SERMON PREPARATION

By Julian R. Snell

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t is a foregone conclusion that before a good sermon can be delivered a great amount of preparation is involved. Hours of study, information accumulated, oftimes over a period 'of several years, meditation, prayer, research, meditation on, pray­er, make up the list of activities. This is a part of the work of the preacher; it is necessary to the success of his 'efforts' and ~expected by all who benefit from h I S' efforts. The very strong possibility, in most cases at least, exists that the preacher benefits from this far more than any other.

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he rewards from adequate preparation are many. The very hope of seeing someone obey the Lord is a strong incentive; the evidence of greater knowledge and understanding in another and the strengthening of the faith of all make the effort worthwhile. Yet, there are some puzzling and perplexing things with respect to sermon preparation. Is all the preparation to be made by the preacher or teacher in the delivery of the lesson?

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hat about those who will listen to the gospel and meditate upon it for proper application? Are they required to do any preparing?

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he human mind, sometimes referred 'to as the heart in' the Bible, is a complex mechanism. For the serious things of life, it has to be prepared and tuned. Unlike a radio, watch, or a television set, more than an instant to twist a knob or push a button is involved. To profit to the fullest one's heart must be tuned to worship, to tile sermon, to the Lord's Supper 'and to 'the song service and prayers. If not tuned, the static and interference will have its affect.

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reparation of mind and heart produces the attitude that makes for a good sermon from the listener's standpoint as well as the preacher. In the very same audience some will be touched and moved and others will be left cold and. indifferent. To the one it is a good sermon and to the other there just wasn't much to it. What is the difference? In the same audience one will be impressed by the power of the gospel and the forceful presentation of it and another will be turned off because the speaker's voice was husky, he coughed continually, he was too serious, he was too pert and too this or that and on and on---. What makes this difference? Why is there such a wide range of reactions to the same sermon? Is it because' of the preacher’s preparation or the listener’s preparation? I suggest, in most instances, it is due to the preparation of the listener. Regardless of how much preparation a preacher makes before delivering a sermon, if the audience hasn't made some preparation too, it will be a big flop.

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he parable of the sower recorded in Luke 8 stresses the value of having the proper attitude of heart. The different soils represented the different conditions of heart to which the seed, the word of God (Luke 8:11), would b e exposed. The reaction was varied, not because of the quality or method of administering the seed but because of the condition of the soil. The varied reactions within the sane audience of people to a sermon are not explained by the presentation of the seed but by the attitudes of heart to which it is exposed.

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hether a sermon is good or bad is largely dependent upon preparation, the preacher’s and those that will hear him. If the heart of the listener is in tune to the glory and power of the gospel, this is what he will hear in every faithful presentation of the truth. If, as a listener, I have failed to make the right preparation by prayer, meditation and stirring within the joy of worshipping God and studying his word, the sermon will be a "dud," the singing a "drag," and the whole effort a big "0."

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he value of preparation is not be minimized. I am going to do mine. Will you do yours? If we will, every sermon will be a "good'un" and every period of worship an inspiration. &

DEATH: A SEPARATION

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ith gloomy face and grasping hands, death has stalked its prey from the beginning of man's recorded history. This aspect of man's experience entered the world with a note of tragedy, as brother enraged against brother arose to kill. Since that introduction death has held men in fear of its power. But, because of Jesus' teaching on death and because of what His death means for those who link themselves to Him by faith, death comes to lose its fearsome aspect. It is never entirely welcome when it appears, but it has lost its power to enslave man by fear.

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iologically, death means "cessation of life." When the rich fool's spirit was called from his body, the life of the body ceased and the "much goods" that he had stored up were of no use to him (Luke 12:16-20). The Greek word translated death means "the separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul from the body, by which life on earth is ended." When Jesus faced death on the cross, He prayed, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46).

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n death, the spirit lays aside the physical body. Peter, realizing the nearness of his own death, described it as the putting off of his "tabernacle" (2 Pet. 1:14,15), and James wrote, "the body without the spirit is dead" (James 2:26). The spirit leaves the body at death, bringing life and activity to an end on this material plane, but the inner man does not cease to exist. Paul, for example, wanted to "depart, and to be with Christ," but he knew that to "abide in the flesh" would benefit others (Phil. 1:21-23). The body of the faithful returns to the earth, as does the body of the wicked. But the spirit of the faithful enters immediately into a state of conscious blessedness, whereas the spirit of the wicked enters immediately into a state of conscious punishment (Luke 16:19-31). The immortal spirit will one day be reunited with an immortal, resurrected body (1 Cor. 15:35-50; 2 Cor. 5:1-4).

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he faithful and the wicked will then be eternally separated (John 5:28,29; 2 Thess. 1:6-10). Loved ones, separated by death, will be reunited in the resurrection. David said, concerning his dead son, "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Sam. 12:15-23). &

LET’S GO FISHING!

By Randy Cavender

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ishing is a favorite pastime for many people. We read in the Bible that Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen by trade. But the Lord called them to become “fishers of men" (Matt. 4:18-22). Brethren in Christ, we are also to be "fishers of men." Jesus instructed, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). Why should we be fishers of men?

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 suggest that we must be "fishers of men" because this is something the Lord expects of us. Mark 16:15 is not an option, it is an obligation. Further, Jesus said of those who would follow Him: "I will make you fishers of men." Thus, we must do this to please God.

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he value of the human soul is most important. Jesus asked, "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul" (Matt. 16:26)? It should be the attitude of every Christian that he will do all he can to help those who are lost come to know the truth that makes one free (John 8:32), so we must go about teaching the word of God (Acts 8:4).

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rethren, have you done any fishing lately? &