As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
As I approach my 60th year of life, I find myself more aware of things I’ve learned that I should try to pass on to future generations. One of those skillsets is how to craft a good sermon. I still have room for improvement, but I do have an approach to sermon-crafting and delivery that a fair number of preachers could learn something from.
“Church growth strategies have been tough on small church pastors…. But a small church pastor is uniquely positioned to drive a revival of discipleship in ways that larger churches and celebrity pastors simply cannot replicate.” - Church Leaders
“…he will preach his final sermon as pastor in October…. Still, at almost 90 years old, Swindoll insists his age will not keep him from continuing to serve in other ministry-related capacities.” - MinistryWatch
“…since ordering my church’s worship is a part of my job, I knew I needed some help. I needed to get organized. For pastors like me, here are some tips for getting organized for the task.” - 9 Marks
“As a church practitioner in groups ministry for the past three decades, I’ve seen the benefits of having both kinds of groups to reach different kinds of people.” - Lifeway
“If you’re a parent and you have a child, you discipline that child because you love that child. You discipline that child because you want what’s best for that child.” - Church Leaders
Related: “He fell today; I may fall tomorrow.” - Ref21
The handwriting was already on the wall before the pandemic killed it. Attendance at the evening service of a typical Bible-preaching church in America has been plummeting for years. Many abandoned it long before COVID restrictions forced each church to evaluate what was truly essential to its ministry. While some resolutely returned to the old schedule, many dropped their evening service in the subsequent years.
“I believe that humor is a gift given to man by God as an expression of our Maker’s innate creativity. Jokes are what we create when we play with words and ideas until they make us laugh and fill our hearts with the medicine of joy (Prov. 17:22).” - 9 Marks
“I’ve sat in Bible study groups (and cringed) when the leader asked the group, ‘What do you want to study next?’ Like preschoolers craving their favorite snack, people tend toward their favorite Bible books or topics.” - Lifeway
“Christians can’t seem to stop singing: in catacombs, in cathedrals, everywhere throughout church history. In Saudi Arabia, the underground churches soundproof the walls and windows, sometimes with mattresses, so they can lift their voices in praise without detection.” - TGC
Discussion