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Articles for the ‘Spirituality & Religion’ Category

Just like people are different, so are sermons. Some sermons just connect more deeply and seem to produce more results. Yes, the condition of the soul of the person doing the preaching is a huge factor as is his or her natural ability to address a public audience. But with these important things aside, I desire to briefly address practically why some sermons seem to hit the mark better than others. All of we who have preached before understand that a particular sermon may just be more powerful in its results than another sermon although the same preacher delivered both. Why is this? Out of many things that could be said in answer to this, let me suggest only three.

1. A sermon that speaks is a practical sermon.
To be practiced a sermon needs to be practical. In tending to people spiritually we must not forget that they live out their spiritual lives in this world below. Sermons that impact people will address how they are to live out their spiritual beliefs in real life. Make sure the sermon answers the question, “How does this help me live a better life?” Give them the information necessary to know how to practice the truth you are presenting in their daily lives. If what you preached can’t be used in daily life, one could question the usefulness of what is being preached. Of course, biblical truth is good and necessary, so work hard to show people how to put it to use. Bible sermons that are relevant are so needed.

2. A sermon that speaks is an understandable sermon.
With a sea of commentaries and theological study surrounding our study time, we preachers can easily get lost at sea and deliver sermons that never reach shore where the villagers live. Theological concepts and terminology can be verbally impressive but leave people wondering how to gain such lofty heights with their feet planted in this Earth. Keep your language and concepts as simple and understandable as possible. If children in the audience are soaking it in, then you are doing well. If people scratch their heads and talk about how smart you are as you speak over their heads, you should repent forthright and ask God to forgive you for making the way of salvation so complicated people cannot figure out how to get in.

3. A sermon that speaks is a life-giving sermon.
This is vitally important. Jesus came to give people life and when we share his word we should be giving life. He said when he spoke, he spoke life, so should we. To many people have had the sad experience of walking deadfully to a church in hope of help, only to be battered with anger and condemnation. Leave the judgment and condemnation to someone else. Decide you are going to preach the truth but in love. Be a life giving preacher who freely gives hope to all who come. This is the heart of Jesus. This is the heart of a sermon that will be heard and hungered for.

Add to this list other aspects if you wish, but realize that if you want people to practice what you preach, it needs to be practical. If you want them to apply then they must first understand it. If you want them to desire it, then offer them life through it.

This article written by Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. who is a pastor and also oversees Sermon Seedbed a free resource site for pastors and Bible teachers with tons of sermons and sermon outlines.

Of late, we have been hearing about our beloved world coming to an end. Have you ever given a thought to it? They say that 12 21 2012 marls the last day of our earth, as per the Mayan calendar. The 2012 phenomenon, as believed to be, will comprise of a series of cataclysmic or transformative events that will occur on 21 12 2012; with this, will end a five 125-year long cycle and begin a New Era.

It is believed that post 21 12 2012, earth and her inhabitants will go through a positive transformation which might be either physical of spiritual. As per general beliefs, the world will undergo a major catastrophe as the earth will be in total alignment with the moon, the sun and the Milky Way’s black hole. 

Modern thinkers opine that then end of the current cycle will usher in global consciousness shift whereby the world will progress and foster a spiritual revolution. There are so many significances of this date and that’s what makes 21 12 2012 so talked about.

According to some, 2012 will end 26,000 year Precession of the Equinoxes cycle, whereas, some believe that it signifies the end of a 104,000 year cycle. With the end of a cycle, comes a new age. But you must not be scared; instead you must understand the prophecy which says that we all have to be more and more aware and we need to wake up and answer to the beckon call of the new era. Standing on the cross-road, we must enjoy the historical landmark that we witness and respond to it positively.

Mankind will be transformed into a complete harmony of nature and all her children. 21 12 2012 is going to bring one of the best and most significant moments we have ever seen!

Three Marks of an Effective Short Sermon

Short sermons are in short supply. Rare is the pastor who has mastered the art of preaching shorter sermons.  I think most of us who are pastors may be guilty of thinking that a shorter message indicates we are slacking on the job. The truth is that it is much easier to preach a long sermon than it is a shorter one. Consider the following thoughts concerning the three marks of an effective short sermon:

1. It is a well prepared sermon.
Short does not mean you have to prepare less. Actually, it requires more sermon preparation time to keep it concise, on point, and moving effortlessly. A short sermon requires the same structure as a longer sermon, just less content. This means the content that is shared needs to be high quality and containing less superfluous material.

Be sure to study through your outline and notes several times. This will make it much easier for you to flow through the message. It will also keep you unchained from the pulpit if you wish to move around a bit.

2. It is a full meal sermon.
By this I mean that it leaves the people full and satisfied. A preacher has to cut a lot of fluff out of a good short sermon; hence, there is good lean meat to eat for those who are served.

For all those sermon ideas tumbling in your head, there can be a great teaching to help people. Work harder to present it in an unboring way in more palatable amount of time.

Short sermons can easily have three to five main points without sacrificing quality. Make sure your points are all explained in simplicity, illustrated with clarity, and applied with practicality. This will ensure a fulfilling experience for your audience.

3. Start and End with a Punch
A good introduction and a solid conclusion that calls people to action will help you start and stop while keeping people’s attention.

Be willing to be unorthodox in your introductions to grap people’s imaginations. Be slower, more calm, and very confident as you bring your preaching to a close. This is when you want to lead people to make the right and good decision.

These are three among many thoughts concerning a how to preach an effective short sermon. Now, you have been briefed, so be brief.

For more info like this written by Eddie Lawrence, visit Sermon Seedbed which is a dot come site that provides free sermon outlines for pastors and Bible study teachers.

What are the characteristics of sermons that audiences hear and heed. Whatever they are, they will be good to add to your pastor resources. Let’s look at some of them.I suggest that there are four things to consider that sets a sermon that works apart from others.

1. First it is memorable. Let’s face it, if after the final “Amen!” is spoken, if everyone forgets what was said, then what was said was not that impressive. An audience has a hard time applying a message from one Sunday to the next, if they cannot remember what it was. So such a sermon has elements that make it memorable. Appropriate stories, powerful illustrations that actually are illustrative, and words employed that strike the memory of the audience are all important. Correct application of the sermon also marks the memory. That “this really hits home feeling will plant it into the memory field of the hearer.

2. Secondly, it connects on three levels. The sermon should be reasonable and make sense. It should connect intellectually. A sermon on faith can stretch a man’s natural mind, yet make sense that God would work in such a way since God is a spiritual being whose ways and thoughts are beyond ours. In other words, it makes sense that we cannot always understand God. But to bathe a sermon in ignorance of context, history, good exegesis, and bad exposition can be a hindrance to the hearer. It is amazing how Jesus taught in a way that common people could easily understand his illustrations, yet were tremendously stretched by his application.

The sermon should connect emotionally. Aim at the heart and those “gut” feelings will begin to be stirred within your hearers. Aiming only at the mind without regard to the heart is equally foolish. The heart level is where life change occurs. Preaching should be done within the crucible where real life occurs. Pain is real. Lust is real. Temptation is real. Desperation is real. A message may work in a mental lab and fall flat on its face on the street corner of the real world. This is where a sermon becomes relevant.

The last aspect of connecting has to do with the will. God made us with a will and we use it constantly. Your audience is continually deciding to tune in further or change the channel on you. Aim at the will. Target why what you are sharing is important. An old adage says, “A man persuaded against his will is of the same opinion still.” You may get the mind, and the heart, but the will is the decision maker. A good message answers the question, “Why does this matter?” This is the jugular of the will. Jesus did this, “Repent or you will perish!”

3. The third mark of a sermon that works is that it is true. For the preacher to build any sermon on a foundation that will not rest upon the eternal truth of Scripture is to plan to fail. Not only will the sermon fail but the people who apply it will as well. Truth is established. It has been set in place by God Himself through His Word. Build primarily on what He has said, not what someone else has said. Known and applied truth still sets men free.

4. The last mark of such a sermon is that it is incarnational. Now, that’s a big theological word that simply means, in is delivered through a human being. The man or woman somewhat becomes the message. It is not delivered apart from the personality through which it is being presented. The truth of the Gospel is that God became a man to rescue us from the ravages of sin. Through the art of preaching, truth is brought to men as the Spirit of God bears witness. Passion and concern mark the man who has been marked by the message.

In summary, make a mental check-list as you work on your weekly sermon and impose the following four questions:

 -In what ways, am I making this sermon easy to remember?

-In what ways, am I aiming at the heart of the audience?
-In what ways, am I supporting what I am saying with Scripture?

-In what ways, am I actively applying the sermon to my own life?

Certainly there are other elements to consider, but these four are important and I believe a part of sermons that work. I wish you much success in writing and delivering sermons that ultimately are lived out in the lives of your audience.

Written by: Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. of Sermon Seedbed which offers free pastor resources for pastors and Bible teachers.

This article will address the seven basic building blocks that are found in sermons. Entire books have been written on just one of these elements so please understand the few sentences I offer are just enough to head you in the right direction. Now let’s take just a peek at each of them.

1. Title
The title is much more important that you think. You want a title that will encapsulate the message in just a few words. Let me give you an example — Living On the Wrong Side of Your Hurt! This title tells a story, carries deep emotion, and offers hope, all in eight words. A title should create interest, curiosity, or longing in within a person’s heart when heard or read.

2. Introduction
A good introduction will move the audience from where they are to join you in what you want to share with them. Think of it as a bridge built to bring people out of their daily world to where you are with a desire to hear what you have to say. Be careful that it is not too long. It is just the beginning of the sermon, not the sermon itself.

3. Text
A sermon must rest on eternal truth. The Bible is the book preachers must use as the authority in their life and in their ministry. Think of it as the foundation. Everything you share should rest securely upon it without contradiction. What you say must rest upon what God has said. In this manner, you are connecting the spirits of the people with the Spirit of God.

4. Transitions
Sermon Outlines that the people are able to understand and follow will have good transitions included within it. Little is said about this, but transitions are very important. From each element to the next there should be transitions that tie them all together in a beautiful flow that enters the human heart.

5. Main Points
Without being a wisecrack, the main points are the main points. They are the main statements that you want to make. Try to keep these from three to five in number. If you go beyond that you will be pressed for time or take too much time. Word these points in such a way that they can be easily understood and remembered.

Within these main points there will be other content such as explanation, illustration and application. Some preachers enjoy alliterating their points so they can be easily remembered. Others will make each point make a statement or a question. There are many ways this can be done, so give your people a variety and it will keep you fresh.

These are five of the seven elements are the basic building blocks of a sermon. Familarize yourself with them and learn as much as you can. It will only help you to become a better preacher. The preacher who excels in the basics will soon soar in the advanced. To see the last two elements, visit this free sermons page on Sermon Seedbed.

This article written by Eddie Lawrence, D.Min. who is an author, pastor, and also oversees Sermon Seedbed which is a free resource site for pastors and Bible teachers offering free sermons and sermon outlines.

Four Suggestions on How to Preach A Sermon

Imagine it! Knees wobbling! Heart racing! Sweat popping! Mind Swirling! What has happened? Are you in love? No, you have just been asked by your pastor to preach a sermon in an upcoming worship service. Yikes! What do you do? Quickly say “No!” and make up an excuse; or, pray for courage and seize the moment? Let me encourage you to go for it. Whether you have been called to be a preacher or not, it can be a very rewarding experience for you. Here are some preaching and sermon preparation pointers for you to consider:

1. Start Praying for Wisdom and Courage

This should go without saying, but I am saying it just the same. Ask God to help you, direct you, and use you for His glory. Pray for the people who will be there when you preach. Pray for yourself to be calm and courageous. Pray for the message to be meaningful and memorable.

2. Select a Relevant and Helpful Topic

Since you are going to preach, use the opportunity to give people a message that will help them in their daily lives. By all means, avoid the temptation of trying to impress people.

You will make a greater impression by giving them instructions that will help them live their lives more fully.

You can easily select a topic that will help people by simply considering the problems they face and the struggles they have to go through in life. Everyone needs encouragement. Everyone needs to know how to handle wrong emotions. Everyone has to learn how to forgive, and on and on the list could go. The Bible is a great resource manual for life and will give you the instruction you will need to pass on to others.

3. Use Stories that Clearly Illustrate Your Points

People remember and relate to stories,especially personal stories. Don’t shy away from speaking about your own struggles or triumphs. This makes for good sermon material.

Sharing how God helped you or blessed you will encourage others as well. This is the power of testimony at work. The introduction or beginning of the sermon is a good place for a personal story.
Even a humorous event that happened to you can be very impacting. Just make sure you are able to weave the aim of your sermon into the particular story you tell.

4. Keep it Moving and Keep it Short

It will be far easier than you think to have more to say than you have time to say it. Use a clear and simple outline and flow through it in a timely manner.

If you finish with people wanting more, you have done well. Even a great start can be lost in a long tedious sermon. Try to keep it around 25-35 minutes maximum.

There are many more suggestions that could be made, but take these four simple ones I have shared and keep them in mind when you preach a sermon for people who like you, need lifting up and blessed.

This article writtenby Eddie Lawrence who is a pastor, author and overseer of Sermon Seedbed, a site that offers free sermons and sermon outlines for pastors and Bible teachers.

Think of any memorial service and you see flowers. It really is barely astonishing that both funeral directors and florists declare that funeral wreaths and sprays come 3 rd in their leading 5 selling goods. Flowers have already been utilized at funerals for years and years. In ancient times, not simply were they decorative, they were practical, given that their perfume assisted to cover up unpleasant odours.

These days, flowers are seen as a classic expression of grieving and, as with the rest of the funeral, they feature a great amount of social grace. Floral sprays – and also what are frequently known as as sympathy plants – usually are sent direct to the memorial service residence when the death is announced. On the day of the funeral, these are put in the hearse, arranged on and across the coffin, accompanying the loved one on their ultimate journey.

Typically, the most popular funeral flowers consist of lilies, carnations, chrysanthemums, gladioli and also roses. Muted colors tones will always be common, in particular for a feminine touch, whilst red-colored suggests unequaled love and white signifies tranquility. The particular season may also impact on accessibility to certain flowers.

Nevertheless, florists are the experts and will often provide advice. They can create unique tributes, which range from easy ‘cottage garden’ baskets and arrangements to sophisticated, contemporary arrangements. Wreaths are a common option, since they are made by means of a circle, that is the symbol of eternal existence. Flower sprays tend to be equally well-liked. These lie flat, exhibiting the blossoms much more openly for viewing from just one single side.

The important thing to selecting proper flowers should be to pick an offering you think family members is likely to appreciate. Some families request that donations be made to a particular good cause instead of flowers. This is a more pragmatic approach, as floral tributes are usually discarded by funeral directors following two or three days and in the case of cremations they are usually disposed instantly following the service.

However, few funerals are totally without flowers. Unlike the commonly sombre tone and dress of the mourners, they bring in a warm component of beauty and colour. Flower tributes display regard to the deceased, whilst offering great comfort to the family members, as they visibly convey emotions that many find hard to put into words.

Even though traditional, floral tributes don’t need to always be limited by the time of funeral or cremation. A lot of funeral directors will tell you that bereaved families value receiving blossoms within the weeks and even a few months following the memorial service. They provide a comforting reminder that people have not forgotten their loved one, especially if combined with a little individual note.

For the ordinary layman hearing about communion cups, the first thing that comes to mind is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

Popular culture has depicted some of the most significant religious artifacts in a very unorthodox manner, but the good thing is that it helps ordinary people to get acquainted with these religious items.

In the movie, Indiana Jones was looking for Jesus’ cup. For believers, this is called the Holy Grail, the ultimate communion cup which was used by Christ himself.

In literature and some Christian traditions, the Holy Grail did not just mean that cup of Christ, but also stood for the dish and plate used by Jesus at the Last Supper he had with his disciples.

Throughout centuries, this Holy Grail came to be represented as a communion cup that we are now familiar with.

Of course, the use of communion cups varies all over the world. Many cups are made of different kinds of materials depending on the country and the people celebrating it. For example, some of the Christian peasants in Mexico created a communion cup from baked clay while some Christian Palestinians created one from olive wood.

Today, we have come a long way from the glass communion cups that were used before during communion masses. Some small congregations still use glass cups, but it’s a very time consuming process to have to wash each cup after service. Hence, most churches, especially big ones, go for plastic communion cups instead.

No matter what communion cups are made for, they serve one major purpose, and that is to symbolize the faith that people have in Christ.

Communion cups have had a long history. From the Holy Grail to the silver chalices used by the Egyptians and Sumerians to the plastic communion cups we use today. They are all significant for the people that use them in their practice.

As mentioned, the Holy Grail or Chalice is celebrated as one of the most sacred vessels in the Church and it is often blessed prior to using it.  

Even if the Bible does not offer the cup during the Last Supper dinner or make any significance about it, believers still uphold it as a sacred item. Pilgrims in Jerusalem believed that another significant cup was still venerated in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

It supposedly contained the sponge that was used by Christ at Calvary. This was apart from the tradition and belief surrounding the cup from the last supper.

Out of this faith came the belief in the legends of the cup, from Indiana Jones to Merlin and Dan Brown, the story of the ultimate Communion Cup or the Holy Grail is still alive and celebrated.

Of course, legends and stories about the exact Holy Grail have sifted through and became muddled through the years. Whatever the truth may be, there is no denying the fact that the significance of communion cups in today’s Christian celebrations and among believers is still as strong as ever.

Over the years , there are many changes in the designs of communion cups , its not far any different when we talk about communion plates and even church candles.

Most of us have heard of the research that says public speaking is the number one fear among Americans. Now imagine standing before a group of people in a public setting and speaking to them for the first time. Also imagine that they were waiting to hear you teach them about God, the Bible, and to tell them how to live their lives. Now you have a glimpse into the world of preaching.

I remember when I was first started sensing a call to preach in my life. I knew that it would involve preaching from the Bible to people, but I did not have a clue about how to preach. I scurried to the nearest Christian bookstore to see if they had a manual on how to preach. Fortunately there were a few books written by pastors to teach what they had learned to others who felt called to preach the Gospel. Not long thereafter, I discovered there was a whole field of study about the different aspects of preaching. It is called homiletics. I would read any books I could find about homiletics. I was a preacher studying how to preach.

Later I became a seminary student. My wife, children, and I packed our bags, sold our house, and moved to the big city so that I could pursue my Masters of Divinity degree. By that time, I had five years of preaching under my belt, but still so much to learn. Fortunately, the professors of the seminary knew that every wet behind the ears preacher boy needed training in the mechanics of preaching. One of our required classes was an entire year long study of homiletics. It was fun studying different preachers and learning how they put sermons together and how they delivered them to public audiences.

During that year of classes, we students were also required to preach a sermon in front of our peers to be critiqued by them. I know the great day of judgment will be a fearful day, but let me tell you; it was a fearful thing to stand in front of a room full of preachers and to preach to them with their critique sheets on their desks and pencils in their hands. We all survived and really learned a lot.

I know in a short article such as this, I cannot presume to teach anyone how to preach. But here are some thoughts to think about that may help get you started and help you gather some great information on the subject.

1. Since you are online reading this article, use your computer to also search for good preaching advice. Most pastors have a few personal tips that are meaningful and helpful to them. Glean this wisdom from pastors’ blogs and good preaching sites.

2. Surf through some sermon sites and look for eye catching titles. Just a sermon title can sometimes ignite your creativity and a whole message will follow. And often, that message may go in an entirely different direction than the one posted on the website where you found the title.

3. Study the sermon outlines of other preachers. This too will teach you how to look at a passage and see how it was broken apart for preaching purposes. This is a good way to learn.

4. Most sites have a newsletter that they send out. If you get just one idea per month from a newsletter, it is well worth the time it takes to scan over it. Learning from others is the way we all learn in all the different areas of our lives.

5. Nothing is to replace prayer, reliance on the Holy Spirit and a focus on Jesus. Keep these first things first, but also have an humble heart that allows you to recieve and learn from others.

God bless you and as you grow in your knowledge of “how to preach” then preach the Word!

This article is by Eddie Lawrence who is a pastor and overseer of Sermon Seedbed a website full of free sermons.