Preaching in the smartphone age can have its challenges. As advancements in technology, communications and instant connectivity continue, preachers will need to counter such distractions to relay the gospel message effectively. In light of diminished attention spans and the reality of the presence of smartphones in our sanctuaries, I would like to share seven practical strategies that preachers can utilize to maximize the effectiveness of their sermons in the smartphone age.
We have already seen the two steps a pastor must take to help the congregation get stronger – self-growth and build a team . But there are also two steps the people of the church must take to contribute to the same health journey. Many congregants know the frustration of a revolving door of pastors with their unique visions, ideas, and strategies. A frequent change in pastors can lead the congregation to forget that they, too, have some responsibility for what their church is becoming.
With thousands of churches plateaued or in decline, many of which are aging with the future growing more ominous each day, I’ve been searching for simple and powerful steps in a new direction. Many struggling churches are overwhelmed by a culture of “can’t.” They hear the ideas that turn around other congregations, but find most of these beyond their current abilities, resources, and people. There has to be a “can” out there with every church’s name on it.
Sunday is a day like no other, for many of us. On this first day of the week, we do things quite differently than on other days. We start our day, not at work, play, or with a honey-do list, but gathering with others we don’t see all week to worship. Then it’s off to lunch and perhaps an afternoon nap. The day’s events look nothing like what is awaiting us on Monday.
“Will millennials be the death of the church as we know it?” This was a question I saw someone ask online. No generation is going to kill the church. Jesus promises that. But the question itself suggests that millennials may arguably be the most criticized generation to date. Ministering to a younger generation can always be challenging, but I believe the future is bright not in spite of millennials but because of them. Let’s talk about how to disciple the millennial generation.
Pastor Andy Stanley’s influence and standing in North American evangelicalism are a matter of public record, but where he excels and, by his admission, is most passionate, is in the area of communication. I believe that part of the effectiveness of his approach to preaching is that it shares similarities to well-known homiletical approaches. These similarities may not always be obvious because Stanley’s writing about preaching (or as he prefers, “communicating”) is non-technical and jargon-free.
In part 3 of this vlog, Dr. Stephen Meyer, Director of the Discover Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, concludes his discussion regarding the faults in the beliefs of the Neo-Darwinism movement. Speaking from his own published book, “Darwin’s Doubt”, Meyer shares how Neo-Darwinism does not explain the complex genetic circuitry needed to generate life.
When Haddon Robinson died last summer, tributes began to appear in print and online praising his gifts as a communicator, mentor, and as one website put it, “one of the world’s foremost experts in biblical preaching.” I had the privilege to study with him at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he served as my doctoral mentor. During my first year of taking courses there, my pastor asked me what was the single most important lesson I had learned from Dr. Robinson thus far. Embarrassingly, I couldn’t come up with an answer, but after reading what so many have said about him on the occasion of his passing, it has caused me to reflect on my own experiences while his student, and now I think I know how I would answer my pastor’s question.
In part 2 of this vlog, Dr. Stephen Meyer, Director of the Discover Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, continues discussing the faults in the beliefs of the Neo-Darwinism movement. Speaking from his own published book, “Darwin’s Doubt”, Meyer shares how all biological systems reflect intelligent design and presents four challenges to the creative power of natural selection.
In terms of page length, it’s most of the Bible. It covers God’s redemptive mission across a span of more than 4000 years. Many, because of it’s “Old” label, skip over it on their way to Philippians. Still, there are 39 books of history, miracles, challenges, and through it all, the love of God. Here are 5 principles to light up your study of God’s word through the Old Testament.