I've posted this before, but thought I would repost it - mostly for my own sake!

Here's something I keep in my sermon folder, and that I read over just before I preach (Sorry Brent!).

IMPACT PREACHING

Always preach to make an eternal  IMPACT!

I - I preach an Inspired Text
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
16alll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every
good work.

M - I preach to Magnify Christ
1 Corinthians 1:23 (NKJV)
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and
to the Greeks foolishness,

P - I must preach from a Pure heart
Psalm 24:3-4 (NKJV)
Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord? He who has clean hands
and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn
deceitfully.

A - I must preach under the Anointing of the Spirit
Ephesians 5:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the
Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but
be filled with the Spirit,

C - I must preach with a Crucified Life
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but
Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

T - I must preach Trusting God for the Results
Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV)
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not
return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall
prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Preach as a dying man to dying men! Preach as if this were the last sermon
I will ever preach, because it just might be!

THE C WORD!

In most churches that I am acquainted with commitment is one of, if not the most often mentioned issue at staff meetings.  People don’t seem to be as committed as they once were.  Attendance is dropping off.  Volunteerism is down. So what are we to do? Well, we challenge our people to be more committed to the church.  We preach sermons, teach Sunday School lessons, even develop programs that encourage us to love our church and get more involved.  And on the whole, they really don’t work.  For a few months things seem better. But pretty soon we are right back to where we were at first, or maybe even worse off.

The problem is that we never addressed the fundamental issue of commitment.  As believers we are called together to fellowship and to serve, but we do so not out of love for the church, but out of love and devotion to Christ.  We are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and body. He is to be Lord of all we are and ever will be.  When we are supremely devoted to Christ we will love the Church.  When Christ is Lord our service will be given naturally and joyfully. There will be no need for guilt inducing sermons or programs. When we are devoted to Christ we are most devoted to the fellowship of believers!  Why? Because he commands us to love one another. He commands us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but to provoke one another to good works.  Devoted Christ-followers are consumed with serving and pleasing the one who served them through His death on the cross.

Gospel centered ministry demands that we stop trying to lead people to greater devotion to the church, but lead them to something infinitely better. Devotion to Christ. 

Are you committed? 

How to be Filled with the Spirit - Sunday's sermon

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=6914118222

The word dogma has gotten a bad rap over the last few years. It has come to mean something that is cold, dead and dull. Dogmatic has come to mean someone who will not change or accept others or in some cases to describe someone who is unreasonable in their beliefs. This is unfortunate. Dogma simply means religious beliefs. Basically, it means the same thing as doctrine or teaching. Christian dogma or doctrine is nothing more than the beliefs that make up the Christian faith. Christianity is a doctrinal or a dogmatic faith.

This means that simply claiming to be Christian does not make one a Christian. Feeling like one is a Christian is not enough. Dogma is the objective truth that defines what a Christian is. Simply using Christian terminology does not make one a Christian. If Dogma defines Christianity, than where do we get it from? What is the source of doctrine or belief for the Christian? Certainly not my feelings or personal impression of how I think things are. The Bible tells us that the heart is wicked and will deceive us.

All dogma (Christian dogma) has Scripture for it's source. Not one of its sources, not even the primary source, but THE source. For instance, many people claim to believe in Jesus Christ. For some He is a great prophet who taught timeless life lessons concerning this great spiritual journey of life. Others claim that he was the greatest of all God's creations. Some even claim that he is one of many, many gods who populate the cosmos. Recently I read an article that claimed that Christ is within each of us. He is love and love is eternal. The problem is that none of these views of Christ are Christian.

The Bible paints an awe inspiring picture of Christ. He is eternal, without beginning or end. He is the second person of the Trinity. He has always existed in perfect fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He died on the cross for our sins. He arose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father. He rules and reigns over the universe and will one day set all of his enemies under his feet and we will reign with Him. To present Christ as anything less than the everlasting God is to present a false Christ. To claim that he is one of many gods is idolatry. Dogma guards the purity of the Christian faith.

Here is another example. I read an article recently that claimed that God the Father exists in a flesh and blood body. When I read this, I have to admit I laughed out loud. John 4 is pretty clear. "God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship him in Spirit and truth." To claim that the Father is confined by a flesh and blood body is contrary to Scripture and unchristian.

As believers Dogma must be our delight. it is life and health. Read what Dorothy Sayers writes.
"We are constantly assured that the churches are empty because preachers insist on too much upon doctrine - dull dogma they call it. It is the neglect of dogma that makes for dullness. The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that staggered the imagination of man - and the dogma is the drama.

A new start!

It's been a few years since I last posted on this blog. For the last few months I've had this nagging desire to write and reflect on pastoral ministry, the gospel, living out the Christian life and anything else that happens to get hung up in my head. My goal is to post two to three times a month, maybe once a week.
I want this blog to be encouraging to my students and my church members. Maybe we can all stir one anther up to greater faith by thinking, praying and studying scripture together.

That's all. A simple vision.