10 Ways to Help Listeners Hear

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“We’re “sitcom” people accustomed to listening in spurts interrupted by commercials. Congregations are the same way, so here are some steps to take to help them listen better” - Baptist Press

8 Unique Ways to Prepare to Preach or Teach this Weekend

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“If you are teaching a small group or preaching a sermon this week, you recognize that your preparation matters. You might even have a pattern of prep you have followed for a number of years. Even if you do, though, maybe one of these unique ways to prepare might help you this weekend” - Chuck Lawless

Don’t Avoid Conflict: How to Lead Classroom Discussions on Theology

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“the theological classroom is precisely the place where these conversations must occur. Avoiding them would short-circuit spiritual and intellectual formation. If we want students to grow in understanding—true understanding—we must learn how to handle difficult classroom discussions in a way that models and cultivates clarity, humility, and grace.” - Word by Word

What Makes a Ministry Appealing? (Part 2)

By Paul J. Scharf on

In the previous installment, I began building upon a statement by my professor of systematic theology at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Myron J. Houghton. Basing his thoughts on 2 Cor. 2:15-16, Dr. Houghton stated: “Your ministry is like a fragrance. It will attract some, and it will repel others.”

We are considering here some Biblically legitimate means of making our ministries of the utmost appeal to the greatest number of people. In the first place, we considered the need to know our audiences. We will look at the final two ideas in this, the concluding installment.

What Makes a Ministry Appealing? (Part 1)

By Paul J. Scharf on

I marvel with gratitude at the wonderful opportunities that the Lord God has given me to learn from some exceptional teachers. My appreciation of this gift only grows as the years go by—and as I speak with other Christian leaders who, for one reason or another, never had such an opportunity.

One of the men who has had the greatest impact upon my theology and thinking is Dr. Myron J. Houghton, about whom I have written before. I had the awesome privilege of studying under him in five courses at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary.

On Being the Main Character in Your Own Sermon

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“…if you’ve ever led as much as a single Bible study, then I expect you know the temptation. I expect you have longed to make much of Jesus, but have also felt the desire to have people make much of you.” - Challies