The goal should be to preach long enough to faithfully treat the text and short enough to effectively communicate to the congregation.
Sharing His Victory
The cross changes everything, but only because there was also a resurrection. On the cross, Jesus paid the price of sin; at the resurrection, He claimed the victory over sin and death.
Preachers Ink
Everywhere I look, I see tattoos popping up – on arms, necks, faces, ankles, and who knows where else? Even TV is overrun with shows featuring tattoos; I’ve run across at least 25 different programs, from Bad Ink to Best Ink to Epic Ink to Tattoo You. There are shows based on where the tattoos are created: NY Ink, London … Read More
Visitors Prefer Preaching – Sermon Quality
We preachers always knew sermons were important to church visitors, but now we have the data to prove it! The Pew Research Center recently released the results of a survey of 5,000 Americans about whether they have ever changed churches and, if so, how they search for a new church. And the number one factor cited by respondents? Quality of … Read More
Worship and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
As a pastor you don’t have a choice about which service you attend – unless you have a youth pastor to send to that service with all the complainers – but your members make a decision about which service to attend if there is more than one offering. So how do they make that decision? In a recent podcast, Thom … Read More
What is God Doing in the World?
I am just back from the United Kingdom, where I was doing some work on next year’s International Congress on Preaching, which will be held August 8-10 in Cambridge, England. Learn more at www.icop2017.com. Working on this event reminds me that God is doing so much beyond the borders of the United States. Particularly in Africa, Asia and South America, millions … Read More
What’s in a Name?
What’s in a name? Apparently, quite a lot. In an article by John Leo, he noted the current propensity for euphemisms: finding preferred terminology for traditional words and descriptions. For example, opponents of the inheritance tax have really picked up political steam since they started calling it a “death tax.” Imagine how many more G.I. Joes are sold with the … Read More
It’s On The Record – Guinness World Record
It hasn’t been long since a 31-year-old pastor in Mount Dora, Florida, set the record for the longest sermon ever preached. Pastor Zach Zehnder of Cross Church began his quest on a Friday and by Sunday had preached for 53 hours and 18 minutes. I have to assume he has no deacons at Cross Church, or they would have pulled … Read More
Thanks, But No Thanks
Thom Rainer recently cited his top 10 posts from 2015, and one of them was on things not to say to the preacher right after the sermon. Things Not to Say to the Preacher Right After the Sermon 1. “I am going to be late for lunch because you preached so long.” 2. “You must not have had much time … Read More