? (1) A divided brotherhood has produced untold alarm in the hearts of many young men. (2) An observance of the insecurity of those men who presently preach as evidenced by their frequent moves (forced and/or otherwise) has had its effect. (3) Financial concerns enter the picture as well. (4) A failure to appreciate and to emphasize the glory and importance of preaching has made its contribution. Preachers are no longer our heroes and role models. Because of these factors, and no doubt others, young men in our Christian colleges are changing their majors, getting double majors (for a back up) or otherwise not entertaining at all the possibility of getting a degree in Bible to further equip them in full time service in the church of our Lord. The remedy? Correct and eliminate these factors which have contributed to the problem.

-- 1992 Fort Worth Lectures

A poll commissioned by the Pew Research Center reported that 71 percent of respondents say they never doubt the existence of God (up from 60% in 1987). The poll also found that 61 percent of Americans believe miracles come from God (an increase of 14% since 1987). Fifty three percent said prayer is important to daily life (up from 41% in 1987).

However, these do not seem to reflect a change in lifestyle of the average American. Radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger probably pointed out a very important contributing factor. She said, “I yell at the clergy all the time. I think the clergy -- with all due respect -- have become more like camp counselors than leaders. What they're doing is saying, 'I want the people to come back next week. You can't challenge them too much, can't ask too much, can't tell them that religion demands something of them, God demands something of you'. Since they're not doing that, it's like the inmates are running the institution.”

-- Mark McWhorter in Electronic Gospel Herald, 1/15/98.

My Source:

"HOW TO" PAPERS, page 71

24th Annual Christian Training Series

Freed-Hardeman University

Author: Jack Hilliard

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HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE PREACHER--#1

by Jack Hilliard

(The suggestions are not necessarily in order of importance)

01. Read, study the Bible carefully, prayerfully

(1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 2:15).

02. Pray often and regularly (1 Thessalonians 5:17;

1 Timothy 2:1-2).

03. Preach the word in season, out of season,

reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering

and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2).

04. Always preach with love (Ephesians 4:15).

05. Practice what you preach (2 Timothy 1:13).

06. Keep lessons simple (1 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 3:12).

07. Study every scripture on a subject, select ones

best suited to emphasize the subject desired.

08. Do not just preach about current events (2 Timothy 4:2).

09. Use some original, personal illustrations

(e.g., Paul, 1 Timothy 1:12,1 Timothy 1:13).

10. Do not use too many personal, material

illustrations.

11. Never forget you have been entrusted with a

great treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7).

12. Always remember you represent the greatest

organization on earth (2 Corinthians 3:2).

13. Never be jealous of other preachers (1 Corinthians 3:8).

14. Give God credit for any accomplishment

(cf., 1 Corinthians 3:6,1 Corinthians 3:7).

15. Recognize the power of the gospel (Romans 1:16).

16. Believe in your product (Romans 1:16).

17. Take care of the body and mind as well as

the soul (1 Corinthians 6:19,1 Corinthians 6:20).

18. Be ever mindful of Jesus' reason for dying

and for preaching (1 Timothy 1:15).

19. Keep life, work, play, and preaching orderly

(1 Corinthians 14:40).

20. Exercise self-control in all things at all times

(Philippians 4:5).

21. Avoid all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

22. Cooperate with the elders in feeding the flock

a pure and wholesome died (Acts 20:28).

23. Shun not to declare the whole counsel of God

(Acts 20:27).

24. Exercise good stewardship with money, time,

and abilities (1 Corinthians 4:12; 1 Peter 4:10,1 Peter 4:11).

25. Exercise hospitality (1 Peter 4:9).

26. Submit to the authority of the elders

(1 Timothy 5:17).

27. Treat younger men as brothers, the younger

women as sisters, older men as fathers and

older women as mothers (1 Timothy 5:1,1 Timothy 5:2).

28. Love fellow Christians (Romans 12:10; Hebrews 13:1;

John 15:12,John 15:17; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 John 4:7).

29. Practice meekness in life and teaching

(2 Timothy 2:25).

30. Ever be encouraged by the knowledge that the

Lord is always with the faithful preacher

(2 Timothy 4:17).

31. Manifest love out of a pure heart, with the

approval of a good conscience and with a

genuine faith (1 Timothy 1:5).

32. Develop and possess feeling and concern

for others (Romans 12:15).

33. Love the Lord with all you have and all you

are (Mark 12:33; John 14:23).

34. Follow the example and model after other

preachers ONLY after being sure they follow

Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

My Source:

FIRM FOUNDATION

Volume 113--#11, November 1998

Author: Burt Jones

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AGITATORS

by Burt Jones

As a small boy, I recall seeing my mother dump clothes into a wringer-type washer. On the top of the washer were two large cylindrical rollers through which she would pull the washed clothes to squeeze as much water out of them as possible.

Directly below the rollers was an odd-looking piece of equipment that sat in the midst of that part of the washer holding the water. It sat there, that is, until the washer was turned on, and then you have never seen such movement. The water would be violently moved back and forth by this peculiar thing rotating one way and then the other, all through the wash and rinse cycle. Then my mother came out--stopped the device from rotating--and it again just sat there.

I asked mother what that thing was that moved the water and the clothes all around. She replied that it was an AGITATOR. I said, "I thought those had long tails and lived in the swamp." She looked pitifully at me and said, "An AGITATOR is necessary to cause the action that moves the soiled clothes back and forth through the water. I asked what happens if the agitator does not work. She said, "If you take the agitator out of your washing machine, you wind up with wet and dirty clothes."

Throughout the history of the world, God has strategically placed human agitators in the middle of the dirty world. Their job was to stir up public sentiment against the filth of the flesh and to render clean the minds of those who learned from them.

Noah was an agitator. He troubled the minds of those lying in the stagnant cistern of sin, but the stains on their sin-soiled souls were indelibly etched:

And every living substance was destroyed which

was upon the face of the ground, both man and

cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of

the heaven: and they were destroyed from the

earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they

that were with him in the ark (Genesis 7:23).

Moses was an agitator. He stirred up, and kept churning the filthy friends of Pharaoh until "it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people; they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us" (Exodus 14:5).

That agitating-mover, Moses, then

stretched out his hand over the sea; and the

Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east

wind all that night, and made the sea dry land,

and the waters were divided. And the children

of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the

dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto

them, on their right hand, and on their left

(Exodus 14:21-22).

And later:

Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea,

and the sea returned to his strength when the

morning appeared. . . Thus the Lord saved

Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians;

and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the

shore (Exodus 14:27-28, Exodus 14:30).

Paul often troubled the minds of the ungodly. He agitated countless of those "whose God is their belly" (Philippians 3:19), including Elymas, the sorcerer. Paul, "filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, O full of mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:10).

Before writing this article, I took a poll of several of my preaching brethren. I asked the question, "What is your definitiion of an AGITATOR?" Without exception they defined AGITATOR in exactly the same terms I do--A TROUBLEMAKER.

My dictionary does not define AGITATOR as TROUBLEMAKER. The definitions of AGITATOR ranged from "to give motion to--to excite the mind or feelings of--to attempt to arouse public feeling--one who stirs up public feelings on controversial matters." Trouble, in its essence, is "a state of annoyance, distress or difficulty."

Jesus was an AGITATOR. He often excited and troubled the minds of others (Matthew 22; Mark 12; John 8:7; John 4, etc.). He aroused public feelings (Matthew 9:33; Matthew 21:9; Luke 22:7, etc.). He stirred up public feelings on controversial matters (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Mark 2, etc.).

May I suggest that we, as militant messengers, strengthen that firm foundation by earnestly contending for the faith in the spirit of truth as a defender of righteousness?

My Source: BULLETIN BRIEFS

Volume 3, #1, January 2000

Author: Donny Weimar

File Under: Preaching; Elders

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SPIRITUAL MALNUTRITION

by Donny Weimar

A mentor of mine told me that I was unlikely ever to preach for a large congregation because my preaching was too strong and did not waver from the truth. He also said that in most churches of Christ nowadays the people in the pews are determining what is preached from the pulpit. Sounds like 2 Timothy 4:3 has come to pass in many places. While in Honduras this past March, a missionary said to me that he was very concerned about the church in the United States. it seemed to him that weak, "milk-toast" [milquetoast, I believe is intended here, DRL] preaching had weakened us. Normally, I am a "the glass is half full" kind of guy. But spanning the brotherhood, it does seem very realistic to me to say that not a few congregations in the U.S. are gasping on a death bed (cf., Revelation 2:5).

The Lord's church in such places is dying primarily because she is not being fed. Spiritual malnutrition has taken toll on the body of Christ because two New Testament verses are either being neglected or blatantly disobeyed. The first is Acts 20:28, where God gave explicit instructions to elders, "feed the flock." What are they to feed the flock? 1 Peter 2:2 says, "as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." Is it not a primary qualification for congregational overseers to be apt to teach? (1 Timothy 3:2). Many elders in the brotherhood are destroying the flock in which they serve by disregarding Titus 1:9, "holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict." Second, preachers are sucking the life out of the body by deserting 2 Timothy 4:2, "preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." Danny Box has rightly said, "When the word is being preached from the pulpit, in our classrooms and, from house to house, we do not have to worry about the church dying because this spiritual food will sustain us."

The church must live! To do so she (we) must accept all of the Bible's decrees. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,2 Timothy 3:17).

1519 East 17th Street, Odessa, TX 79761

Submitted by:

David Wade Smith

My pastor shapes his sermons

From A to final Z

In clear and forthright language,

And aims them straight at me.

And when he gets to preaching,

I look around to see

If there might be another

Deserving more than me.

But every soul looks saintly --

Their hearts to Heaven turn --

While I, in my conviction,

Can only sit and squirm.

You know, I often wonder,

If I should miss a day;

Would he, without his target,

Have anything to say?"

(The Sword of The Lord, April 3, 1998)

Submitted by: John Walls

Email - jmichaelwalls@juno.com

Sumner Wemp relates an illustration he took from Jerry Thorpe, a pastor in Odessa, TX.

"Ask a congregation, 'How many of you were saved listening to a radio broadcast? Raise your hand.' Usually not more that 1 or 2 out of a thousand. How many were saved listening to a TV preacher. You prayed to receive the Lord Jesus as a direct result of the message?' Again only one out of a thousand say yes. How many were saved when you saw "Jesus Saves" on a big rock or a sign. Usually none. You can add others. 'When you were saved, some person led you to Christ or some preacher, and their face comes to your mind. Raise you hand.' Almost every hand goes up. then I have everyone look around and shout out, "Folks there it is. Here is the key. It is PEOPLE! God uses people to get people saved.

Maybe the worse lie the devil every invented is, 'We cannot all be soul-winners.' Jesus said, 'Follow me and I will MAKE you to be fishers of men.' Then Jesus also said, 'I sent you to reap.' My pet statement is, 'If you want to pick fruit you got to plant seed.' Every farmer knows that all too well. Somehow churches and Christians have forgotten that fact and we just are not planting enough seeds today. But 'while men slept the enemy filled the field with tares' Matthew 13:25. He has done a fantastic job while we have slept.

Please don't let the devil lie to you. You can wins souls if you will just plant enough seed. I want this for you so bad I could scream and I mean that with all of my heart. God said, 'The harvest is plenteous.' Do you believe it? Then pray for souls and plant seeds! WE CAN CHANGE PEOPLE, (2 Corinthians 5:17) AND THROUGH THAT CHANGE THE WORLD! If I did not believe that I would quit preaching and get me an honest job."

[This illustration comes from a sales perspective but is easily applied to sermons.]

Let's face it; for most of us, our entire education has been "administered" to us in one form of a lecture or other. The lecture format for relaying information though now considered outdated by many education and training professionals - has been the tried and true method for generations. The good news is that while few people enjoy being lectured, most everyone enjoys a lively conversation. The trick is in creating a conversational tone with even large groups, a feat that is ideally accomplished within the first two or three minutes of a presentation.

In an attempt to make this easier to accomplish for the readers of my book, I have condensed from years of study and experience a listing of the 10 key tips for appearing conversational with even the largest groups. They are:

* Try to talk with not at your audience

* Use conversational language and avoid large, multi-syllable words

* Ask questions immediately and listen to the answers

* Get the audience involved, even if it means having them stand and shake each other's hands

* Place nothing between you and your audience - avoid lecterns, podiums and risers when possible

* Mingle with your audience - if possible, actually walk into the audience

* Use participant names whenever possible and encourage them to use yours

* Smile - it's a natural conversation starter

* Use humor when and where you can

* Use personal anecdotes and stories - they give your audience something to relate to and make the presentation experiential

As simple as these tips may initially seem, they are very powerful. Consistently applied, they are guaranteed to not only improve your presentations, but also increase your confidence and comfort level in front of any room.

_______________________________________

Tony Jeary - Mr. Presentation(tm)

*

three boys were talking about their fathers exelence. One of them said:my father is a great professor. When he is talking about a subject, only 10 persons in the world can understand him!The second boy said: my father is great brain surgeon, when he is talking about his surgery only 5 person in the whole world can realize what he is saying.The third boy said:my father is a pastor, when he is preaching nobody can understand what he is saying.

Reflections: Preaching

Quotations to stir the heart and mind.

Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman | posted 07/18/2002

Preaching is proclamation, not just moralizing. It is Good News, not just good advice; it is gospel, not just law.

Ian Pitt-Watson, A Primer for Preachers

A biblical sermon is not a book report. It is a proclamation of what has been heard in and through the text.

Leander E. Keck, The Bible in the Pulpit

What you are after is not that folks shall say at the end of it all, "What an excellent sermon!" That is a measured failure. You are there to have them say, when it is over, "What a great God!" It is something for men not to have been in your presence but in his.

J. H. Jowett, quoted in Context (Dec. 1, 1997)

Preaching is finally more than art or science. It is alchemy, in which tin becomes gold and yard rocks become diamonds under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It is a process of transformation for both preacher and congregation alike, as the ordinary details of their everyday lives are translated into extraordinary elements of God's ongoing creation.

Barbara Brown Taylor, The Preaching Life

Bad exegesis is no less worse than bad conduct.

Tertullian, On Purity

The trouble with many sermons is not so much that the preachers are out of touch with what is going on in the world or in books or in theology, but that they are out of touch with what is going on in their own lives and in the lives of the people they are preaching to. Whether their subject is hope or faith or charity or anything else, let them speak out of the living truth of their own experience of those high matters. Let them have the courage to be themselves.

Frederick Buechner, The Living Pulpit

I'm Suspicious of preaching that is not biblically based, but I'm also suspicious of preaching that is biblically confined. If one doesn't get out of the Bible and into peoples' lives, I think one has missed it.

Lee Strobel, Leadership

[The preacher] ought to pray for himself and for those he is about to address before he attempts to speak. And when the hour has come that he must speak, before he opens his mouth, he must lift up his thirsty soul to God, to drink in what he is about to pour forth, and be himself filled with what he is about to distribute.

Augustine, On Christian Learning

Copyright c 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

July 8, 2002, Vol. 46, No. 8, Page 62

From the pulpit: "Will those of you who know my sermon illustrations by heart please refrain from repeating them with me out loud."

Here’s an account from the 1740s, written by a Connecticut farmer describing the 25-year-old Whitefield’s visit to a nearby town. Keep in mind this was written by an uneducated farmer, not an English professor:

“Now it pleased God to send Mr. Whitefield into this land ... like one of the old apostles.... I felt the Spirit of God drawing me by conviction. I longed to see and hear him and wished he would come this way.... Then one morning all on a sudden about 8 or 9 o’clock, there came a messenger and said Mr. Whitefield ... is to preach at Middletown this morning at 10 o’clock. I was in my field at work. I dropt my tool that I had in my hand and ran home and ran through the house and had my wife get ready quick to go and hear Mr. Whitefield preach at Middletown and ran to my pasture for my horse with all my might fearing I should be too late to hear him. I brought my horse home and soon mounted and took my wife up and went forward as fast as I thought the horse could bear ... as if we were fleeing for our lives, all this while fearing we should be too late to hear the sermon. [It’s kind of how I imagine all of you getting ready to come and hear me preach each week. Ha!] So this Connecticut farming couple were hurrying as fast as possible fearing they would be too late to hear the sermon for we had twelve miles to ride double in little more than an hour ... and when we came within half a mile of the road that comes down from Hartford, Wethersfield, and Stepney to Middletown on high land I saw before me a cloud or fog rising, I first thought off from the Great River but as I came nearer the road I heard a noise something like a low rumbling thunder and I presently found it was the rumbling of horses feet coming down the road, and this cloud was a cloud of dust made by the running of horses feet, it arose some rods into the air over the tops of the hills and trees and when I came within about twenty rods of the road I could see men and horses slipping along in the cloud like shadows and when I came nearer it was like a steady stream of horses, and their riders, scarcely a horse more than his length behind another, all of a lather and foam with sweat, their breath rolling out of their nostrils, in a cloud of dust every jump, every horse seemed to go with all his might to carry his rider to hear the news from Heaven to the saving of their souls.... We went down in the stream. I heard no man speak a word all the way, three miles, but every one pressing forward in great haste and when we got down into the old meeting-house there was a great multitude, it was said to be 3 or 4000 of people assembled together. We got off from our horses and shook off the dust and the minister was then coming to the meeting-house. I turned and looked toward the Great River and saw the ferry boats running swift forward and backward bringing over loads of people, the oars rowed nimble and quick; everything, men, horses and boats seemed to be struggling for life; the land and the banks over the river looked black with people and horses. All along the twelve miles I see no man at work in his field but all seemed to be gone. When I see Mr. Whitefield come up upon the scaffold he looked almost angelical, a young slim slender youth before some thousands of people and with a bold undaunted countenance. And my hearing how God was with him everywhere ... solemnized my mind and put me in a trembling fear before he began to preach for he looked as if he was clothed with authority from the great God and a sweet solemn Solemnity sat upon his brow, and my hearing him preach gave me a heart wound by God’s blessing. [My old foundation was broken up and I saw that my righteousness would not save me.]”1

I just got this news in the little newspaper from my wife's hometown in Kentucky. It seems the pastor was out of the country on a mission trip and asked the associate pastor and youth minister to each take care of the preaching responsibilities. The youth minister was supposed to preach the two Sunday evenings. He claimed he was under a great deal of pressure from the pastor before he left to do too many things and he couldn't get prepared for his two sermons. So, the first Sunday he "called in sick" but under the stress he couldn't think up a good excuse to get out of the second Sunday. With the time of the worship service approaching and his anxiety mounting, he became desperate and ran to the custodian at 6:30 p.m. claiming an elderly man had called the church threatening a bomb explosion! He had the custodian to call 911. During the turmoil he took charge and tried to take a ministerial role. However, the ensuing investigation revealed the hoax and he was arrested on Tuesday morning. The church issued a statement through its deacons that they support the 25 year old 100% and believe God will get the glory in this somehow. The youth minister will undergo counseling at a Rapha Center. The unknowing pastor is ministering faithfully in Russia. The homecoming should prove eventful!

Moral of this true story: Use your DOM for pulpit supply... he may bomb a sermon occasionally, but at least your dynamic youth minister won't blow up due to a short fuse.

THE PASTOR'S EDITOR

From the pulpit: "I asked my wife to look over my notes for today's sermon and mark out everything dull -- so in conclusion ..."

Two young men broke into a photo studio one Sunday night. They murdered the aged owner and robbed the cash drawer. Headlines of the crime appeared on the front page of Monday morning's papers. The two youths had been apprehended and charged with murder. Because their names seemed familiar to the secretary of a local church, she looked them up in the visitor's book. Sure enough, they had attended the church on Sunday morning and that night they committed murder! The pastor's subject that morning had been "An Educated Ministry." Only God knows what the end result might have been if the minister had preached on Christ's power to save and to change sinful hearts.

"Some preach the truth and don't have love. Some preach love and don't have the truth. Get the mixture right. The truth will keep you from dissolving into sentimentality; love will keep you from hardening into severity."

--Dr. Vance Havner

*

A church that loved good fellowship always served coffee after the sermon. The pastor asked a little boy if he knew why they served the coffee. "I think," said the boy, "it is to get the people wide awake before they drive home."

"Isn't Rev. So-and-so a deep preacher?" asked a friend. "Well," replied the other smiling. "I'll tell you a story. When I was a boy I was amusing myself with some other boys in a pool. Some of them were going farther out than I was disposed to go, and I was frightened. To a man who was passing by I called out, 'Is the pool deep?' 'No, son,' he replied, 'it's only muddy.' "

The story is told of three people who went into a church. The first was a business man who had failed and was contemplating suicide. The second was a prodigal youth, deep in sin, who was planning a robbery.

The third was a young woman who was tempted to depart from the path of virtue. The service started. The choir arose and sang an anthem about building the walls of Zion. The minister addressed an eloquent prayer to the Lord and then preached on the theme, "Is Mars Inhabited?"

Afterward, the businessman committed suicide, the boy stole and landed in jail, and the young woman began a life of moral shame. What might have happened if only the gospel of personal salvation in Christ had been preached!

"I always write my sermons," said one preacher to another, "and then carefully revise them, so that if anything is written that might offend any of my hearers, I may at once erase it." The older preacher friend replied, "Do you mean that forcible statements, either of your own or from Scripture, concerning sin, the cross, and the judgment to come, are either toned down or avoided?" "Yes," replied the young novice clergyman. "If I think they will offend anyone, I do so."

”And then he [Jesus] told them, ‘You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere” (Mark 16:15, TLB).

Immediately preceding Christ’s return to heaven after he had completed his mission here on earth, he commissioned his disciples and followers to preach the gospel to everyone, everywhere.

According to Bible scholars the word for “preach” in the original language can have three different, though somewhat, similar meanings.

The most commonly understood meaning of the word preach means “to cry as a herald.” That is, to proclaim earnestly through the spoken word God’s message of salvation. Generally speaking, this is the work of pastors, ministers, and evangelists. They are usually a small percentage of church members.

Many may say, “This doesn’t include me because I’m certainly not a preacher.”

Another meaning means “to teach” the gospel. As a general rule there are usually more teachers in any group than there are preachers. Still some would say, but I don’t have the gift of teaching, so Jesus’ injunction to preach the gospel to everyone doesn’t include me.

However, the third meaning of the word preach is a very interesting one. And I don’t know anybody who doesn’t have this gift. It simply means “to gossip the gospel.” That is, to simply talk about it … or to share what the Lord has done for you.

So Jesus Christ’s commission to preach the good news of the gospel to everyone, everywhere, includes every Christian. We need to communicate it first of all through our life so that people seeing Jesus in us, will want him in their life as well. And then we need to “tell” the gospel message using the gifts that God has given to each of us — either through preaching, teaching, or simply gossiping the gospel.

Suggested prayer:

“Dear God, please help me to be “as Christ” and communicate your love to every life I touch. And please give me opportunities to tell others what you have done for me in a natural way according to the gifts you have given to me. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

“You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when. You can only decide how you’re going to live. Now.”

“All work and no plagiarism makes for dull sermons!”

-- Henry Ward Beecher, sermoncentral.com 9/9/03

"He who would hold the ear of the people must either tell stories or paint pictures."

-- Henry Ward Beecher

"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending and having the two as close together as possible."

-- George Burns

“A person filled with joy preaches without preaching.”

-- Mother Teresa

"Before you can inspire with emotion, you must be swamped with it yourself. Before you can move their tears, your own must flow. To convince them, you must yourself believe."

-- Winston Churchill

"Preaching, to me, is the biggest fun in the world. I would rather preach than do anything else."

-- G. Campbell Morgan

"I rather approved his giving us good sermons composed by others than bad ones of his own manufacture."

-- Benjamin Franklin, in defense of Presbyterian pastor Samuel Hemphill

who was accused of pulpit plagiarism in Philadelphia in 1735

“If you take an idea from one person it is called plagiarism. If you take ideas from a number of people it is called research.”

-- Rev. Rick Warren (ripping off playwright Wilson Mizner)