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Sermon
Preparation By
Julian R. Snell It
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 his efforts. The very strong possibility, in most cases
at least, exists that the preacher benefits from this far more than any other. The
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? What
about those who will listen to the gospel and meditate upon it for proper
application? Are they required to do any preparing? The
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 the
sermon, to the Lord's Supper and to the song service and prayers. If not tuned,
the static and interference will have its effect. Preparation
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. The
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 to a sermon
within the same audience of people are not explained by the presentation of the
seed but by the attitudes of heart to which it is exposed. Whether
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." The
value of preparation is not to 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. & "Will
Wonders Never Cease?" By
David Gibson The
ministry of Christ on earth was one marvel after another. "Never has a man
spoken the way this man speaks" (John 7:46). "So the crowd marveled as
they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the
blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.” (Matt. 15:31) After
investing Himself so completely in securing our salvation, He continues to this
very day as our great High Priest, enthroned beside the Father. Though beyond
our sight, He is never beyond reach (Heb. 4:14-16). And someday "we shall
see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). The
appropriate response to all this is to be filled with wonder and awe. But Satan
knows what that may lead to! The last thing Satan wants is for us to surrender
in reverent submission to the One who died that we might live! And so Satan
tries to divert our attention away from Jesus by distracting us with the
worrisome routine of everyday living or the pleasures of sin or the acquisition
of things or the addictions of the flesh—anything but Christ! "...the
god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from
seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of
God" (2
Cor. 4:4, NRSV). How
we need, then, to cultivate a Christ-centered sense of awe. What helps us do
this? Bible study, prayer, frequent fellowship with believers—all these can
keep us focused "on things above, not on things that are on the earth"
(Col. 3:2). It
is certainly possible to watch TV responsibly, but how easily Satan can use even
good programming to keep our minds focused on "things that are on the
earth." Every hour we keep our eyes glued to the screen is an hour not
invested in the things of the Spirit. "Therefore
if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where
Christ is, seated at the right hand of God" (Col.
3:1, NASB). & BULLETIN
DIGEST It
Is Impossible to Know That Miracles Are Impossible! By
Bob Myhan Atheists
and deists are fond of ridiculing those who believe in the reality of miracles.
“Miracles are impossible,” they say. “And anyone who believes that the
miracles recorded in the Bible really occurred is a fool!” But can one really
know that miracles are impossible? In
order to know that miracles are impossible, one would have to know that no
miracle has ever occurred and that no miracle will ever occur. To know this, one
would have to be unbound by space and time else a miracle might have occurred at
a place and time to which he did not have access. He would also have to be able
to explain every event in terms of natural law. But omnipresence, eternality and
omniscience are attributes unique to God. Thus, only God could know that
miracles are impossible, if indeed they were. However,
one can be as certain that miracles are possible as he is that there is an
intelligent Creator. The One who brought all things into existence can certainly
manipulate those things if and when He so desires. On
this point, the deist is like Barney Fife looking out through the bars of the
cell saying, “Who looks foolish now, Sheriff?”
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