Preaching today

This summer I am beginning a doctoral program with an emphasis in preaching. The doctorate is through the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) and I will be working through Garrett Evangelical Seminary. I spend a fair amount of time studying preaching because I would like to improve my own delivery, content, theological soundness...

Some of the great preachers I appreciate are: Peter Marshall, Ellsworth Kalas, Fred Craddock (learning to appreciate him more), Gerald Kennedy, Harry Emerson Fosdick. There are probably a few more I really enjoy and get a lot from, but here's my question to you.

Do you have a preacher that has stood out for you? What is it that makes that preacher so good, in your opinion? Is it content, is it delivery, is it style? What makes a preacher good?

Is this preacher someone who has helped you grow spiritually (maybe even theologically) through the sermon? Has this preacher encouraged you to delve deeper into scripture or brought it to life somehow?

What makes a preacher good? Your thoughts would be appreciated and helpful to me.

Putting On The Heart of Christ

A couple of weeks ago I completed a sermon series entitled, "Putting On the Heart of Christ". Throughout this series we looked at several key areas of our lives where we could be more like Christ including: Freedom (freedom of the heart to worship and follow Christ), Gratitude, Reverence, Generosity and Faith.

In the midst of this sermon series Brenda, Grace and I had to go to Kentucky to spend some time with her father who had been recently diagnosed with colon cancer. While we were there my father-in-law had unexpected open heart surgery instead of the scheduled colon surgery.

The heart surgery went well. The colon surgery pushed back several weeks. The evening following surgery, Brenda was driving to the hospital while Gracie and I were at the hotel room. She called me en-route. The front tire on my Saturn VUE was smoking! Do you ever get that sinking feeling in your stomach when you receive unexpected, bad news?

What was I supposed to do? I'm in the hotel room with Gracie (my four year old daughter). We've got no other vehicle. No one to call. Yipe!

Brenda pulled over in parking lot of a lawn care business. The owner of the business was just coming out, saw her standing there and went to see how he could help. He ended up taking a look at the tire; test drove the VUE, and then said his mechanic can look at it in the morning.

Here is the reflection of God’s generosity in the people around us at work. He drove Brenda back to the hotel. The next day had his mechanic call the auto places in town until he found all the needed parts. He had his mechanic do all the necessary work. He called me at the hotel the next afternoon (while the car was being worked on) to see if we needed a ride anywhere or if we needed lunch. That evening he sent a driver to pick me up – the car was fixed and he only charged us for the parts – no charge for labor.

He knew we were from out of town and that Brenda’s dad was in the hospital and wanted to do what ever he could to help. I am very grateful to the generosity of this man. He was "Putting On the Heart of Christ"

We strive, as a church and as followers of Christ, to put on the heart of Christ - to be more Christ-like. In a world where the negative, bad things are most often emphasized, it is wonderful to see someone living as Christ would have us live.

Thank you Robert Prichard.

Tebowing - hmmmm.

Most Americans love football and faith. Tim Tebow, Denver quarterback, has mixed the two and sparked quite some debate about the public expression of religion. One of the controversial points has been his wearing of scriptural reference on the eye black (marks under his eyes) such as John 3:16.

The Barna Group did a recent survey to see if the typical American knew the significance of this reference. Could Americans identify what the “3:16” meant? And could they know, without predetermined choices what the “3” means?

Overall nearly 7 out of 10 Americans (68%) were able to identify without prompting that the “3” meant chapter 3. More than 3 out of 10 (15%) gave an incorrect guess or ventured no guess. 18-27 year olds had a lower basic understanding rate than the overall national average (61%). Practicing Protestant Christians (80%) were more likely than practicing Catholics (66%) to understand the reference. Interestingly enough, a majority of the people outside Christianity (59%), including those affiliated with another faith or atheists or agnostics, said they understood the “3” references the chapter.

I think it’s interesting that relatively speaking so many people know what these numbers refer to. Most Americans have at least some knowledge of the Bible and a connection to Christianity. In respect to Tebow, I wonder what would happen if more people were less concerned with public opinion and shared their faith more ‘audibly’. After all, Jesus reminds us in Matthew 10: “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim (shout!) from the rooftops.”

If you are not from the Milton WI area, but would like to follow/hear any of my sermons, please log onto our website at www.miltonumc.org. Click on the Sermon Archive menu and you will be able to listen to our sermons.

Blessings to you,

Patrick

A Renewed Commitment to Grow and Invite

The beginning of each year our church gathers and talks about new goals for the new year. One goal we discussed was not necessarily new, but one we wanted to bring emphasis and intentionality to. This is the goal of invitation.

Jesus calls us to “make disciples”. We are called to invite others into a relationship with Christ. There are a variety of ways in which we do this. At Milton UMC we have quite a few different connection opportunities each month. We host family oriented events, ministry and mission happenings, fellowship gatherings, study groups… such as: a Family Bowling day, a fall car show, our annual Valentine's Spaghetti Dinner, MOME’s free clothing exchange, the GIFTS men's homeless shelter, the Share Food Program… We have Bible study classes, Sunday school classes, exercise groups, Girl Scouts… We have missions’ trips to various places in the US. And of course we have our weekly worship services – traditional and contemporary styles with voice choir, bell choir, guitar, piano, drums... depending on which service you attend.

There is so much good happening in our church. And this church is doing so much to reach out in our community – sometimes I think we are just busting at the seams! This doesn’t mean we are perfect. We don’t offer something for absolutely everyone. But I believe we can offer a message of hope to the people we know, who don’t have a church home.

If you are a member or regular attender of MUMC, would you think about whom you know – this may not be a close friend but an acquaintance or neighbor – that would really benefit from an invitation? Invite that person to come to worship and then brunch afterwards. Invite that person to our Valentine's Spaghetti Dinner and then church on Sunday morning. Invite that person to one of the Bible study classes and then a church service the following Sunday.

If you aren't a member or attendee of MUMC, but attend another church, this same request holds true for you. Invite someone into a relationship with Jesus Christ through your church. More people come to be a part of a church through invitation than any other means. More people stay active in a church when invited to participate in ministry, music, media, mission, bible study, children and youth groups... because they are invited.

MUMC has much to offer and many people want to be connected. They are just waiting for that invitation. Let's share this good news, this great joy, with the people around us. Make it a priority this year to invite people into a relationship - to be a part of your church.

Blessings to you my friends,

Patrick