Everyone Communicates; Few Connect
The July-August issue of Preaching contains an interview with John Maxwell and an article adapted from his book Everyone Communicates; Few Connect (Thomas Nelson).
Illustration: Different Approaches
A veterinarian was feeling ill and went to see her doctor. The doctor asked her all the usual questions: What are your symptoms? How long have they been occurring? Etcetera. Finally the vet interrupted the doctor, saying...
Illustration: Jesus
In their book Jesus Manifesto (Thomas Nelson), Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola share this: "There is a billboard in Oklahoma that reads, 'Eternity is hell without Jesus.'
Do Three Things
Dallas Teague Snider, a speaker, radio host and personal coach, offers this advice to her clients:
A Conversation with David Platt: On Preaching and Learning
"I would say I'm learning first and foremost to trust the Word of God to do the work," Platt says. "As I look at what God is doing in my own life, as well as the lives of this church that He's entrusted to me to lead, it is clear that only His Word can bring about transformation and life change."
A Conversation with David Platt: On ‘Secret Church’
Platt tells Preaching about Radical Discipleship and studying the Word in underground churches.
A Conversation with David Platt: On the Radical Experiment
David Platt shares the five components of his Radical Experiment, which aims to "put some handles on tangible ways that we can put obedience to Christ into action in ways that we're seeing unfold in the gospels."
Planning Your Preaching
Summer is a good time to plan your preaching for the coming year. It's not a new title, but you'll find that Planning Your Preaching (Kregel) by Stephen Rummage is a great resource to provide information on the annual planning process.
Illustration: Summer Camp
Dear Mom, Our Scout Master told us all write to our parents in case you saw the flood on TV and worried. We are OK. Only two of our tents and four sleeping bags got washed away. Luckily, none of us drowned because we were all up on the mountain looking for Jeff when it happened. Oh yes, please call Jeff's mother and tell her he is OK. He can't write because of the cast. I got to ride in one of the search and rescue Jeeps. It was neat.
Illustration: Faithfulness
The woman's husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she had stayed by his bedside every single day. One day, when he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer.