Mac Richard, The S-word
It’s really funny, over the course of my ministry, how many times I have had prospective brides sit in my office with their fiancées for pre-marital counseling and say something like this:
Just to need to establish some ground rules and make sure that nowhere in the ceremony does the word submit or obey rear its ugly head, okay? Thank you. Now let’s begin.
And I understand where that comes from. I understand the pushback to the S-word. When we think the S-word, we usually think doormat, rollover, taken advantage of. But that pushback betrays a gross misunderstanding of biblical submission.
First of all, we need to understand that Biblical submission is not limited to women. It’s not. The bible does say, “Wives, submit to your husbands,” in Ephesians 5:22. But what men have eliminated for centuries is the verse that goes immediately before this. Look at what it says. In Ephesians 5:21, the first part of the verse says, “Submit to one another.”
Isn’t it funny that men who predominantly have been preachers and teachers and priests have said, “Wives submit to your husbands. This is the will of the Lord for thy life.” But many times they have omitted this part that says, “Submit to one another.”
You see, in God’s economy, relationship works because people submit to each other. No matter the relationship, whatever it may be. God says in Philippians 2, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Whatever relationship you’re in, it will work better if both parties submit to each other.
Submission is the ultimate question between God and a person. See, we like to talk about grace, and forgiveness, love, and blessing. And those things are all there. But they’re only found in true submission. Male or female, husband or wife, married or single. Undecided. Submission to God. Your life submitted to Him, and in that, receiving His life submitted for you.
You see, Jesus not only calls us to this, he models this. On the night that He was betrayed, the Bible says that Jesus was praying in such anguish knowing what was to come that drops of blood formed on His forehead. Now this was before the crown of thorns was placed there. So this was how stressed and anguished He was. And he said, “God, if there’s any way for this cup to pass from me, for me to avoid the cross and the physical anguish, the spiritual death and separation from you, please I don’t want to do this. But not my will, but you will be done.”
That’s what Jesus did: submitting himself completely to and through the point of death for you and for me. Now, submission to someone who loves you that deeply, that unconditionally, that perfectly, is submitting to your own best interest. That is the miracle of unconditional love: It works because it is complete. There is no need for keeping score, for demands of more time, attention or affection. Submission works.
Posted by MacRichard on July 11, 2006 at 10:01 AM
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Cruciform Preaching, Hugh McCord
The word "cruciform" is new to this octogenarian, but I am glad to learn what it means: "cross-shaped," a word that points to the pain and indignity and shame that Jesus endured because, said Paul, he "loved me and gave himself for me" (Galations 2:20, NIV).
One can say that Paul defined cruciform preaching as he wrote, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galations 6:14). "Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2) was all that Paul preached, and all that he wrote about in 13 books. But included in his cruciform preaching was a fiery threat toward those who "do not obey the gospel" (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9). If cruciform preaching is limited to Calvary, all people will be saved, for, " by the grace of God," Jesus died "for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). Since "many," said Jesus, are on "the road that leads to destruction" (Matthew 7:13), cruciform preaching by itself is not enough.
A well-intended preacher thinks "the core" of the gospel, the four gospels, are more important than the rest of the New Testament. Indeed the four gospels are indispensable, but God did not think they were enough; his New Testament consists of 27 books. It is not complimentary for an uninspired man to minimize 23 inspired books, Acts to Revelation. It is shocking to read that the 23 books, Acts-Revelation, are simply "the shadow of the reflection of a ham sandwich," the ham sandwich being Matthew-John.
The core of a apple is indispensable, but useless without the flesh. Kirk Caselman not only does cruciform preaching, but also he preaches the rest of the New Testament. He knows the importance of the core of an apple and the core of the gospel, and he also knows the importance of the flesh of an apple and the flesh of Christianity, namely, "sound doctrine" (healthful teaching, hugies didaskalia, 2 Timothy 4:3) as found in all 27 books of the New Testament. He writes,
While we are preaching THE CORE GOSPEL, and becoming THE CRUCIFORM CHURCH, we must still identify "false prophets" (Matthew 7:21-23) and straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town (Titus 1:5)!
We need, Kirk says, "THE WHOLE WILL OF GOD".
The apostle who wrote that nothing was in his preaching but Christ and him crucified also wrote that all that he wrote in his 13 books "are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37). It is not possible to preach Christ and him crucified without preaching the commands of Christ: "If you love me," he said, "you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). He who "does not keep his commandments is a liar" (1 John 2:4).
If one only uses the four gospels to tell sinners what to do to be saved, he could please everybody by listing five different plans of salvation: (1) faith only (Luke 7:50); (2) faith of associates (Mark 2:5); (3) charity and restitution (Luke 19:1-10); (4) prayer only (Luke 23:43); and (5) faith and baptism (Mark 16:16).
If we do not go beyond the four gospels, we wind up with a do-nothing, powerless group, being told to "tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
As important as is cruciform preaching (and may no man minimize that "core"), it is but a prologue to Christianity. Everything in the four gospels was prior to the "beginning" of Christianity (Luke 24:49; Acts 11:15). Some ten or more important principles that God wants me to know he did not put in the four gospels, but only in Acts through Revelation.
1. WHAT NAME IS AUTHORITATIVE. If one only gets instruction from the four gospels he will not do anything "in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17). Instead, he will do everything in the name of Yahweh (Exodus 3:15; Matthew 6:9). Jesus reminded his apostles that during the three years of training his own name was not authoritative: "Until now you have not asked anything in my name" (John 16:24).
Then, in anticipation of the "beginning" (May 28, A.D. 30, Pentecost Day, Acts 2) of his new covenant, he prepared the apostles for the change from Yahweh’s name to his own name: "ask and you will receive" (John 16:24). Accordingly, they did nothing in Jesus’ name until what he called the "beginning" (Luke 24:47). On the day of the beginning, sinners were commanded to "repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). This was the first time that the name of Jesus was authoritative, and its authority continues to this day (Colossians 3:17), a fact not true if Acts through Revelation are ignored.
2. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH. In the prologue (Matthew through John) we learn that Jesus promised to build his church, but even after he had been raised from the dead he had not done it. If one does not utilize Acts-Revelation he would never know that the Lord did build his church, his beloved bride for whom he died (Acts 2:47; 5:11; 20:28; Ephesians 5:23). Since he will return to save his church, I want to know everything he had said about it in all 27 books of the New Testament.
3. THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM. In the prologue (Matthew-John) one learns that the kingdom was "at hand" (Mark 1:15), that it would come before the apostles died (Mark 9:1). But on crucifixion day (April 7) it was yet in the future (Mark 15:43), and on his ascension day (May 18) Jesus told the apostles "to wait for the promise" of "the power" that would accompany the coming of the kingdom (Acts 1:4-8). Ten days later, May 28, the kingdom came with power, and was spoken of as "the church" (Acts 2:1-4, 47; 5:11). How we do need Acts-Revelation!
4. THE KING. If one only reads the four gospels he will not see Jesus crowned as king. When some tried by force to make him a king, he walked away "into a mountain alone" (John 6:15). He relieved Pilate when he told him that, though he was born to be a king, his kingdom would not be "of this world" (John 18:36). After he had died and had come out of the tomb, still he had not been crowned (Acts 1:4-8).
But ten days after his ascension, as he sat at the Father’s right hand, God the Father anointed him "with the oil of gladness" to be King of kings, and Lord of lords, saying to him, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (Hebrews 1:8-9; Acts 2:30).
I heard an old preacher use something of human origin (Bible chapter divisions) to bring home what the Bible teaches about the kingdom and the church. He exclaimed, "Daniel 2, Isaiah 2, Acts 2," emphasizing that Daniel 2 tells about the coming kingdom, Isaiah 2 tells about the coming church, and Acts 2 tells about the fulfillment of both predictions.
5. THE HIGH PRIEST. All Christians rejoice that Jesus now is their high priest, who "is able to save forever those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). But on the earth in the time of the four gospels he was not allowed to be a priest (Hebrews 7:14). On ascension day, as he went into heaven, he still was not a priest. But on May 28, ten days later, at the same time he was crowned king he was anointed to be our high priest (Hebrews 5:5-6).
6. CHRISTIANS ARE PRIEST. Never from the four gospels would one learn that all Christians, male and female, are priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9). But since Pentecost they are privileged to draw near with boldness to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
7. THE NAME CHRISTIAN. Jesus’ disciples, destined to be called Christians by "the mouth of the Lord" (Isaiah 62:2), did not receive that meaningful name until the church was integrated at Antioch (Acts 11:26), long after the time of the four gospels. Now they are privileged to "glorify God in this name" (1 Peter 4:16).
8. NO SACRED DAYS. If we do not look beyond the four gospels we will observe the sabbath day, as did Jesus (Luke 4:16). But Christians learn that they are forbidden to keep the sabbath day sacred (Colossians 2:16); Galations 4:10:11).
Moreover, Christians have no sacred day (cf. Romans 14:5-6). The first day of the week in not more sacred than any other, but the Lord wants Christians on that day to break bread and to lay by in store a contribution (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Though all days are the Lord’s, Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week, and so apparently John called Sunday "the Lord’s day" by way of special memory (Revelation 1:10).
9. CHURCH ORGANIZATION. Without Acts-Revelation the church might have a universal bishop or district superintendents or majority rule. But since an apostle has left an example of "elders" in "every church" (Acts 14:23), people who respect the Lord do not try to improve on the apostolic practice.
10. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. As an indwelling guest the Holy Spirit "was not" given while Jesus was on the earth (John 7:39). But after his glorification in heaven as King of kings, he authorized the apostles to promise the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38; 5:32). Without Acts-Revelation one would not know of this heavenly gift.
One can say that Paul defined cruciform preaching as he wrote, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galations 6:14). "Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2) was all that Paul preached, and all that he wrote about in 13 books. But included in his cruciform preaching was a fiery threat toward those who "do not obey the gospel" (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9). If cruciform preaching is limited to Calvary, all people will be saved, for, " by the grace of God," Jesus died "for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). Since "many," said Jesus, are on "the road that leads to destruction" (Matthew 7:13), cruciform preaching by itself is not enough.
A well-intended preacher thinks "the core" of the gospel, the four gospels, are more important than the rest of the New Testament. Indeed the four gospels are indispensable, but God did not think they were enough; his New Testament consists of 27 books. It is not complimentary for an uninspired man to minimize 23 inspired books, Acts to Revelation. It is shocking to read that the 23 books, Acts-Revelation, are simply "the shadow of the reflection of a ham sandwich," the ham sandwich being Matthew-John.
The core of a apple is indispensable, but useless without the flesh. Kirk Caselman not only does cruciform preaching, but also he preaches the rest of the New Testament. He knows the importance of the core of an apple and the core of the gospel, and he also knows the importance of the flesh of an apple and the flesh of Christianity, namely, "sound doctrine" (healthful teaching, hugies didaskalia, 2 Timothy 4:3) as found in all 27 books of the New Testament. He writes,
While we are preaching THE CORE GOSPEL, and becoming THE CRUCIFORM CHURCH, we must still identify "false prophets" (Matthew 7:21-23) and straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town (Titus 1:5)!
We need, Kirk says, "THE WHOLE WILL OF GOD".
The apostle who wrote that nothing was in his preaching but Christ and him crucified also wrote that all that he wrote in his 13 books "are the commandments of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37). It is not possible to preach Christ and him crucified without preaching the commands of Christ: "If you love me," he said, "you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). He who "does not keep his commandments is a liar" (1 John 2:4).
If one only uses the four gospels to tell sinners what to do to be saved, he could please everybody by listing five different plans of salvation: (1) faith only (Luke 7:50); (2) faith of associates (Mark 2:5); (3) charity and restitution (Luke 19:1-10); (4) prayer only (Luke 23:43); and (5) faith and baptism (Mark 16:16).
If we do not go beyond the four gospels, we wind up with a do-nothing, powerless group, being told to "tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
As important as is cruciform preaching (and may no man minimize that "core"), it is but a prologue to Christianity. Everything in the four gospels was prior to the "beginning" of Christianity (Luke 24:49; Acts 11:15). Some ten or more important principles that God wants me to know he did not put in the four gospels, but only in Acts through Revelation.
1. WHAT NAME IS AUTHORITATIVE. If one only gets instruction from the four gospels he will not do anything "in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Colossians 3:17). Instead, he will do everything in the name of Yahweh (Exodus 3:15; Matthew 6:9). Jesus reminded his apostles that during the three years of training his own name was not authoritative: "Until now you have not asked anything in my name" (John 16:24).
Then, in anticipation of the "beginning" (May 28, A.D. 30, Pentecost Day, Acts 2) of his new covenant, he prepared the apostles for the change from Yahweh’s name to his own name: "ask and you will receive" (John 16:24). Accordingly, they did nothing in Jesus’ name until what he called the "beginning" (Luke 24:47). On the day of the beginning, sinners were commanded to "repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). This was the first time that the name of Jesus was authoritative, and its authority continues to this day (Colossians 3:17), a fact not true if Acts through Revelation are ignored.
2. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH. In the prologue (Matthew through John) we learn that Jesus promised to build his church, but even after he had been raised from the dead he had not done it. If one does not utilize Acts-Revelation he would never know that the Lord did build his church, his beloved bride for whom he died (Acts 2:47; 5:11; 20:28; Ephesians 5:23). Since he will return to save his church, I want to know everything he had said about it in all 27 books of the New Testament.
3. THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM. In the prologue (Matthew-John) one learns that the kingdom was "at hand" (Mark 1:15), that it would come before the apostles died (Mark 9:1). But on crucifixion day (April 7) it was yet in the future (Mark 15:43), and on his ascension day (May 18) Jesus told the apostles "to wait for the promise" of "the power" that would accompany the coming of the kingdom (Acts 1:4-8). Ten days later, May 28, the kingdom came with power, and was spoken of as "the church" (Acts 2:1-4, 47; 5:11). How we do need Acts-Revelation!
4. THE KING. If one only reads the four gospels he will not see Jesus crowned as king. When some tried by force to make him a king, he walked away "into a mountain alone" (John 6:15). He relieved Pilate when he told him that, though he was born to be a king, his kingdom would not be "of this world" (John 18:36). After he had died and had come out of the tomb, still he had not been crowned (Acts 1:4-8).
But ten days after his ascension, as he sat at the Father’s right hand, God the Father anointed him "with the oil of gladness" to be King of kings, and Lord of lords, saying to him, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (Hebrews 1:8-9; Acts 2:30).
I heard an old preacher use something of human origin (Bible chapter divisions) to bring home what the Bible teaches about the kingdom and the church. He exclaimed, "Daniel 2, Isaiah 2, Acts 2," emphasizing that Daniel 2 tells about the coming kingdom, Isaiah 2 tells about the coming church, and Acts 2 tells about the fulfillment of both predictions.
5. THE HIGH PRIEST. All Christians rejoice that Jesus now is their high priest, who "is able to save forever those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25). But on the earth in the time of the four gospels he was not allowed to be a priest (Hebrews 7:14). On ascension day, as he went into heaven, he still was not a priest. But on May 28, ten days later, at the same time he was crowned king he was anointed to be our high priest (Hebrews 5:5-6).
6. CHRISTIANS ARE PRIEST. Never from the four gospels would one learn that all Christians, male and female, are priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9). But since Pentecost they are privileged to draw near with boldness to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
7. THE NAME CHRISTIAN. Jesus’ disciples, destined to be called Christians by "the mouth of the Lord" (Isaiah 62:2), did not receive that meaningful name until the church was integrated at Antioch (Acts 11:26), long after the time of the four gospels. Now they are privileged to "glorify God in this name" (1 Peter 4:16).
8. NO SACRED DAYS. If we do not look beyond the four gospels we will observe the sabbath day, as did Jesus (Luke 4:16). But Christians learn that they are forbidden to keep the sabbath day sacred (Colossians 2:16); Galations 4:10:11).
Moreover, Christians have no sacred day (cf. Romans 14:5-6). The first day of the week in not more sacred than any other, but the Lord wants Christians on that day to break bread and to lay by in store a contribution (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Though all days are the Lord’s, Jesus arose from the dead on the first day of the week, and so apparently John called Sunday "the Lord’s day" by way of special memory (Revelation 1:10).
9. CHURCH ORGANIZATION. Without Acts-Revelation the church might have a universal bishop or district superintendents or majority rule. But since an apostle has left an example of "elders" in "every church" (Acts 14:23), people who respect the Lord do not try to improve on the apostolic practice.
10. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. As an indwelling guest the Holy Spirit "was not" given while Jesus was on the earth (John 7:39). But after his glorification in heaven as King of kings, he authorized the apostles to promise the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38; 5:32). Without Acts-Revelation one would not know of this heavenly gift.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
45 years and counting!!
Today I attended a funeral of the dad of a good friend of mine. A real good friend. I met Randy in my driveway in 1962. That is about 45 years ago. At that time, we would never have guessed that we would have continued in relationship for this long.
There were 4 of us altogether. All lived on Oak Ridge St in Richmond, VA. We called ourselves the Oak Ridge Boys. We did so much together. Good Stuff, Bad Stuff - we went through jokes together, girls together, sports together and just about anything else together.
In the early days, we did not have a spiritual life together. We were just guys trying to get all we could out of life. Then one by one we began to encounter Jesus Christ. It took along time from 1972 to about 1980. But the Lord drew each of us to himself.
Now so many years later. We all walk with Jesus, and our wives. We are in leadership in 4 different churches and many different ministries. And we seek to stand with Jesus and with each other whatever it takes. Now the next stage: We stand with each other in the dark days of dealing with the losses of our parents and the transitions of our families. Several of us are now grandparents (not me). And we are beginning to think about the next steps.
Thanks Randy & Boys - you encourage me to stand with you as you stand with Jesus.
There were 4 of us altogether. All lived on Oak Ridge St in Richmond, VA. We called ourselves the Oak Ridge Boys. We did so much together. Good Stuff, Bad Stuff - we went through jokes together, girls together, sports together and just about anything else together.
In the early days, we did not have a spiritual life together. We were just guys trying to get all we could out of life. Then one by one we began to encounter Jesus Christ. It took along time from 1972 to about 1980. But the Lord drew each of us to himself.
Now so many years later. We all walk with Jesus, and our wives. We are in leadership in 4 different churches and many different ministries. And we seek to stand with Jesus and with each other whatever it takes. Now the next stage: We stand with each other in the dark days of dealing with the losses of our parents and the transitions of our families. Several of us are now grandparents (not me). And we are beginning to think about the next steps.
Thanks Randy & Boys - you encourage me to stand with you as you stand with Jesus.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
angry
What Can I Pray When I'm Angry?
by Terry Gooding
* Lord God, I pray that I will become wise and learn to hold back my temper. "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control" (Prov. 29:11).
* Help me not go to bed with anger in my heart. "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Eph. 4:26).
* Cause me to put aside anger and wrath from my life. "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage . . . " (Col. 3:8).
* Teach me to be a person who is understanding and slow to anger. "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly" (Prov. 14:29).
* Give me strength to turn away from anger and seek the righteousness of God. "For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" (Jas. 1:20).
* Help me not to be the kind of person who causes conflict. "An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins" (Prov. 29:22).
* Guide me so that my anger will not become sin. "In your anger do not sin" (Eph. 4:26).
* Show me how to be careful of my words so that I do not stir up anger in other people. "A harsh word stirs up anger" (Prov. 15:1).
* Teach me not to hold anger in my heart. "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools" (Eccl. 7:9).
(Reprinted from Pray!'s online archives, Issue #28 January/Februry 2002.)
by Terry Gooding
* Lord God, I pray that I will become wise and learn to hold back my temper. "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control" (Prov. 29:11).
* Help me not go to bed with anger in my heart. "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry" (Eph. 4:26).
* Cause me to put aside anger and wrath from my life. "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage . . . " (Col. 3:8).
* Teach me to be a person who is understanding and slow to anger. "A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly" (Prov. 14:29).
* Give me strength to turn away from anger and seek the righteousness of God. "For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires" (Jas. 1:20).
* Help me not to be the kind of person who causes conflict. "An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins" (Prov. 29:22).
* Guide me so that my anger will not become sin. "In your anger do not sin" (Eph. 4:26).
* Show me how to be careful of my words so that I do not stir up anger in other people. "A harsh word stirs up anger" (Prov. 15:1).
* Teach me not to hold anger in my heart. "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools" (Eccl. 7:9).
(Reprinted from Pray!'s online archives, Issue #28 January/Februry 2002.)
Friday, January 12, 2007
Ten propositions on preaching
Ten propositions on preaching
by Kim Fabricius
1. What is a sermon? Wrong question. A sermon is not a what but a who. A sermon is Jesus Christ expectorate. You eat the book; it is sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach (Rev. 10:9-11); you spit out the Word and spray the congregation. When grace hits the mark, it always begins with an unpleasant recoil.
2. A sermon starts in silence. Before a preacher preaches, she must not preach, she must listen; and when she does preach, it is only because she has to preach. God gave us one mouth and two ears—and the preacher must use them in that proportion.
3. Sermon preparation is primarily the preparation of the preacher, not of the preached. The preparation of the sermon itself will only be as rigorous as the askesis of the preacher. Pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit—and then work like stink. If the Holy Spirit hasn’t been with the preacher in the study, he’s not going to accompany the lazy bastard into the pulpit.
4. Context, context, context. A text without a context is a pretext. The context of scripture, of course, but also the contemporary context—the Bible in one hand, the broadsheet in the other. The clash of two worlds: scriptura probat mundum.
5. Relevance? Blow relevance! It is God who determines relevance. Who wants to hear about relevance? For example, the forgiveness of sins, the whole of the gospel, is relevant—but not because, as the world thinks, the forgiver finds inner healing, but because the guilty one is a sufferer in need of acceptance and embrace. When relevance rules, the tail of the world wags the dog of the church.
6. The gospel itself is not “Repent and be forgiven”—that is sheer legalism—but “You are forgiven, and therefore now free to repent.” Even pagans say, “If you’re sorry, I’ll forgive you.” More to the evangelical point, how can we repent of sin when sin is only known as sin forgiven, when we can only know ourselves as sinners in the light of grace?
7. Technique? Skills? Voice coaching? Forget about them. A sermon is not oratory, a sermon is sui generis. Besides, all theological speech is broken speech. Moses had a stammer, and Paul was embarrassingly inelegant. Smooth tongues are often forked. What has been called “word-care,” however, is a different matter: the practice of word-care is crucial. Literature, particularly poetry, is the school of word-care. Remember: you are responsible for every word you preach.
8. And the latest technology? Woe unto “techies”! Technically, Richard Lischer observes that “when the brain is asked to multi-task by listening and watching at the same time, it always quits listening.” Substantively, if the medium is the message, how can the medium of IT—icon of postmodern power—square with the word of the cross? Lischer provides a thought-experiment: “What would Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech look like in PowerPoint?”
9. Your congregation: know it, live it, love it. This is the perichoresis of preacher and community, and it must lie at the heart of every sermon. If you don’t laugh and weep with your people, you’ve got no right to expect them to hear you preach.
10. Finally, preach like there is no tomorrow—because there isn’t: in the sermon tomorrow is already today. Homiletics is eschatology. On the other hand, if you haven’t struck oil within twenty minutes, stop boring!
by Kim Fabricius
1. What is a sermon? Wrong question. A sermon is not a what but a who. A sermon is Jesus Christ expectorate. You eat the book; it is sweet in the mouth but bitter in the stomach (Rev. 10:9-11); you spit out the Word and spray the congregation. When grace hits the mark, it always begins with an unpleasant recoil.
2. A sermon starts in silence. Before a preacher preaches, she must not preach, she must listen; and when she does preach, it is only because she has to preach. God gave us one mouth and two ears—and the preacher must use them in that proportion.
3. Sermon preparation is primarily the preparation of the preacher, not of the preached. The preparation of the sermon itself will only be as rigorous as the askesis of the preacher. Pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit—and then work like stink. If the Holy Spirit hasn’t been with the preacher in the study, he’s not going to accompany the lazy bastard into the pulpit.
4. Context, context, context. A text without a context is a pretext. The context of scripture, of course, but also the contemporary context—the Bible in one hand, the broadsheet in the other. The clash of two worlds: scriptura probat mundum.
5. Relevance? Blow relevance! It is God who determines relevance. Who wants to hear about relevance? For example, the forgiveness of sins, the whole of the gospel, is relevant—but not because, as the world thinks, the forgiver finds inner healing, but because the guilty one is a sufferer in need of acceptance and embrace. When relevance rules, the tail of the world wags the dog of the church.
6. The gospel itself is not “Repent and be forgiven”—that is sheer legalism—but “You are forgiven, and therefore now free to repent.” Even pagans say, “If you’re sorry, I’ll forgive you.” More to the evangelical point, how can we repent of sin when sin is only known as sin forgiven, when we can only know ourselves as sinners in the light of grace?
7. Technique? Skills? Voice coaching? Forget about them. A sermon is not oratory, a sermon is sui generis. Besides, all theological speech is broken speech. Moses had a stammer, and Paul was embarrassingly inelegant. Smooth tongues are often forked. What has been called “word-care,” however, is a different matter: the practice of word-care is crucial. Literature, particularly poetry, is the school of word-care. Remember: you are responsible for every word you preach.
8. And the latest technology? Woe unto “techies”! Technically, Richard Lischer observes that “when the brain is asked to multi-task by listening and watching at the same time, it always quits listening.” Substantively, if the medium is the message, how can the medium of IT—icon of postmodern power—square with the word of the cross? Lischer provides a thought-experiment: “What would Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech look like in PowerPoint?”
9. Your congregation: know it, live it, love it. This is the perichoresis of preacher and community, and it must lie at the heart of every sermon. If you don’t laugh and weep with your people, you’ve got no right to expect them to hear you preach.
10. Finally, preach like there is no tomorrow—because there isn’t: in the sermon tomorrow is already today. Homiletics is eschatology. On the other hand, if you haven’t struck oil within twenty minutes, stop boring!
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
The End of Innocence
So what was it for you? When did you first realize that the innocence was gone? Was it a particular event? Was it the terrorism attack of 9/11? Was it a divorce? Or a loss of a friend?
Think back to when you did not know any pain or brokenness? Maybe it was childhood memories of a Birthday Party or a trip to the Beach or a Fair or Busch Gardens? It was a time when 'All was right in the World'.
This summer, I had the opportunity to watch my nephew as a 7 year old, who is having some difficulties with a condition similar to autism. I also was able to observe his parents. Their love for James is incredible (of course), but to see how they adjust their life for James' care is a ministry for me. They take long bike rides. There is an incredible amount of treatment required, which they so willingly provide. But it is no exaggeration to say that James has changed their life. But back to James: He is the happiest little guy - He has no anxiety. He is Innocent. He plays and plays. Interacts with people, loves TV. He never realizes all of the care that his condition warrents - and so shall it be.
I remember for me the end of innocence: I was a sophomore in High School. Good Friends, Great community, all was right in the world. In Chem class, I had a friend. Not really a girlfriend, but a girl who I just kinda "played" with. Her name was Amy. She sat in front of me with curly hair - It was a "flirty" relationship, but no real depth. And actually we never spent any time together outside of class.
So on one evening after a football game I remember looking out on Parham Rd and seeing flashing lights like an ambulance - And I remember thinking what is that about. The next morning I discovered that Amy and her boyfriend had been in an accident and were killed. At the time it was a shock, but it did not become a reality until Monday morning when I was sitting in class and the stool was empty, I could see straight through to the front of the class. No one said anything (because we all knew). There was just an empty stool! The end of innocence.
It was the first time I realized that something was terribly wrong in the world. People died. Relationships fell apart. The parents of friends got divorced. Relatives got really sick and died. There were robberies, shootings, crimes and things were broken.
Why would God allow this? Couldn't He stop it? Couldn't He make the Drunk Driver drift to the right into the culvert rather than left into Amy's car.
I think it was God's intention for us to be in relationship to Him just as it was with Adam & Eve. There was only one law. Easy to obey. Yet we couldn't obey it. We were convinced that we could manage life without that relationship. We moved away - and I believe that is when the Universe lost its innocence.
Sin entered the world.
Think back to when you did not know any pain or brokenness? Maybe it was childhood memories of a Birthday Party or a trip to the Beach or a Fair or Busch Gardens? It was a time when 'All was right in the World'.
This summer, I had the opportunity to watch my nephew as a 7 year old, who is having some difficulties with a condition similar to autism. I also was able to observe his parents. Their love for James is incredible (of course), but to see how they adjust their life for James' care is a ministry for me. They take long bike rides. There is an incredible amount of treatment required, which they so willingly provide. But it is no exaggeration to say that James has changed their life. But back to James: He is the happiest little guy - He has no anxiety. He is Innocent. He plays and plays. Interacts with people, loves TV. He never realizes all of the care that his condition warrents - and so shall it be.
I remember for me the end of innocence: I was a sophomore in High School. Good Friends, Great community, all was right in the world. In Chem class, I had a friend. Not really a girlfriend, but a girl who I just kinda "played" with. Her name was Amy. She sat in front of me with curly hair - It was a "flirty" relationship, but no real depth. And actually we never spent any time together outside of class.
So on one evening after a football game I remember looking out on Parham Rd and seeing flashing lights like an ambulance - And I remember thinking what is that about. The next morning I discovered that Amy and her boyfriend had been in an accident and were killed. At the time it was a shock, but it did not become a reality until Monday morning when I was sitting in class and the stool was empty, I could see straight through to the front of the class. No one said anything (because we all knew). There was just an empty stool! The end of innocence.
It was the first time I realized that something was terribly wrong in the world. People died. Relationships fell apart. The parents of friends got divorced. Relatives got really sick and died. There were robberies, shootings, crimes and things were broken.
Why would God allow this? Couldn't He stop it? Couldn't He make the Drunk Driver drift to the right into the culvert rather than left into Amy's car.
I think it was God's intention for us to be in relationship to Him just as it was with Adam & Eve. There was only one law. Easy to obey. Yet we couldn't obey it. We were convinced that we could manage life without that relationship. We moved away - and I believe that is when the Universe lost its innocence.
Sin entered the world.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
well the world says...
"And in that moment I knew Success not greatness was the only god the entire world served." - Drew, Elizabethtown
Friday, October 27, 2006
Franklin Eugene McCain
The Greensboro 4 ,
I had a great opportunity to meet one of the 4 men who as freshmen at North Carolina A&T walked down to Woolworth's and sat at the lunch counter and stayed during serving hours for the next 5 months until they were served. It spoke to me about the power that a student or a community of students can yield. These were men of conviction who saw injustice and were willing and able to stand out for what their convictions convinced them of. They had a strong heart that allowed them to make bold moves. They had available time which allowed them to work out the sit-in around a student's schedule. They had a community of friends and supporters who would come and sit with them and for them when they just needed to be somewhere else, like class. They had the actual belief that what had always been done was wrong and that with a strong but humble voice they couls see change come.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
The Cross of the Servant...
" As for the cross of the Servant, it is not strange to us. In that we stand with the mainstream of Christian faith from the beginning onward, and we do well to do so. We enthrone that crucified Saviour in stained glass, wood and stone - and in doctrine. To that cross we look for salvation. But we want not that cross at all.
Indeed, we would have it the chief business of religion to keep crosses far away. We want a Christ who suffers that we may not have to, a Christ who lays himself down that our comfort may be undisturbed. The call to lose life that it may be found again, to take up the cross and follow, remains mysterious and offensive to us.
To be sure, we labor to bring men to Christ, and we pray, "Thy kingdom come." But our labor we see as a labor of conquest and growth, successful programs and dollars. Can it be that we are seeking to build the Kingdom of the Servant - without following the Servant? If we do so, we will doubtless build a great church - but will it have anything to do with the Kingdom of God?"
~~John Bright, _The Kingdom of God_ p. 154
Indeed, we would have it the chief business of religion to keep crosses far away. We want a Christ who suffers that we may not have to, a Christ who lays himself down that our comfort may be undisturbed. The call to lose life that it may be found again, to take up the cross and follow, remains mysterious and offensive to us.
To be sure, we labor to bring men to Christ, and we pray, "Thy kingdom come." But our labor we see as a labor of conquest and growth, successful programs and dollars. Can it be that we are seeking to build the Kingdom of the Servant - without following the Servant? If we do so, we will doubtless build a great church - but will it have anything to do with the Kingdom of God?"
~~John Bright, _The Kingdom of God_ p. 154
Friday, July 21, 2006
What are the top 6 questions students are asking?
One of my summer projects was to draft a curriculum to use as the base of a seminar that could be offered to new students (and old if they were interested) about some of the fundamental issuews facing students on campus. Well it is now on the thin side of summer break - and I haven't thought about it yet.
So what are these issues or questions?
What about science and faith?
What about evil & suffering?
Is the Bible authoritative today?
The question of syncretism... Are there many ways to God? Aren't all religions basically the same?
So what are these issues or questions?
What about science and faith?
What about evil & suffering?
Is the Bible authoritative today?
The question of syncretism... Are there many ways to God? Aren't all religions basically the same?
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
La Vida Cruciform
What if I really began to live my life everyday shaped by the cross of Jesus?
Would behaviors change?
What would I add to my life, and what would I take away?
Jesus spent every day of His 30plus years focused on one goal. That is, He was moving towards the cross. He knew it. He knew why.
When he ate with the tax collector - He did it shaped by the cross.
When he got down on the same level as the woman caught in adultery - He was shaped by the cross.
When he called the disciples - having pre-knowledge about them - He was shaped by the cross!
When He was teaching and loving those 12 men in John 17 - He was shaped by the cross.
When Jesus came along side those 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24 - He was shaped by the cross.
To determine what it means to be cruciform today think about what Jesus did in any given situation and then think about what you would do or how you would handle it. That will show you the difference.
When you can genuinely do things the same way as Jesus, and have motives that are not linked to what others may think about you - that is cruciform. When you stop asking Why or saying: "Not now Lord!" then you're beginning to life life cruciform...
** (thurs am:) As I reread this post I realized that last 2 paragraphs sounded a lot like "What Would Jesus Do" and with full apologies to Charles Shedd, that's not exactly what I meant. I think what I meant was - it's like an apprentice in the presence of the master craftsmen. It's not just changing behavior. It's allowing the craftsmen to guide and direct the apprentice to learn the skill with his guiding hands and words. It's not just doing religion "martyform" but it is thinking abt ALL I do cruciform - shaped by the Cross.
Would behaviors change?
What would I add to my life, and what would I take away?
Jesus spent every day of His 30plus years focused on one goal. That is, He was moving towards the cross. He knew it. He knew why.
When he ate with the tax collector - He did it shaped by the cross.
When he got down on the same level as the woman caught in adultery - He was shaped by the cross.
When he called the disciples - having pre-knowledge about them - He was shaped by the cross!
When He was teaching and loving those 12 men in John 17 - He was shaped by the cross.
When Jesus came along side those 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24 - He was shaped by the cross.
To determine what it means to be cruciform today think about what Jesus did in any given situation and then think about what you would do or how you would handle it. That will show you the difference.
When you can genuinely do things the same way as Jesus, and have motives that are not linked to what others may think about you - that is cruciform. When you stop asking Why or saying: "Not now Lord!" then you're beginning to life life cruciform...
** (thurs am:) As I reread this post I realized that last 2 paragraphs sounded a lot like "What Would Jesus Do" and with full apologies to Charles Shedd, that's not exactly what I meant. I think what I meant was - it's like an apprentice in the presence of the master craftsmen. It's not just changing behavior. It's allowing the craftsmen to guide and direct the apprentice to learn the skill with his guiding hands and words. It's not just doing religion "martyform" but it is thinking abt ALL I do cruciform - shaped by the Cross.
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