Monday Morning Preacher

Latest Episodes:

The Role of Deliberate Practice in Preaching Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

How can you practice deliberately as a preacher? In this episode, Matt Woodley explores that question with Jared Alcantara, associate professor of preaching at Baylor University’s George Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas.

Deliberate practice in preaching is a “relentless ongoing commitment to growth.” He also cites the work of K. Anders Ericsson, a Swedish psychologist who wrote “Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise.” He identifies four commitments people often make, who become experts in a given field, like preaching or playing the violin.

The willingness to take risks
Constructive feedback
Focused attention
Concrete goals

This concept is more widely known from Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers where he popularized the 10,000 rule. The rule says that “it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to achieve mastery of complex skills and materials, like playing the violin or getting as good as Bill Gates at computer programming” according to Alcantara.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

Gardner C. Taylor’s article “The Preacher’s Dialogue”
Anders Ericsson’s bookPeak: Secrets From the New Science of Expertise
Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers: The Story of Success

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Long-Time Pastor Argues for the One Point Sermon Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

How can you provide a clear path for people to hear God’s word? In this episode, Matt Woodley explores that question with co-host Kevin Miller. He’s a rector at Church of the Savior in Wheaton, IL with ten years of preaching experience. Miller makes a case for the one point sermon, citing Haddon Robinson who said “a central unifying idea must be at the heart of an effective sermon” in his book “Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages.”

He argues there are too many rabbit trails for listeners to go down, in a three point sermon. C.S. Lewis compared listeners to sheep going down a farm lane saying, “if you leave any gate open on either side, they will dash into that pasture and not go down the lane, where you want them to go.” Here are three reasons why one point sermons can be more effective:

1) The main point is clearer, because there’s less content for people to digest.

2) It’s easier to remember. Miller’s friend conducted a research project where she asked people, after a church service what the sermon was about. He said “What she found was that when her pastor preached a three point sermon, people remembered one point.”

3) People are more likely to take action as a result of a one point sermon.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

Andy Stanley’s book Communicating for a Change: Seven Keys to Irresistible Communication
Dave Ferguson’s book The Big Idea: Aligning the Ministries of Your Church through Creative Collaboration

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The Word Made Flesh: What Preaching Looks Like Amidst Persecution Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

How can you preach in countries that persecute Christians? In this episode, Matt Woodley explores that question with Venerable Justice Okoronkwo, Director of Missions in the Anglican diocese of Jos, Nigeria.

Justice Okoronkwo “Nigeria has been in the news lately for so many things that should make Christians concerned. The global terrorism index placed Nigeria second in the world, in terms of the effects of terrorist insurgency.” He explained that the only country ahead of Nigeria is Afghanistan.

Boko Haram, a jihadist terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria is responsible for approximately twenty five thousand deaths, and more than two million displaced people in Nigeria, according to Justice Okoronkwo.

“We’re seeing victims who were raped by insurgents, houses of Christians being destroyed, dead bodies of children that were hacked by machetes, churches that have been burned, and worshipers killed while they were worshiping” said Justice Okoronkwo.

People come to him, and want answers for why evil and violence taking place in Nigeria. He points out the dangers of pastors sounding hollow, when they respond to people who are suffering. He said “you can’t understand what’s somebody is going through, until you have sat with him, in his ash.”

In light of this, He drew attention to Psalm 73:“Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked (Psalm 73:1-3, ESV).”

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Preaching to People in Pain May 24, 2021

Show notes

How can you preach to people who are suffering? Matthew D. Kim, author of Preaching to People in Painbelieves that beauty is often buried beneath pain, and that unseen reality helps him connect with his congregation. Matt Woodley draws attention to different types of pain: emotional, mental and physical, to name a few.

Kim said “I think there are some areas where we can help the listeners see that their pain is acknowledged by God. Their suffering is seen. Their suffering is not in vain. There’s a purpose to it.”

In his book, he asks preachers to consider nine questions that will help them prepare sermons on pain and suffering. In this episode, Kim opens up about painful experiences in his own life, and how God used them as formative experiences, to help him uplift people who were suffering in the body of Christ.

“I’ve been sharing pain whenever the text reveals that pain. I think it can help aid the preaching process,” he said.

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Preaching Truth in the Public Square May 10, 2021

Show notes

What can preachers learn from prophets? In this episode, Matt Woodley explores that question with Danny Carroll, Professor of Biblical Studies and Pedagogy at Wheaton College.

Carroll said “Prophetic preaching means speaking truth in the public square. But it also requires a certain kind of integrity, a knowledge of the world that we live in.”

He also indicated that for prophets in the Old Testament, being prophetic often had implications for worship. He was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Carroll’s mother raised his family bi-lingual and bicultural, so they visited Guatemala every summer. Later on, he taught at a seminary in Guatemala City for thirteen years.

To emulate the Old Testament prophets, pastors can emulate prophets’ behavior or preach their message. Carroll also recommends pastors begin preaching from the Old Testament.

“We need the prophets as a moral compass and we lost it, and now we’re beginning to pay the social price for having silenced and ignored the prophets” he said.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

Daniel Carroll’s bookThe Book of Amos (New International Commentary on the Old Testament. WM.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2020.

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How Your Life Shapes Your Preaching Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

How do live a life that cultivates great sermons? In this episode, Matt Woodley explores that question with Steve Norman, author of “The Preacher as Sermon: How Who You Are Shapes What They Hear.” He identifies ten roles that preachers inhabit, throughout the preaching process.

Norman argues that the preacher plays a vital role in what he calls "the preaching moment." He said “For me, the preaching moment happens where four worlds converge: the paper (the text), the preacher (the voice through which that text is declared), the power of God (the author), and the people (who are the recipients).”

His parents’ spiritual curiosity, as hearers of the Word really shaped him as a Christian. They came to church every week, expecting to hear from God. They also taught him to love scripture, and prayer. He has served in church ministry for 25 years, in metro Detroit and in Western Michigan.

BUY THE BOOK:

“The Preacher as Sermon,” website, created by Preachingtoday.com, Christianity Today, updated 2021
“The Preacher as Sermon” book, Preaching Today Books, created by Preachingtoday.com, Christianity Today, updated 2020

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Why Three Point Sermons Are Effective Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

What are the merits of a three point sermon? In this episode, Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller explore that question. Matt argues for the three point sermon, while Kevin believes the one point sermon is more expedient, to deliver the gospel message to a congregation.

Matt said “It’s underrated. Don’t cast it out. I think it still works. Keep it in your repertoire.”

When he references three points, in a sermon – he’s showing listeners the movement of passage in the Biblical text.

It’s a simple way to organize your information – you’re breaking it up into bite sized chunks: it gave give your listeners three scenes about the text; it can have movement. For example, in journalistic writing, they talking about writing in scenes, a discreet movement of action, something that you can see.

He also talks about a sermon he gave on Hebrews 10 that focused on “Christ and His atoning sacrifice.” His three points were:

The need for forgiveness
The price of forgiveness
The offer of forgiveness

Matt said “It’s not a disaster if they only remember one of the points, and they don’t remember the outline. The outline isn’t really the point. Transformational truth from the text — That’s really important. ”

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How to Preach with a Biblical Imagination Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

How can you preach with a Biblical imagination? Alison Gerber, pastor at Second Congregational Church in Massachusetts explores that question with our co-host, Kevin Miller. She uses the imagination, to help the Biblical narrative come alive for her listeners. Gerber said “If we do have this purpose to see lives change. Some imagination is going to be required.”

Her first phase in sermon prep is nailing down the big idea. Gerber still employs Haddon Robinson’s method of preaching: “exegeting the text, reading the text, word studies, and coming down to the core central idea.”

After that, she starts writing and developing the sermon. If it’s a narrative sermon, she asks herself the question “how am I going to tell this story, or enter into it?”

“Really my goal with all of this is to bring the senses into the sermon,” said Gerber. Putting your congregation into that space, of the Biblical text. Describing tactile elements help paint a picture, so that listeners can listen and see what’s happening in Biblical story – that may feel foreign to them, otherwise.

Learn more about Alison on her website.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

Edwin M. Yamauchi, and Marvin R. Wilson's book A Dictionary of Daily Life in Biblical and Post-Biblical Antiquity, Hendrickson Publishers. 2014

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Say it Again! Preaching the Good News of Easter Mar 15, 2021

Show notes

How can you preach the good news of Easter? Bishop Timothy Clarke, Senior Pastor at First Church of God in Ohio says you don’t have to make the Easter message relevant for people. It’s already relevant, because it’s in the Word of God.

He drew attention to Isaiah 40:8 (ESV) “The grass withers, the flower fades and the word of the Lord stands forever.”

In this episode, they discuss everything from Chicago steakhouses, to preaching failures, to how the resurrection narrative stands the test of time. Bishop Clarke offers three specific words of advice for preachers:

Focus on your relationship with God.
Make your family a priority.
Find your voice, vocation and vision.

Check out what was referenced on the podcast:

H. Beecher Hicks, Jr.’s book Preaching Through a Storm: Confirming the Power of Preaching in the Tempest of Church Conflict
You can also watch Bishop Clarke’s sermons on YouTube.

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Keeping Grace Fresh in Your Preaching Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

How can you preach the grace of the gospel in a fresh way? In this episode, Kevin Miller and Ethan Magness, pastor at Grace Anglican Church in Grove City, Pennsylvania explore explore how preaching on the grace of Jesus Christ, can speak to the everyday concerns of your people.

He said “Our bond with God has experienced a tragic severing. What we need more than anything is reconciliation with the highest point of reality. We need to be totally made new before God, reconnected, re-established, and loved into loveliness.”

Magness also stressed the importance of cultivating an expectation, and is more than just a moral harangue, or a new plan to improve yourself for God. He said “But instead the heart of the Christian enterprise of preaching is to proclaim someone else besides me, and someone else besides you.”

He teaches seminarians how to do three things, in a sermon:

1. Exhume the Biblical material of a given passage clearly.

2. Show how that Biblical material points to the gospel (the redemption from sin via Christ’s death and resurrection.

3. They have to existentially connect with the “rocky horror picture show” of the hearer’s life.

You can listen to Ethan Magness' sermons on Grace Anglican Church’s website.

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