tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044850704103353185.post-17609560447098050462008-04-23T21:43:00.003-04:002008-04-23T22:22:49.393-04:00James 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.<br /><br /><em><strong>Notes from this session:</strong></em><br /><br /><strong>4 Pillars of my ministry:</strong><br /><br />1) Preaching God's Word without apology<br />2) Lifting high the name of Christ in worship<br />3) A firm belief in the power of prayer<br />4) A commitment to sharing the gospel with boldness<br /><br /><strong>25 things I didn't learn about pastoring in seminary:</strong><br /><br />1) Preaching has to flow out of your relationship with the Lord - <strong>NOTHING </strong>will substitute for that in preaching (James 4:8)<br /><br />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<br /><br />3) You must be in God's Word everyday for yourself (not preparing for a message)<br /><br />4) Don't preach if you're not right with others<br /><br />5) Read <strong>broadly</strong> - secular biographies, interesting subjects<br /><br />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<br /><br />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.<br /><br />8) Just do your job, man. - 2 Tim 4:2 - preach the Word - not a suggestion - a command<br /><br />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.<br /><br />10) The power of preaching is in the balance of grace and truth (John 1:14)<br /><br />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."<br /><br />12) Preparation is hard work.<br /><br />13) If you get stuck, move on (it must get resolved!)<br /><br />14) Craft your message notes (cardstock half page double sided)<br /><br />15) Finish what you start - prepare and preach what you prepare<br /><br />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.<br /><br />17) Learn to see the humor in things.<br /><br />18) Personal illustrations are good. Illustrations that make you look good are bad. Make yourself look human and real, because you are.<br /><br />19) Develop the ability to read people. Learn to keep people's attention - read them while you preach. <br /><br />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...<br /><br />21) Get the big idea from the passage. Try to stick to 1 paragraph. <br /><br />22) Do your homework, but don't preach your homework. Don't be a Bible fathead. Don't preach interpretation and theological choices.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />24) Preaching has different voices and confronts different kinds of needs:<br /><br />Teachers - appeal to the mind - attacks ignorance<br />Shepherds - appeal to the emotions - attacks discouragement<br />Prophets - think you already know the truth - appeals to the will - attacks rebellion<br /><br />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.<br /><br />25) Do not bore people with the Bible - that's the greatest sin in ministry.<br /><br /><em><strong>My takeaways (still processing...)</strong></em><br /><br />1) #24 is really convicting. I think I operate clearly in the teaching mode - I've got to work on the other two. <br /><br />2) #1-3 are so important. I need to post them on the back of my eyelids.<br /><br />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.Williamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311806312162439873noreply@blogger.com