The Use & Abuse of Sermons
Preachers, a good note of caution from The Gospel Coalition Website:
A NOTE ON THE USE AND ABUSE OF SERMONS
The instant availability of thousands of expository sermons and
addresses prompts us to reflect a little on how they should not be
used, and how they should be used.
To take the latter first: many of our Council members avidly read
the sermons of others, or, increasingly commonly, listen to them while
they are driving or walking or jogging. Good preaching not only opens
up texts, but helps us learn how others tackle the challenge of
structure, apply Scripture to their particular congregations, relate
their texts to the central themes of God and the gospel, and much more.
We soon sense their urgency and God-given unction. We are sent back to
the study and to our knees to become better workers who do not need to
be ashamed of the way we handle the word of truth.
The bad way to listen to the sermons of others is to select one such
sermon on the topic or passage you have chosen and then simply steal
it, passing it off as if it is your own work. This is, quite frankly,
theft, and thieves, Paul tells us, will not inherit the kingdom of God
(1 Cor 6:10). Yet in some ways that is not the most serious aspect of
this form of plagiarism. Rather, it is the deep damage you are doing to
yourself and others by not studying the Bible for yourself. Ministers
of the gospel are supported by their congregations so they will give
themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer. That demands
rigorous study. A faithful minister of the gospel is never merely a
biological tape recorder or CD, thoughtlessly parroting what someone
else learned, thought through, prayed over, and recorded. Indulge in
this exercise and before long you will starve your own soul — and, no
matter how good the sermons you steal, your ministry will sooner or
later, and deservedly, become sterile, for the stamp of inauthenticity
will be all over you.
One helpful suggestion: Listen to many sermons, not just one or two.
You will be far less likely to steal, and far more likely to be
stimulated and helped, if you listen to five or ten sermons than if you
listen to one.
The Race, Hebrews 12:1-13
Here’s my sermon from Sunday, The Race, Hebrews 12:1-13:
Listen: The Race
Download: The Race.mp3
The Gospel Coalition, 2009 Conference
I benefited greatly from attending last year’s inaugural Gospel Coalition conference. I hope to attend the next GC conference in April 2009, Entrusted With The Gospel: Living the Vision of Second Timothy. Here’s the lineup:
Plenary Talks
- Tim Keller, "The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry" (Acts 19:21–41)
- John Piper, "The Promise of Life" (2 Timothy 1:1–12)
- Phil Ryken, "The Pattern of Sound Words" (2 Timothy 1:13–2:13)
- Mark Driscoll, "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:14–26)
- K. Edward Copeland, "Shadowlands: Pitfalls and Parodies of Gospel-Centered Ministry" (2 Timothy 3:1–9)
- Bryan Chapell, "Preach the Word!" (2 Timothy 3:10–4:5)
- Ligon Duncan, "Finishing Well" (2 Timothy 4:6–22)
- Ajith Fernando, "Gospel-Faithful Mission for the Next Christendom"
- D.A. Carson, "’That by All Means I Might Win Some’: Faithfulness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
Workshops
- Thabiti Anyabwile "The Decline of African-American Theology"
- Buster Brown, "Preaching in a Christianized Culture"
- Michael Bullmore, "The Functional Centrality of the Gospel"
- Steven Chin, "Working Faithfully Under a Senior Pastor"
- Graham Cole, "Homosexuality and the Bible: Texts, Hermeneutics, and Pastoral Wisdom"
- K. Edward Copeland and Charlie Dates, "Mentoring Younger Pastors"
- Andy Davis, "The Gospel and Social Action"
- Joshua Harris, "Ministering in a Church-Hopping Society"
- David Helm, "Biblical Reflections on Building a Staff"
- Bill Kynes, "Complementarianism: Definition and Priorities"
- Crawford Loritts, "Staying Faithful, Staying Relevant: The Use and Abuse of Polemical Preaching"
- Jeff Louie, "Gospel and Community: Definitions and Crucial Issues"
- C. J. Mahaney, "Trinitarian Pastoral Ministry"
- Tom Nelson and Matt Perman, "The Gospel and Money"
- Tim Savage, "Power in Weakness: The Heart of Gospel Ministry"
- Colin Smith, "Transformational Expository Preaching"
- Scotty Smith, "A Biblical Theology of Worship: On Preference and Other Matters"
- Stephen Um, "On Ministry and Revolving Doors: Practical Challenges and Ideas for Ministry in a Mobile Society"
- Sandy Willson, "Gospel Mission to the World: Arrogance or Love?"
Silicon Valley Fight Club
Has anyone else seen or heard of this before? ESPN did their research and made this video just 3 months ago, but apparently the Silicon Valley Fight Club has been in existence for several years–a gathering of Bay Area males who work in high tech and who fight each other (oftentimes using keyboards, Martha Stewart magazines, and toilet seats as weapons). Part of me wants to join. Part of me thinks this is ridiculous.
Are The Suburbs Killing Your Manhood?
Men, this is a great article: Are The Suburbs Killing Your Manhood?
An excerpt:
The problem comes when our environment begins dictating our behavior and thereby stripping men of the very things that feed our manishness…
But maybe the truest calling of man lies in the wilderness
of life; in learning to thrive in the environments where complete
control is not possible.Think about every man you looked up to as a kid. Chances are they
continually faced environments outside their complete control.
Environments in which there was no guarantee of safety or success.
Where one can only hope to influence rather than rule. Firefighters
dueling with fire, soldiers battling the fog and friction of war,
explorers traversing foreign territories, pilot’s pushing the
boundaries of flight, or even the missionary working in inner-city New
York. Each learning to thrive without being in control.
HT: McCoy/Subtext
San Francisco: The Most Walkable City in the U.S.
This week San Francisco was awarded as the most "walkable" city in the nation.
See the full rankings at WalkScore.com.
See the Chronicle article on San Francisco’s award.
Note: this study did not factor hills into its analysis. If it had factored in hills, as walkable and wonderful as San Francisco is, I’m sure the rankings would’ve come out differently.
Your Theology and Other Christians
Wherever you come down theologically, this is an excellent post…
31 Years
Mom and Dad, happy anniversary! Happy 31 years (7/17/77). I love you. Thanks for giving me the gift of two parents committed to each other for 31 years. I praise God for the grace he’s poured out on your marriage.
PS. Dad, I think it’s time to bring back the mustache and sideburns.
