Since my last post, I have enjoyed considerable feedback on the use of a full manuscript in preaching. I thought I’d comment on some of the questions I’ve been asked, including practical inquiries. 1. Preaching from a full MSS is not for everyone. But even if it is not for everyone, I would argue that [...]
Archive for the ‘Preaching’ category
More Thoughts on Sermon Manuscripts
September 9, 2011Preaching, Manuscripts, and Fraternal Critique
September 6, 2011“Pharaoh, let my people go!” That’s a joke my mother uses on occasion with my friends regarding my first sermon preached. Admittedly, it was not that great, and I did preach everything I knew in the Bible in one sermon. Prior to coming to Grace, I had eight years of Bible college and seminary training [...]
The Canceling Power of a Divine Kiss
August 29, 2011Yesterday I preached a message entitled “A Celebration of Grace”. It was the conclusion of a 4-part series on grace from passages in the Gospel according to Luke. My final text was a very familiar text to Christians, commonly called the “parable of the prodigal son.” Two particular readings affected me greatly this past week. [...]
Evangelize as Your Edify, Edify as You Evangelize
July 14, 2011One of the biggest tensions regarding philosophy of gathered services is the issue of breadth and depth, or who should be the priority and focus of the ministry. Obviously, everything we do should be first and foremost with a focus and passion for the honor and glory of God. But the question we are [...]
John Piper – Hallowed Be Your Name
June 16, 2011This past Monday, John Piper preached a powerful sermon focusing on the first phrase of the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be your name.” In the typical expository exultation style of Piper, you can sense the gravitas and the gladness of the text as we are brought face to face with the greatness of God. In my [...]
Give Them the Gospel, Yes, But Give Them You, Too
June 7, 2011I have always admired and sought to emulate the pastoral heart and compassion found in C.J. Mahaney. Speaking to a group of church planters, he implored them to love, love, love, and then preach to their people. When I first watched this, the following verses came to my mind . . . 7 But we [...]
Getting Out by Tim Keller
May 2, 2011From the 2011 Gospel Coalition National Conference. Tim Keller’s message on Exodus 14. EXCELLENT.
4 Evangelistic Motivations for Paul: The Prospect of Eternity
February 1, 2011As I mentioned yesterday, I recently shared with my church family how we are to be working together with God on mission (2 Cor. 6:1). In that message, I laid out four evangelistic motivations from 2 Cor. 5. The first evangelistic motivation for Paul is the prospect of eternity. The Prospect of Eternity In the [...]
Working Together with God
January 31, 2011A couple of weeks ago, I preached a message entitled “Working Together with God.” I have long enjoyed meditating on 2 Corinthians 5, but unfortunately, my reading typically ended with 2 Cor. 5:21. It is the next verse that has arrested my thinking of late, and as you probably know, there were no chapter divisions [...]
Justified Thanksgiving
November 24, 2010* This is part three of three in a series based on a Thanksgiving sermon I preached this past Sunday based on Luke 18:9-14. In this section, I argue that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the source of all acceptable thanksgiving. Or, in other words, we should thank God for justification by faith! For [...]
The Quest for (Self) Justification
November 23, 2010* This is part two of three of a series from a Thanksgiving sermon I preached Sunday from Luke 18:9-14. This part focuses on the quest for justification (and its relationship to thanksgiving). To read part one, go here. The most important word in this passage (Luke 18:9-14) is found in verse 14. It is [...]
Unacceptable Thanksgiving
November 22, 2010* This is part one of three of sermon notes I preached Sunday about Thanksgiving from Luke 18:9-14. This passage speaks powerfully to what I called “justified thanksgiving.” This week is a special time in the calendar year. We call it Thanksgiving—a time where family and friends come together to share meals, discuss their lives, [...]
Tim Keller at Urban Plant Life
November 20, 2010Steve McCoy pointed us to some Tim Keller gold last week. Here are eight newly formatted PDFs of Tim Keller talks from the recent Urban Plant Life Conference and Consultation in London. Gospel Renewal Church and Culture Contextual and Missional Gospel Preaching Integrative Ministry Gospel Theology Movement Dynamics Church Planting You can get these and [...]
Shai Linne on Expository Preaching
November 13, 2010The first mark of a healthy church, as chopped up by the reverend Shai Linne . . .
The Bible Is NOT About You
August 26, 2010For the past seven weeks, I have been leading a group of men in our church through Tim Keller and Ed Clowney’s class on Preaching Christ in a Postmodern World. The 35 MP3′s are available for free on RTS iTunesU, and a PDF of the class notes are available as well. I have also been [...]
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