First Steps for Beginning Preachers

Colin Adams of Unashamed Workman gives the following very helpful advice:

1. Preach, preach, preach

2. Take on a variety of texts (psalms, prophecy, narrative, epistles), but don’t be too brave too early (eg. consecutive studies through Revelation!)

3. Continue to read formal instruction on expository preaching

4. Listen to a variety of good preachers, and learn things from each of them

5. Get feedback

6. Learn something every time, and work on that area next time

7. Pray for conversions

8. Read theology, especially biblical theology

9. Begin with the tried and tested styles of preaching, then begin to adapt to your own style

10. Guard yourself against pride and despondency, the two most common pitfalls

How's Your Daily Diet?

Our makeup of our spiritual diet will impact our spiritual walk. Lionel Windsor from Australia makes a compelling case from the Scriptures themselves that our diet and our church's diet should reflect the following:

Read the whole article here.

How John Stott Prepares a Sermon

Check here for good practical help on the preparation of Biblical messages that will feed your own soul and will feed the souls the people you serve.

Update: I fixed the link.

Dr. Ortlund on Preaching

Dr. Raymond Ortlund Jr., pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville, TN, gave the 2008 Mullins Lectures at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary:

• “Power in Preaching: Decide” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
• “Power in Preaching: Desire” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-5)
• “Power in Preaching: Delight” (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)

HT: Justin Taylor

Why Don't We?

If it is true as Dick Lucas says that "one of the clearest lessons of Acts is that the Word of God on the lips of his servants is the supreme secret of missionary advance (Acts 6:7; 12:24; 13:49; 19:20)" then why isn't there a greater emphasis on teaching and preaching the Word of God as well as training people in how to teach and preach the Word of God in youth parachurch ministries? Is it because of a false understanding of the incarnation as applied to us and this is now our controlling paradigm? We often hear youth ministry people talk about incarnational ministry or "you are Jesus with skin on," but the fact is that we are not. Jesus is Jesus and we are not Jesus [for more on the roots of this idea in early 20th century liberal theology see this excellent book edited by David Peterson: The Word Became Flesh: Evangelicals And The Incarnation (2003)]. We are to take our cue from the apostles who preached about Jesus, who hearalded the good news wherever they went and whenever they could. The gospel is advanced, people are saved, and people are sanctified through the preaching of God's Word in the power of His Spirit. Let's look at the Acts passages above:

Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 12:24: But the word of God increased and multiplied.

Acts 13:49: And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

Acts 19:20: So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

This preaching occurred among Jews and Greeks in a very relativistic and "postmodern" society with a multiplicity of gods, goddesses, religions, and worldviews. Instead of abandoning the preaching and teaching of God's words to pagan youth today saying something like "that doesn't work anymore," why don't we see how we can do it better. Why don't we take the principles that Paul used and equip a new generation of youth workers to preach the gospel boldly with broken hearts:

Jesus "is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead....that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name" (Acts 10:42-43).

For more on the principles of Paul in preaching see this excellent article by Dick Lucas called "Preaching to Pagans."

Doug Moo on Colossians


Doug Moo has written a new commentary on Colossians and Philemon that is about to come out in the Pillar New Testament Commentary Series (Eerdmans and edited by D.A. Carson).

He also has preached a four-part sermon series on Colossians:

Part One - Col 1:3-14

Douglas Moo gives a broad overview of the book of Colossians of how they were trying to fit Christ into the worldview they'd already adopted. He homes on some key thoughts in the book, such as bearing fruit and growing and God's rescue and redemption, like that in Exodus.

Part Two - Col 1:15-20

This section of Colossians celebrates the supremacy of Christ in creation and the new creation. All you could possibly know about God is found in Christ. He is not some "blurry, impressionistic view" of God but the exact image of the Father.

Part Three - Col 1:21-23; 2:6-15

The message of Colossians is that you don't need to go running after spiritual truth in other places in the "religious marketplace" outside of Christ. What is a life lived in Christ look like? It's rooted in Him, built up in Him, strengthened in Him, and full in Him.

Part Four - Col 2:6-23

Doug tackles the difficulties surrounding the text concerning baptism and seeks to understand it in its context in the chapter. Baptism is a "last act of conversion" where it is more or less a "sealing" upon our conversion. "Your Christian life needs to be directed by the transforming work of the Spirit within," he underscores, "creating the mind of Christ in you, leading you to live a life that pleases Him and honors Him.

HT: Justin Taylor

Simeon Trust Preaching Workshop Toronto Audio

I really enjoyed this workshop last year by the Simeon Trust and I highly encourage you to take advantage of them. Here is their website and here is some audio from this past year (bios below the audio):

Instruction 1
Why Exposition? [mp3, 73mb]
William Taylor

Instruction 2
Traveling Instructions [mp3, 75mb]
Steve Bickley

Instruction 3
Bone and Marrow [mp3, 51mb]
Steve Bickley

Instruction 4
Melodic Line [mp3, 61mb]
Steve Bickley

Instruction 5
Text and Framework [mp3, 59mb]
William Taylor

Model Exposition 1
Philippians 1.27-2.4 [mp3, 64mb]
William Taylor

Model Exposition 2
Philippians 2.5-11 [mp3, 53mb]
William Taylor

William Taylor studied at Cambridge University and served in the British Army as an officer in the Royal Green Jackets. He then studied theology at Ridley Hall, Cambridge and was ordained in 1991. He was then appointed curate at Christ Church, Bromley, in London. He joined St Helen’s, Bishopsgate under Dick Lucas in 1995 and succeeded Dick as Rector in 1998. He authored Partnership (Christian Focus Publishers), a book on teaching the themes of Philippians as well as John’s Gospel: Read, Mark, Learn.
Stephen Bickley is pastor of Help and Hope/Basics Pastor's Conference at Parkside Church near Cleveland. Prior to joining Parkside in 2001, he pastored in Minnesota and in England. He also organized pastor's workshops for the Proclamation Trust while in London. He attended Taylor University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Quote of the Day: The Power of God's Word

Martin Luther said:

I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word: otherwise I did nothing. And when, while I slept or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip and my Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a Prince or Emperor inflicted such damage upon it. The Word did it all.

R. Kent Hughes, "Preaching: God's Word to the World Today" in The Coming Evangelical Crisis (Chicago: Moody, 1996), 96.

May we live, think, walk, pray, meditate, teach, preach, on this Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) the rest of our lives. Amen!

What Preaching Is

David Wells in his new book The Courage to be Protestant: Truth-lovers, Marketers and Emergents in the Postmodern World says the following concerning preaching:

"Preaching is not a conversation, a chat about some interesting ideas. It is not the moment in which postmoderns hear their own private messages in the biblical words, one unique to each one who hears, and then go their own way. No! This is God speaking! He speaks through the stammering lips of the preacher where that preacher's mind is on the text of Scripture and his heart is in the presence of God. God, as Luther put it, lives in the preacher's mouth.

This is the kind of preaching that issues a summons, which nourishes the soul, which draws the congregation into the very presence of God so that no matter what aspect of his character, his truth, his working in this world is in focus, we leave with awe, gratitude, encouragement, and sometimes a rebuke. We have been in the very presence of God! That is what great preaching always does" (page 230)

HT: Matt Harmon

Don't Waste Your Pulpit Video: John Piper

From Around the Web

• Choosing Commentaries for your Library
• Kim: The Atoning Death of Christ on the Cross
• Has God Called You? by Al Mohler
• Questions About Music and Church
• Grudem: Why Do Poor Nations Remain Poor?
• Newsweek on Keller
• Preview of Schriener's NT Theology
• The Biggest Swimming Pool on Earth
• Talks at the Upcoming Together for the Gospel Conference
• Going to Seminary or Want to Go to Seminary check out this site
• Interview with J.R.R. Tolkien
• Biblical Theology as a Way of Life
• Top 10 Worst Places to Live as a Christian
• Seven Great Living Influencers
• Relying on the Spirit in Preaching with APTAT
• Living the Gospel or Just Preaching It?
• The Preacher's Authority: Grudem
  

HT: Justin Taylor, Jim Hamilton, In Light of the Gospel, Tullian Tchividjian, Colin Adams

Interview with R. Kent Hughes

I had the privilege of meeting R. Kent Hughes, one of my modern day heroes, at the Gospel Growth vs. Church Growth Conference (Matthias Media USA and 9 Marks Ministries) at Capitol Hill Baptist Church a while back. I really enjoyed our conversation. He was very warm, very encouraging, humble, and thoughtful. He is a faithful man who has expounded God's Word for decades as pastor of College Church in Wheaton, IL.

Here is a two part interview with Dr. Hughes: Part 1, Part 2.

Enjoy!

HT: Andy Naselli

_{Greater Toronto Spiritual Life}

_Convention

2008 Greater Toronto Spiritual Life Convention Dates: January 27 - 30, 2008 Click here to see video of D.A. Carson speaking on "What are the threats faced by the church today" Times: Sunday evening 6.00 p.m. Monday - Wednesday 7.30 p.m. Location: The Peoples Church, 374 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario. Also at Toronto Baptist Seminary Chapel January 30th - 11:15am Speaker: Donald A Carson Canadian born, Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL where he has taught since 1978. Dr. Carson received his B.S in chemistry from McGill University, a M.Div. from Central Baptist Seminary, and his Ph.D. in New Testament from Cambridge University. Carson has written or edited over 40 books, including How Long, O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, and The Gagging of God: Christianity Confronts Pluralism. Music by: the dustkickers (each evening)

Some Resources for Pastors from the Internet

All of the links were taken from the best site for pastors, Bible teachers, and ministry workers: Unashamed Workman (read his site instead of mine!).

* Audio: Daniel Akin on Expository Preaching @ Southeastern
* The Cross: Your Greatest Criticism and Affirmation
* On Writing Book Reviews: Reinke
* Bible Exposition - Verse by Verse
* Why I Preach
* 9 Marks Workshop - Online for Free
* Choosing Stand Alone Sermons
* Lloyd Jones - Specialize in Preaching Jesus
* Applicationed To Death
* Better Bible Study Throughout The Church
* Audio: Alistair Begg, the Basics of Expository Preaching part A
* The Basics of Expository Preaching
* Expository Thoughts - Your Favorite Series
* Advice for New Preachers by Geoffrey Grogan
* How to Know Whether Preaching is For Me - Christopher Ash
* Dawkins and Lennox - Dawkins Debate Audio
* Able to Teach? - Pure Church
* Glorifying God With Your Senses
* Interview with Geoff Thomas
* Mohler: Recovering a Bold Vision of Expository Preaching
* Where and When Does One Pick Up the Faculty of Good Preaching?
* Thabiti: Leaders, Are We Hospitable?
* Perpetual Preaching Student?
* The Day I Missed The Point: MacArthur

How to Identify a "Reliable Carrier" of God's Truth

Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy Graham and author of Do I Know God? Finding Certainty in Life’s Most Important Relationship (Multnomah), states how identify a "reliable carrier" of God's truth here. I think is important for all people who seek to know what kind of pastor/teacher they should sit under week to week, as a guide for what types of "Christian" books one reads, and for those who work with youth and are often tempted to be relevant at the expense of Biblical truth.