If you are training pastors or preachers in Africa; you have to read this.
Tag: preaching
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The Bible, Orality and Theology
theology – as a passionate engagement with the God who became incarnate in Jesus Christ, who seeks to be the giver of life for all people of all cultures and the head of local communities of the church across a diverse world – deserves a broader definition that will allow oral expressions of theology to find their place.
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Unsolicited Advice One: Explain
It isn’t enough for mission agencies to tell exciting stories about their work. I give four reasons why they should explain why they do what they do – and I make a cheeky comment about preaching.
I don’t listen to recordings of sermons. I mean, even when they are playing, I don’t really listen, I do something else as well, and that’s a problem.
Culture isn’t just about whether Beethoven is better than Ed Sheeran, it also covers why English people tend to refuse a biscuit to go with their tea until they are asked a second time.
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Communicating and Preaching
How often have you heard someone say, “that may be what I said, but it’s not what I meant”? The thing is, language is not a very exact tool for communication and there are loads of pitfalls in the way of clear communication. Firstly, people don’t always speak clearly, nor do they always listen intently […]
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Preaching is Easy
Yesterday, I was preaching at Newtonbreda Baptist Church in Belfast (you will be able to download the sermons here eventually). It seemed to go well, I was prepared, the people were attentive and the reception was good. In the morning service, I included a section on the Trinity, which was well received. Today; on my […]
Some random thoughts on preaching and listening to preaching…. Throw away your commentaries. I know this sounds heretical, and I do believe in serious Biblical scholarship, but too often sermons seem to be based on the commentaries and not on the text of Scripture. Yes, ok, preachers do need to keep their commentaries for when […]
This is the second in a series of posts examining the Five marks of mission; based loosely on Mission in the Twenty-First Century: Exploring the Five Marks of Global Mission edited by Andrew Walls and Cathy Ross. Proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. According to Mark’s Gospel, Jesus started his ministry by proclaiming ‘The […]
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Dialogue on Sermons
Tim Chester has just kicked off what looks as though it will be a fascinating series on the place of sermons in church life. The case for the sermon seems to be that it reflects the authority if God’s word, because the word is proclaimed without interruption or question. Think about it for a moment. […]