Using Movies in Preaching
I hesitated at first, but reality told me we live in the video age. So now I tease my friend, "What movie are you preaching this Sunday?"
Preaching Through Pulpit Transitions
The scene is too typical. The pastor nervously stands up at the end of a Sunday morning service. He reads his resignation letter to the congregation. Two weeks later, he is gone completely. Left in the wake is ... Continue Reading...
Easter: The Bottom Line of Easter
The Resurrection gives us the hope, courage, and strength to face life's problems and tribulations, because, as this sermon reminds us, through it we are more than conquerors and heirs of eternal life with our Risen Lord.
Preaching that Produces Church Growth
When I'm on-site for a church consultation, I conduct interviews with a sampling of the members. I am often not at the church for a worship service and am frequently asked, "How can you consult our church and g... Continue Reading...
A Time to Laugh: Principles of Good Pulpit Humor
Grady Nutt, the late great "Prime Minister of Humor," was sometimes accosted by persons who failed to appreciate his humor-spiced messages. "Do you really think you should be doing that?" they would ask. "I mea... Continue Reading...
Christian Living
When Harland Sanders began his Kentucky Fried Chicken business, he had little capital and no money for advertising. So he grew a little beard, got a white suit, and as a Kentucky Colonel he became a walking advertisement for Kentucky Fried Chicken. As Christians each one...
Appreciation
A few years ago newspapers in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, carried the story of a man who not only planned his own funeral, but attended it -- alive and well. He arrived at the church sitting in the back of a hearse. He sat up front among the flowers while people said nice things about him. He said it served no purpose for people to...
Procrastination
There really is a Procrastinators' Club of America, with headquarters in Philadelphia. Their objective is "to make known the benefits of putting things off until later." They publish Last Month's Newsletter, and have protested against the War of 1812, tried to get someone to fix the crack in the Liberty Bell, and traveled to...
The Golden Rule
Christianity is not alone in having a Golden Rule, but there is a striking difference. Christ's Golden rule is positive; others are negative. The Talmud of Judaism said, "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men." Brahmanism said, "Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." Buddhism said, "Hurt not...