The biggest concern when preaching

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I had the privilege of preaching at my local church last Sunday on Hosea and Gomer – the recording is here if you’re interested.

But in preparation for preaching I encountered the biggest challenge that I face every time I preach; I’ve spent hours and hours digging around, researching the passage and history and everything, then have to choose what to leave out.

So, I thought I’d just throw down here some of the bits I originally included, but then missed out from the preach itself.

Old Testament use of the word ‘whore’

The Hebrew word for whore is zanuwn – it’s used four times in the opening phrase of Hosea and over 100 times throughout the Old Testament…this word is important for our understanding of the Christian faith!

Jesus’ heritage

Rahab was a prostitute mentioned in Jesus’ family tree.

Reformed porn star

There’s a lady out there called Kim, but most people would recognise her as Houston – she once won an award for the best selling video of all time as she broke the record for having sex with more people in one day than anyone in recorded history, but is now a Christian.

Unfaithful wife

A Christian lady had cheated on her husband during their engagement, she eventually confessed and the husband bought her a new, clean, white nightgown. He dressed her in it and said, ‘I choose to see you as Jesus does’.

Grace a second time (3:1)

‘If you have had grace once the Lord has more for you. Did you have happy times when old Dr. So-and-so was your pastor? Well, the doctor is dead, but God is not. Were you very much delighted when you used to sit in such-and-such a church, in years gone by, and have you moved into the country now? Yes, but God has not moved. He is in the country as well as in the town. You tell me you had such happy times when you were young. Yes, but God is neither younger nor older. Go to him, for he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.’ - Charles Spurgeon

God’s forgiveness, and forgetting

‘Suppose that someone had grievously offended any one of you, and that he asked your forgiveness, do you not think that you would probably say to him, ‘Well, yes, I forgive you; but I – I – I – cannot forget it’? Ah! dear friends, that is a sort of forgiveness with one leg chopped off, it is a lame forgiveness, and is not worth much.’ - Charles Spurgeon

Final chapter

‘This is a wonderful chapter to be at the end of such a book. I had never expected from such a prickly shrub to gather so fair a flower, so sweet a fruit; but so it is: where sin abounded, grace doth much more abound. No chapter in the Bible can be more rich in mercy than this last of Hosea; and yet no chapter in the Bible might, in the natural order of things, have been more terrible in judgment. Where we looked for the blackness of darkness, behold a noontide of light!’ - Charles Spurgeon

Why does God only save some?

‘God is a lover and a husband. He is not a rapist, he will not force his love. He will woo, draw by attraction, but not force.’ - Monsignor Charles Pope

You are sicker than you think

Isaiah 64:6 tells us that our finest efforts are a polluted garment – what is it like when we make no effort?

Shocking statistic

80% of married women admit to having frequent sexual fantasies about men who they are not married to. 98% of men do.

The nature of sin

‘It is not the importance of the thing, but the majesty of the Lawgiver, that is to be the standard of obedience…[The question] is really this: Is the Lord to be obeyed in all things whatsoever he commands?’ – Andrew Bonar

Truth That Sticks by Avery T. Willis Jr. and Mark Snowden

A lot of research has been done around the fact that the best way to get most people to learn something is through storytelling. This book proposes a programme of ‘Bible storying’ to enable effective discipleship.

It’s really convincing, and I am now acutely aware of how little people remember of what they’re taught. It’s also well written when you take into account its dual authorship.

I want to underline that I think this is a good and useful book, but I’m not sure it quite hits the bullseye for me. After reading it I’m really aware that my natural teaching style is ineffective, but I don’t know how to make it better! This is particularly difficult when it comes to studying a Bible text which itself isn’t a story. To my mind the book would have benefited from an example study.

Ironically, my single biggest issue with this book is that it isn’t written in the style that it’s preaching about!

Overall, I think this book is a really, really good first step. If you’re not sure about preaching styles, let this convince you…but don’t expect this to be a ‘how to’ guide to telling stories.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My sermon

I preached on Sunday on Nehemiah 1 – hope you enjoyed it if you were there as much as I did (afterwards – I was nervous as anything before)!

Anyway, just thought I’d point out that it’s on the internet for your joy now so you can download the notes and the audio right here!

You can also find the links on my website.

Terry Virgo and the doctor

According to Martin Lloyd-Jones the greatest sin of the evangelical church is telling God what he can not do. Click the following link to read a special account of Terry Virgo’s experience with the doctor, and read to the bottom to find a link to some downloadable audio sermons. Enjoy.

http://blog.terryvirgo.org/dr-martyn-lloyd-jones-preaching-in-pensacola/

500th post and preaching

Well, apparently this is the 500th post on this blog so I thought I’d revisit why I do it.

I think God gives people gifts but that it’s the responsibility of the individual to nurture and make best use of them. Apply when required.

For me, I think God’s called me to communicate his truth. I don’t get the chance to preach every week and currently don’t have a book contract (but I’d you want to offer me one get in touch) – as a result I thought I ought to keep up the practice here and with my Bible studies so that when I eventually step into that role more fully, I can do so more to the glory of God.

At the end of the day I’d rather make my mistakes and learn my lessons now rather than if I publish a book. Ironically, more people are likely to read this blog than I’d preach to if I were up there every Sunday

That all said, it’s my privilege to let you know that I’m preaching this Sunday morning at the Crown Church. It would be wonderful to see you there!

Speak Up With Confidence by Carol Kent

Speak Up With Confidence is a book to encourage public speakers to keep fighting the good fight and to step up with their gift.

Well, this book has a smiling American lady with perfect teeth (the author) on it. I know you’re not meant to judge a book by it’s cover, but I have to say my expectations for its contents were limited. I tried to read with an open mind, but the content of this book pretty much reflects the picture. About 10% of this book is brilliant – practical, applicable, easy-to-read – but the majority, I’m sorry to say, just isn’t really.

What you get is innumerable stories from Carol’s life in which she’s the example of positive lessons, and things others have done to her are the negatives. You get advice essentially tailored for Carol Kent, about how to wear clothes which work well with a lectern mic and so on, which really isn’t why I think anyone would read this book!

Her audience isn’t that well defined (which is odd, because defining your audience is one of her main points!) – she’s speaking to unbelievers, new Christians, men, women, leaders of small groups, pastors, conference speakers – if you skim quickly through the pages you’re bound to find something useful, but that seems more by chance than by design.

So, Carol, I’m sure you’re a wonderfully gifted, motivational speaker, who trusts that the Bible is the Word of God and that you wouldn’t have any success were it not for the Holy Spirit working in you…but I’m not sure your book’s quite right for me.