10 keys to effective preaching 2
(This is part 2 of a 5 parts blog; for part 1 just scroll down this page)
When it comes to preaching and teaching the Bible, we all fall short. Who hasn't quoted the wrong reference or (worse) read the wrong passage of Scripture altogether? Who hasn't, in the heat of the moment, accidentally gotten tongue-tied and credited Paul with the words of Peter? You may even find yourself creating a homiletical mountain out of an exegetical molehill. Everyone makes mistakes, but for all the mistakes preachers can (and do) make, here are 10 that we should do our best to avoid at all costs.
4. You should always point to Christ in your message
Seeing that Jesus Christ is the focal point of every passage, it stands to reason that He should, therefore, be the focal point of every sermon. As Dennis Johnson writes, "Whatever our biblical text and theme, if we want to impart God's life giving wisdom in its exposition, we can do nothing other than proclaim Christ."
The most humbling experience of my seminary years was related to this. In one of my preaching classes, I had to give several sermons in front of my peers and professor. The first sermon I preached was well received and complimented. So after the second sermon (from the Old Testament), I sat down arrogantly waiting to hear "the showers of blessings" and compliments about how well I had done. My professor said, "That message was passionate and challenging … but you made one huge mistake." He continued, "You could have preached that message in a Jewish synagogue or a Muslim mosque and [the congregation] could have said ‘Amen!' to everything you said. You never once mentioned Christ in your entire message." He left me with this challenge: "You need to be sure that every time you preach, even from the Old Testament, that if a Jew or Muslim were in the audience that [he or she] would feel extremely uncomfortable."
Remember, we are not simply preachers; we are to be distinctly Christian preachers.
5. You have to encourage your hearers to faith and obedience
It's like the old hymn: "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey." Regardless of the passage, the goal of every sermon should be to remind people that whatever the issue or doctrine at hand God and His Word are reliable.
When God gave the Ten Commandments, He didn't begin by barking orders at the Israelites. In fact, the Ten Commandments don't start with commands. They begin with the reassuring words, "I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt …" (Ex 20:1). In other words, God reminded them, "You can trust Me; that's why you should obey Me."
The real motivation for Christian living is not "I have to obey God," but it is "Given everything I know to be true about Him, why wouldn't I obey God?" A good sermon will help people to think and live that way.
(To be continued)

𝔾𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕗

Jesus doesn't play down the fact that His disciples will have to endure sorrow in this world. But Jesus encourages his disciples already before any of this happens. He promises them that He will return, and that their sorrow will turn into deep joy.
Looking back, we see that Jesus has kept his word. He rose from the death and appeared to his disciples. And even though He later returned to his Father in heaven and thus left them ‘alone’ again, this joy lasted. Luke records how the disciples “worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God” (Luke 24:52-53).

Matthew 7:13-14... Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

John 3:16... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON. BE PREPARED!

Matthew 7:13-14... Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

John 3:16... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING SOON. BE PREPARED!

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

Perception is how we see and understand what occurs around us—and what we decide those events will mean. Our perceptions can be a source of strength or of great weakness. If we are emotional, subjective and shortsighted, we only add to our troubles. To prevent becoming overwhelmed by the world around us, we must, as the ancients practiced, learn how to limit our passions and their control over our lives. It takes skill and discipline to bat away the pests of bad perceptions, to separate reliable signals from deceptive ones, to filter out prejudice, expectation, and fear. But it’s worth it, for what’s left is truth. While others are excited or afraid, we will remain calm and imperturbable. We will see things simply and straightforwardly, as they truly are—neither good nor bad. This will be an incredible advantage for us in the fight against obstacles.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣

The second part of the book deals with how to take action. First, remember: Action is commonplace, right action is not. As a discipline, it’s not any kind of action that will do, but directed action. Everything must be done in the service of the whole. Step by step, action by action, we can dismantle the obstacles in front of us. With persistence and flexibility, we can act in the best interest of our goals. Action requires courage, not brashness—creative application and not brute force. Our movements and decisions define us: We must be sure to act with deliberation, boldness, and persistence. Those are the attributes of right and effective action. Nothing else—not thinking or evasion or aid from others. Action is the solution and the cure to our predicaments.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡

Will is our internal power, which can never be affected by the outside world. It is our final trump card. If action is what we do when we still have some agency over our situation, the will is what we depend on when agency has all but disappeared. Placed in some situation that seems unchangeable and undeniably negative, we can turn it into a learning experience, a humbling experience, a chance to provide comfort to others. That’s will power. But that needs to be cultivated. We must prepare for adversity and turmoil, we must learn the art of acquiescence and practice cheerfulness even in dark times. Too often people think that will is how bad we want something. In actuality, the will has a lot more to do with surrender than with strength. Try “God willing” over “the will to win” or “willing it into existence,” for even those attributes can be broken. True will is quiet humility, resilience, and flexibility; the other kind of will is weakness disguised by bluster and ambition. See which lasts longer under the hardest of obstacles.

5 lessons from book “The laws of human nature”

1. Understand your own nature: The first step to understanding human nature is to understand your own nature. This means recognizing your biases, tendencies, and limitations. By understanding your own nature, you can become more aware of how it affects your interactions with others.

2. Use empathy to connect with others: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. By using empathy, you can connect with others on a deeper level and build stronger relationships. Empathy also allows you to see things from other people's perspectives, which can help you negotiate and resolve conflicts more effectively.

3. Be aware of the dark side of human nature: Human beings have a dark side that includes envy, greed, and aggression. By being aware of these tendencies, you can avoid falling prey to them yourself and also recognize them in others. This awareness can help you navigate difficult situations and avoid toxic relationships.

4. Master the art of communication: Communication is key to understanding and influencing human behavior. To master the art of communication, you need to be a good listener, be clear and concise, and understand the emotions and motivations of the person you are communicating with.

5. Embrace lifelong learning: Understanding human nature is an ongoing process. To become more skilled at it, you need to embrace lifelong learning. This means reading, observing, and reflecting on your experiences to continually improve your understanding of human behavior and psychology.

HOW TO RESPECT YOURSELF

(1) Stop looking for who is not looking for you.

(2) Stop begging.

(3) Stop saying more than is necessary.

(4) When people disrespect you, confront them immediately.

(5) Don't eat other people's food more than they eat yours.

(6) Reduce how you visit some people, especially if they don't reciprocate it.

(7) Invest in yourself. Make yourself happy.

(8) Stop entertaining gossip about other people.

(9) Think before you talk. 80% of how people value you is what comes out of your mouth.

(1 Always look your best. Dress the way you should be addressed.

(11) Be an achiever. Get busy with your goals.

(12) Respect your time.

(13) Don't stay in a relationship where you don't feel respected and valued. Walk away.

(14) Learn to spend money on yourself. That's how people will learn to spend on you.

(15) Be scarce sometimes.

(16) Be a giver more than a receiver.

(17) Don't go where you are not invited. And when invited don't overstay your welcome.

(18) Treat people exactly the way they deserve.

(19) Except they owe you money, two call attempts is enough. If they value you they will call you back.

(2 Be good at what you do. Be the best.