Session 9 - James MacDonald

James MacDonald is the founding and Senior Pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Wheaton, IL, and is the Radio Bible Teacher on the program Walk in the Word.

Notes from this session:

4 Pillars of my ministry:

1) Preaching God's Word without apology
2) Lifting high the name of Christ in worship
3) A firm belief in the power of prayer
4) A commitment to sharing the gospel with boldness

25 things I didn't learn about pastoring in seminary:

1) Preaching has to flow out of your relationship with the Lord - NOTHING will substitute for that in preaching (James 4:8)

2) Your preaching reflects who you are - authenticity (2 Cor. 4:2) - preaching is truth coming through your personality - we must be authentic to ourselves - be who God made us

3) You must be in God's Word everyday for yourself (not preparing for a message)

4) Don't preach if you're not right with others

5) Read broadly - secular biographies, interesting subjects

6) Preach the authority of the Word of God without apology - bedrock confidence behind what we say is God's Word - thus says the Lord - people want to have heard from God - we must say the things God has said - just tell me God's heart on the matter - Speak for God

7) Truth by definition is intolerant - it will come across that way. People don't come to church to hear what you're thinking about - they come to hear from God.

8) Just do your job, man. - 2 Tim 4:2 - preach the Word - not a suggestion - a command

9) What you preach determines who comes to your church, not how many people - you can reach thousands - many want to hear the Word of God - many do not. If people hear from God, something will happen and they will bring others to hear.

10) The power of preaching is in the balance of grace and truth (John 1:14)

11) Sermon preparation happens in stages. James plans a preaching calendar a year out - topics and passages - then a month out, he breaks it down - maps the series. Week of - Tues, read the passage and outline; Wed - continue the same; Thurs - outline or die day (for the bulletin); Fri - get it finished. John MacArthur - "The key to a great sermon? Keep your butt in the chair until the work is done."

12) Preparation is hard work.

13) If you get stuck, move on (it must get resolved!)

14) Craft your message notes (cardstock half page double sided)

15) Finish what you start - prepare and preach what you prepare

16) Develop the discipline of observing life. If you listen closely, illustrations will come up and shake your hand. Canned illustrations are not compelling. Write stuff down.

17) Learn to see the humor in things.

18) Personal illustrations are good. Illustrations that make you look good are bad. Make yourself look human and real, because you are.

19) Develop the ability to read people. Learn to keep people's attention - read them while you preach.

20) Insert commercials in your preaching. James preaches for 50-55 minutes, with 8-10 "commercials" per message. Commercials can be points of humor, charts, maps, skits, pictures, something in the bulletin, etc. Remember - no stories will substitute for the message capturing you. Audience interaction, role plays, verbal directions...

21) Get the big idea from the passage. Try to stick to 1 paragraph.

22) Do your homework, but don't preach your homework. Don't be a Bible fathead. Don't preach interpretation and theological choices.

23) Bring application. Apply the text - "we must believe, we must do, we must choose" - text "it says", illustration "it looks like", application "it goes like" - cycle over and over - don't make them wait till the end.

24) Preaching has different voices and confronts different kinds of needs:

Teachers - appeal to the mind - attacks ignorance
Shepherds - appeal to the emotions - attacks discouragement
Prophets - think you already know the truth - appeals to the will - attacks rebellion

You must do all three to be a powerful communicator. Train yourself to do what you don't do naturally. The progression of persuasion is always mind, emotions, will.

25) Do not bore people with the Bible - that's the greatest sin in ministry.

My takeaways (still processing...)

1) #24 is really convicting. I think I operate clearly in the teaching mode - I've got to work on the other two.

2) #1-3 are so important. I need to post them on the back of my eyelids.

3) #6-7 are significant to me - I needed to hear this and I need to apply it every week in what I do and how I do it.