Posts Tagged ‘Preaching’

Apr
08
2011

Friday Five Interview – Dr. Johnny Hunt

Dr. Johnny Hunt is a well-known pastor, especially to America’s largest body of evangelical churches, the 44 million member Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Hunt is the Senior Pastor of one of the largest SBC churches in America, 1st Baptist Church of Woodstock (Georgia) and has served as President of the Pastor’s Conference. In 2008, he was elected as President of the Southern Baptist Convention and served from 2008 to 2010.  He has disciple thousands of men through his popular men’s conference and is a mentor to pastors, who regularly attend his Timothy/Barnabas retreats.

I’m honored to chat with Dr. Hunt, who stopped by for today’s Friday Five:

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Feb
26
2011

Why We Need Faithful Preaching

This is a snippet of my message for Sunday, “The Equipping Church” – 8th in a series of messages called Doing Church:

It’s important that every generation hears the same faithful orthodox truths of the Bible. I want to read a quote from Eric Metaxas recently biography of Deitrich Boenhoeffer, the courageous pastor who resisted Hitler in Germany. He is speaking about the state of the church in Germany under Hitler:

“For many Germans, their national identity had become so melted together with whatever Lutheran Christian faith they had that it was impossible to see either clearly. After four hundred years of taking for granted that all Germans were Lutheran Christians, no one really knew what Christianity was anymore.”

Those words haunt me as a communicator of the Word of God. We must never take the gospel for granted. Paul told Timothy: “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 2 (Timothy 4:2)

Every generation needs to hear the word. We as pastors must be faithful, generation upon generation.

Dec
08
2010

How I Preach

Two and a half years ago, my wife and I moved to Gages Lake Bible Church, where I was called as the Senior Pastor. This was my first time doing any major preaching, though I had graduated with a degree in pastoral ministry and had spoken in church and in Sunday School and small group settings periodically. So, obviously, preaching every single week was a new thing for me. It was a new thing I enjoyed immensely and still enjoy. There is nothing as invigorating, humbling, and wonderful as the mysterious calling to preach. I love the study, love the prep, and love the delivery. I love all parts of preaching.

But even though I love preaching and loved studying and had a degree in pastoral ministry, didn’t mean I was comfortable preaching right away. In fact, it took me a good six-to-eight months to get my legs under me. I had a few issues going in.

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Oct
08
2010

Friday Five Intervew: Tony Merida

I’m always excited to meet new authors, especially new authors who are pastors, and especially new authors, who are pastors, who publish with my friends at New Hope, who has published all my books. I was asked a few months ago to consider endorsing a book by Dr. Tony Merida, entitled, Orphanology, to be released in 2011. I read through the draft and came away very impressed and inspired. It is a thorough handbook on the theology and practice of adoption. For anyone needing a comprehensive biblical and practical book on orphan care and adoption, this will be your book.

Dr. Merida is a Teaching Pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, a dual-campus church of about 3,500 active members. He is also an adjunct professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

I liked the book so much, I asked Dr. Merida to stop by and answer a few questions. He graciously agreed and so here is Dr. Merida and The Friday Five:

1) You wrote the book, Faithful Preaching. Why do you think preaching, what some considered an old-fashioned mode of communication, is still relevant today?

My beliefs about preaching are driven more from theological convictions than cultural assessments. If you listen to many today, they will argue that people won’t listen to preaching (especially long preaching) and that we need to move to more dialogue or more video-driven methods. While I believe that there are places for dialogue (small groups) and a place for video-media tools, we shouldn’t throw preaching out because of what we perceive people want or need based upon the winds of ever-changing culture. Instead, I believe we must take our cue from God’s Word. If we believe it to be the inspired Word of God, then why would we want to do anything other than what it says about preaching? I’m not referring to the form of preaching, but the essence of preaching; that is, standing up, opening a Bible, reading it, explaining it and applying it to people’s lives in a way that they can understand it. Why wouldn’t we do this?

I’ve been given a timeless charge to “preach the Word.” The spoken Word and the written Word have been God’s chosen means of revealing Christ to the world. In fact, God was the first preacher. He spoke creation into existence. He could have done it other ways, but he didn’t. He then created mankind in his image, with the ability to (among other things) talk. He then called Abraham to himself. He then used the prophets to speak to people. They were creative, and spoke the timely words necessary.  When Christ came to earth, like the prophet John the Baptist, he came preaching repentance. As Jesus commissioned his disciples, he urged them to teachand proclaim the Gospel. At Pentecost, Peter preached a really good sermon about Jesus and thousands were saved. Later Paul urges Timothy to “preach the Word” and reminds us that “faith comes by hearing and hearing from the word of Christ.” Paul also tells Timothy in corporate worship that someone should read the Scriptures and then exhort the hearers about these things. We could go on. When Christ returns he is called “the Word of God.” Therefore, preaching is built on a biblical-theological framework. If one starts from the Bible, I think they’ll be led to preach God’s Word faithfully. Is preaching old-fashioned? Yes. But not “1960’s old fashioned.” It’s as old as creation. And until Christ returns, preaching will continue to be relevant. We need to improve at it, to be sure, but folks shouldn’t dismiss it because they see poor examples of it.


2) It seems to me that there is a movement back toward substantive, solid preaching and teaching, even expository. Why is that?

This is related to question 1. I think that where you find a group of people affirming the inspiration and truthfulness of Scripture, you will find a group of people doing substantive preaching. You show your beliefs about the Bible, your real beliefs, by what you practice. Guys who are not teaching the Bible must think that there are other better ways to see lives changed. Besides this, I think some of the more popular younger evangelicals are doing Word-driven preaching, thereby setting an example for others. And I think another reason is probably due to the fact that the slick, seeker, market-driven church has left people wanting more.


3) You have a project coming out with New Hope entitled Orphanology. I had the privilege of reviewing the manuscript and was glad to give it an endorsement. How did this project come about?

Basically, I was preaching on the doctrine of adoption everywhere, and New Hope approached me about writing a book on adoption/orphan care. I thought that this would be a good idea in light of the fact that every time I spoke on the subject I received a gazillion questions about things like: ‘How do you pay for it?’  ‘How do you do orphan ministry in the local church?’ ‘How do you do orphan hosting ministry?’ I wanted to write a book that provide both a theological rational for adoption and orphan are as well as some practical answers to these common questions. With the help of Rick Morton, I think we’ve given a good effort and I hope it helps those interested in these things. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed writing it, and trying to live it with my five adopted children.

4) Adoption has always been a sort of personal choice/decision made by individual couples, but you seem to think it should be a church-wide calling. Why is that?

Adoption and orphan care is a biblical issue. If you want to obey the Bible, you better care for orphans –  in some capacity. Not everyone will or should adopt, but some can and should. Others may support in other ways. Caring for orphans was a practice that continued after James wrote verse 1:27, as well. From historical documents, we read how people didn’t value human life (like today), and it was the Christians who cared for unwanted children. They received great attention for such sacrificial care. They believed, as we should, that anyone created in the image of God should be valued. So, I believe it to be a church-wide calling like other callings such as stewardship, evangelism, care for the poor, etc. because it’s a biblical issue.


5) What advice would you give to a couple who is thinking and praying about pursuing adoption?

I would tell them to begin by spending time reading the Scriptures and praying about the matter. I would encourage them to look at God’s concern for the fatherless throughout the Bible in general, and to take detailed look at the doctrine of adoption in particular. During the search phase, they may also begin reading literature on adoption and talking to adoptive parents. Once a decision is made, they would need to select a country in which to adopt. After deciding on this, they can then choose an adoption agency with which to work. From there, it’s a great adventure, one that should be bathed in prayer for God’s strength and wisdom because orphan care is warfare. They should expect opposition and struggle from every side, but God’s grace is sufficient for their weakness.

Jun
25
2010

Friday Five Interview: Ray Pritchard

It is my privilege to interview a pastor whose ministry I have long admired. I discovered Dr. Ray Pritchard while I was on staff and editing a Christian publication and was delighted to excerpt some of his books. I began following his blog. He began blogging way before blogging pastors were cool.

Dr. Ray was the senior pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL for many years and is the author of numerous, best-selling books, including An Anchor for the Soul, which is distributed around the world and translated in many languages. Ray is frequently interviewed on radio stations across the country and is a prolific speaker at conferences around the world, including Word of Life. Dr. Ray now is the full-time director of Keep Believing Ministries which equips pastors and church leaders around the world with a resource-rich website, Ray’s books, and a speaking ministry that takes him around the globe.

I have personally benefited from Dr. Pritchard’s ministry. He has been a rich source of wisdom and advice on pastoral ministry, writing, and life. I consider him a great friend. I also regularly peruse his archive of sermons and blog posts for insight into my own preaching.

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Jun
18
2010

Friday Five Interview – Charles Stone


Several years ago, when I was working for a Christian organization and the editor of their monthly devotional magazine, I had the chance to meet Charles Stone, Senior Pastor of Ginger Creek Community Church. Actually I “met” him via email. We had the opportunity to print an excerpt from his then-new book, Daughters Gone Wild, Dad’s Gone Crazy. This was a great book that chronicled the  journey he took with his daughter who rebelled for a time but then came back to the faith.

Since then, we’ve become friends. Charles graciously endorsed Teen People of the Bible. We’ve also ran into each other at writer’s conferences, etc. I highly recommend his blog: charlesstone.net.

Well, now Charles is out with a brand-new book, 5 Ministry Killers and How to Defeat Them. It is a revealing look at pastoral burnout. I’m nearly finished with the book and I can say that it has challenged me and has educated me on the rigors of ministry. I highly recommend it for both pastors, board members, and lay people.

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May
19
2010

Book Review – 5 Ministry Killers by Dr. Charles Stone


What if you could give a pastor truth serum and ask him what ministry is really like? Behind the plastered-on smile and steady handshake are often men of God who struggle with depression, burnout, disappointment, and sin.

And yet, God continues to call ordinary men to the most extraordinary position as shepherd of God’s people. As a young and learning pastor myself, I’m humbled by the opportunity to stand in God’s place and speak the Word to His people. What a holy, humble, and high calling.

One of my good friends in ministry, Dr. Charles Stone, has written a powerful new book, 5 Ministry Killers. Charles rips the mask off of the ministry and reveals the heart of what it is like to be a pastor, going in depth into five areas that rob the joy and steal the fruit of a pastor’s ministry.

Stone compiles research from respected evangelical polling centers such as Lifeway Research, Barna, and Christianity Today. He combs through the research and layers it with his own personal experience—20 plus years in the ministry.

Rarely have I read a pastor so willingly vulnerable, eager to share his struggles and how God has carried him through.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. At time the research arrested my attention. Other times I was forced to close the book and reflect and pray over my own flawed motivations. And the entire time I was challenged and strengthened by the book’s humble wisdom.

I highly recommend 5 Ministry Killers to any pastor, whether you’re like me and you’ve been in the pulpit only 2 years or you’re a grizzled veteran of church life. And you don’t have to be a pastor to benefit. I highly recommend church boards and key lay leadership read 5 Ministry Killers.

Kudos to my friend, Dr. Charles Stone, for a well-written, well-researched, and well-lived book.

Note: Click here to read a Friday Five interview with Dr. Stone that will officially post on June 18th.