This past Sunday I preached from 1 Peter 4:12-19. My message was entitled, Through Fiery Trials, as I walked through these three questions:
1. What are fiery trials?
2. Why does God bring fiery trials?
3. How should we respond to fiery trials?
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I needed this message from God through Francis Chan. It broke me and brought me to tears.
As Francis Chan started his message at the recent DG conference he shared two questions he asks himself as he prepares to speak:
1. Am I worried about what people will think of my message or what God will think of it?
2. Do I genuinely love the people I’m about to speak to?
Watchman Nee first divided the book of Ephesians into 3 basic sections in his book, Sit, Walk, Stand. It’s a simple and profound reminder that our entire life is meant to be lived out from the finished work of Christ on our behalf.
Sit – Our position in Christ (Eph. 1:20, 2:6)
Walk – Our life in this world (Eph. 4:1, 17, 5:2, 8b)
Stand – Our attitude toward Satan (Eph. 6:13-14)
Sometimes we separate preaching and counseling as two distinct parts of pastoral ministry. But good, gospel-centered preaching is a means of soul care to believers as Lloyd Jones makes clear in this quote below:
The preaching of the Gospel from the pulpit, applied by the Holy Spirit to individuals who are listening, has been the means of dealing with personal problems of which I as the preacher knew nothing… D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
My pastor, Tony Rose, models this well. You can listen to his radio broadcast on 94.7 FM/900 AM at 6:00 PM. or go here for past broadcasts.
Daniel Montgomery, Pastor of Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky, shares 5 different “images of a small god” that we create in our minds. Each one is a startling contrast to Jesus Christ, as described in Colossians 1:14-23. The Jesus we often settle for is not the Jesus of scripture. He’s a small Jesus, who acts like: (click on each one for more)
As we think about all the types of people we preach to on Sundays, don’t forget the children. They may be the biggest group of unreached people in your church…and I guarantee when you get on their level, the adults will be tracking right there with you.
Spurgeon once said:
…He is no preacher who does not care for the children. There should be at least a part of every sermon and service that will suit the little ones. It is an error which permits us to forget this.
~ Charles Spurgeon, Spiritual Parenting, 15.
Here’s a short illustration from my latest sermon on showing the difference between trying to do life on your own versus life together in community. The visual of “the juggler” and “the wheel” was taken from the book, Total Church, by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis. Thanks to Eric Ball for putting this video together!
I’ve always applied Romans 12:1-2 to individual Christians. But look at it.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers (plural), by the mercies of God, to present your bodies (plural) as a living sacrifice (singular), holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind …”
Paul envisioned all the individuals in the church community offering up their bodies corporately to God as one living sacrifice. It’s no coincidence that he continues on in the following verses (3-13) to show us what it looks like to be a body that humbly serves one another in love. From this text and others we see that gospel transformation is something God wants for us to experience together. We change together as we remember God’s mercy, live humbly and are committed to community. On Sunday I preached from Romans 12:1-13 on this topic. I pray it encourages you.
This Sunday I’m blessed to be a part of Stephen Cavness’ Spring Renewal Services at his church in Cave City, Kentucky. Here’s the list of speakers and their topics. I’m looking forward to preaching from Romans 12:1-2 on, “The Gospel for Day 2 and Beyond.” My buddy, Lisle Drury, will preach on Sat. from Luke 18:9-14 on “Genuine Repentance: for Salvation and Everyday.” Please pray for us.
thursday, may 20th 6:30 PM – randy shaw – “the holiness & majesty of god”
friday, may 21st – 6:30 PM – brandon porter – “man’s relationship to god: in need of redemption”
saturday, may 22nd – 6:00 PM – lisle drury – “genuine repentance: for salvation & and every day”
sunday, may 23rd – 11:00 AM – doug wolter – “the gospel for day 2 and beyond”
sunday, may 23rd – 6:00 PM – john nelson – “more than religious: loving christ ”
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