Tag Archives: sermons

A Patriotic Worship Service

Posted on July 6, 2014 | 5 comments

I love the patriotic worship service we have at FBC O’Fallon, IL each 4th of July weekend. It is exciting, moving and fun.
Once in a while, I read others who complain about churches having a patriotic service. They remind us of the dangers of patriotism replacing worship and zeal for the nation replacing zeal for the Lord. Duly noted.
But I do believe we can keep a proper perspective of the role of God and country. The first point of my sermon on Sunday was “We have earthly responsibilities but a greater allegiance.” (I preached from the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from Daniel 3 and the greater allegiance referred to the Lord, not D.C. My wife says it was the greatest sermon preached in the history of Christendom- but Continue reading →

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Posted in Christianity, military, Uncategorized, worship

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Finding Salvation

Posted on April 29, 2014 | 3 comments

   I recently baptized a young Air Force pilot.  His wife gave her life to Christ many years ago.  But he felt that he was self-sufficient.  He didn’t need God.  If others did, that was fine.  He didn’t need anything else.  He was smart, successful and talented.  He would be just fine without giving control of his life over to God. 

   His wife prayed for him often.  She even persuaded him to join her in worship on occasion.  Their son attended our Christian school and he trusted Christ as his savior.  He was baptized in our church.  But dad, well, he just didn’t need God in his life.

   And then, one Sunday, God just broke through the stubbornness.  God showed him Continue reading →

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Posted in Christianity, evangelism, faith, military, Uncategorized

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What a Good Sermon Does

Posted on January 31, 2014 | 1 comment

There is some bad preaching out there.  There are sermons that are theological swamp lands and others too boring for the strongest caffeinated drinks.  Some sermons chase rabbits like a hound; others skirt the text like a ballerina.  Preacher, please don’t mislead me or confuse me or, heaven forbid, bore me with this great message.

I’ve been preaching most of my life- 25 years off, 28 years on. At the risk of opening myself to clever comments from amateur comedians who hear my sermons, let me tell you what a good sermon ought to do.

1. A good sermon informs. A good sermon tells us the truth. It teach us God’s word.  That should go unsaid, but because it too often goes undone, it needs saying.  Preacher, tell us what God says, not just what you think.  Tell us what we need, not just what we like or want.  Teach us the bible.  Tell us what God wants us to know.  This is an irreplaceable part of good preaching, but it isn’t enough.

2.  A good sermon inspires.  A good sermon tells us the truth in a way that moves our emotion as well as informs our logic.  It touches our spirit as well as our mind.  Preacher, use a story once in a while.  The bible is full of them.  Use some illustrations.  They grab our attention and they help us to see the truth in a different way.  Preach with some passion and stir us to greater things.

3.  A good sermon implements.  A good sermon applies the text to our lives.  It doesn’t leave us in theory, but connects God’s word to our practical world.  Preacher, answer the question “So what?”  Tell us why we need to know God is the creator.  Tell us why it matters that we understand what grace is.  Move us to action.  Move us to change.  We need to see that God’s word is relevant to our lives.

4.  A good sermon invites.  A good sermon invites us to trust Christ as Savior and to follow Him as Lord.  It invites us on this great journey of faith.  It calls us to decision as it confronts us with the truth.  There is an invitation to something greater and deeper and more real.  Preacher, don’t be satisfied for us to know the truth.  Call us with everything you have to follow the Truth with everything we have.

Excuse me now.  I’ve got to work on my sermon for this weekend.  This needs to be a good one.  Hey, even a pig can grub up a diamond every once in a while!

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Posted in baptist, bible, Christianity, Church, discipleship, evangelism, preaching, southern baptist convention, Uncategorized

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I Don’t Listen to Sermons

Posted on August 9, 2013 | 8 comments

   The reason I don’t listen to sermons is because I’m usually the one preaching.  But during my vacation time this summer I sat in some other churches and listened to someone else preach.  It is a different perspective, sitting in the congregation instead of standing behind the pulpit.  Here are some lessons learned.

   1.  Part of a good sermon depends on the speaker.  On vacation, I heard some fine preachers deliver some fine messages.  When they spoke with passion and grabbed me through stories or humor, I tended to listen better.  Boring messages are, I have to admit, harder to follow.  Please, no “amens” from the FBC O’Fallon, IL crowd! 🙂  And really, boring people with the greatest message ever?  Unacceptable.

   2.  Part of a good sermon depends on the listener.  If I am eager to learn, eager to worship and listening carefully for the Lords’ Word for my life, It makes a difference.  Analyzing the preacher’s ability- or lack thereof- isn’t that helpful.  Allowing my mind to wander limits the impact of the word.  Focus and a tender heart makes a difference regardless of the speaker.  If I am prayed up and eager to listen, I tend to get more from the message.

   3.  Part of a good sermon has nothing to do with the sermon.  If I was drawn into worship through music and prayer I found my heart better prepared to listen to the sermon.  If I got some decent rest the night before, I found the message easier to follow.  If the congregation was friendly and inviting to me before the service even began, I was apt to anticipate the message with greater enthusiasm.  If my relationship with God and my family and others was right, I found I was better at listening to the message that day.

   4.  Part of a good sermon depends on the Holy Spirit.  There were times when I felt the Holy Spirit was applying the message to me in a way the preacher might not have been able to anticipate.  God can use the words of the message to draw us in ways that are only indirectly related to the message itself.  Sometimes the message was more of a “God thing” than the result of the preacher.

   I am so thankful for the opportunity to preach.  But I am so very thankful for those who listen.  I’ll try to do my best when I preach.  I will study and pray and practice.  But I know that it is about more than me and my abilities. 

  I pray- for those of you going to a church service this weekend- that you will be a good listener; that you will have a “God moment”.  I pray your preacher does a good job.  But, I pray that you do your part. 

   Listen well this weekend.

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Posted in Church, preaching, Uncategorized

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