Good Preaching, 1of3

~ What Makes a Great Preacher? ~              

How do you define a great preacher? Does the Word of God define what makes a great preacher? If you had a great preacher would it satisfy you? Preaching is something not often discussed except within seminaries. 

A pastor friend of mine once told me, “Preaching is like cutting the grass—don’t admire it too much—you’ve got to get back out on the lawnmower next week.” As all pastors know preaching is an arduous demanding task. A pastor needs “to be on his game” continually—this is not easy! How often do you pray for your pastor and his preaching?

One of my favorite stories is the one about the pastor who at the end of a sermon announced that he was leaving the congregation for another assignment. At the door elderly Mrs. Smith told him, “Pastor, we will never be able to replace you.” Feeling satisfied he replied, “God will provide!” Mrs. Smith continued, “But pastor, our next pastor will not be as good as you have been. Now feeling somewhat proud the pastor replied, “God will surely supply the needs of this congregation.”  The conversation continued in this manner back and forth with the pastor becoming increasingly inflated. Finally, Mrs. Smith blurted out, “But pastor you don’t understand. I’ve been here through five pastors and each one has been worse than the one before! 

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). There is a reportedly true story about C.H. Spurgeon who following a service was told by one of his flock, “Charles Haddon Spurgeon, I want you to know that you just preached your greatest sermon.” To which Spurgeon immediately quipped, “Thank you—but the devil already told me that.”

What makes a great preacher? Someone has remarked, “a great preacher comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.” I like that! Part of a preacher's job is to challenge, convict, and cause change. 

There is a huge difference between preaching and communicating!  

Is a great preacher a great public speaker?  ~  A truly great preacher one time told me, “I am not a good public speaker, but God has given me the gift of preaching.” This provides a very meaningful clue—good speakers have developed their natural abilities (natural gifts from God) whereas good preachers have developed their spiritual gifts. 

Preaching is a calling, an anointing, and a spiritual gift.

Preaching is a special kind of communication—it is spiritual communication. This is because preachers have a different audience that public speakers. Blind people can’t see—spiritually blind people can’t see spiritual things (unless the Spirit of God works in them). Dead people can’t respond—spiritually dead people can’t respond spiritually (unless the Spirit of God works in them). 

The bottom line is that the greatest measure a preacher can use is the number of times individuals sincerely remark to him, “God spoke to me today!”

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Identity in Christ, 20

~ I Am Identified With Christ’s Resurrection ~

Introduction  ~  When Christians understand the various characteristics and aspects of the birthright which came with their second birth, they comprehend their identity in Christ.  Once Christians understand their identity, their destiny is also clear!  This series of “Abundant Life Now” posts will look at one of those facets each week. 

This Week’s Verse  ~  “What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not!  How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:1-6). 

Comment  ~  Being identified as a CHRISTian is all about identity with Christ.  The central work of Christ was His sacrificial death for sin at the Cross of Calvary.  This passage points out that baptism is a symbol of identification with Christ. 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “IDENTITY IN CHRIST” NOTES ~~~  

(1)  Each Monday ALN posts an example of Scripture’s description of aspects/characteristics of Christians—those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, as their personal Savior.

(2)  This series is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

(3)  God the Father described Himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  God the Son also said “I AM” (John 8:58). 

(4)  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and several times in the Gospel of John He refers to Himself as “I am.”  “I am the Bread of Life” (6:35-51), “I am the Light of the World” (8:12, 9:5), “I am the Door” (10:7-9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11-14), “I am the Son of God” (10:36), “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6), “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:10-11), and “I am the True Vine” (15:1-5). 

(5)  Individual Christians are also sons and daughters of God.  This series will show some of the various “I am” aspects of a Christian. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Christ—Pivotal Events, 2of3

~ 3 Events in the Life of Christ Where He Fought Alone On Our Behalf: The Garden of Gethsemane ~

The Situations  ~  Jesus Christ stood alone against the power of darkness on three distinct occasions.  The first may be thought of as primarily physical, the second mental, and the third spiritual.  In each case it was a spiritual battle against the unseen forces of evil (Ephesians 6:11-13).  In each of these situations the “Light of the World” waged war on our behalf against the unseen forces of evil.  In conquering each situation He was tackling basic problems of fallen mankind on earth. 

The Result  ~  Jesus Christ provided, and provides, the solutions to the sin problems which we encounter today. “We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16). 

The Second Event Was The Garden of Gethsemane (mental)  ~  “Coming out, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.  When He came to the place, He said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’  And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.’  Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.  And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.  Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.  Then He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep?  Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation’ (Luke 22:39-46). 

Comments  ~  (1) In the previous chapter Dr. Luke tells us that we should pray continually (Luke 21:36).  Besides the sweet communion we have with God when we have constant prayer we are told here that such prayer keeps us from falling for temptation (“Pray that you may not enter into temptation”).

(2) In His time of need Jesus Christ was strengthened by an angel.  How much more important for us to not try to go it alone!

Our Responsibility  ~  “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:11-13).

the key question:  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .