Monday Morning Preacher

Latest Episodes:

The Power of Emotion in Expository Preaching Sep 28, 2020

Show notes

What role should your emotions play in expository preaching? Matt Woodley explores this topic with Greg Hollifield, Associate Dean for Assessment and Reporting at Memphis College of Urban and Theological Studies at Union University. He said “So I started listening more closely to Haddon (Robinson’s) sermons, and I realized the emotions he was evoking were in line with the content of the text that he was expositing.” He also warns preachers of being emotionally or intellectually manipulative, when preaching God’s word. Greg talks about a recent sermon he preached where Jacob wrestles with an angel, to pursue a blessing. Find out how he frames this story, to capture the emotion of the text. Check out what was referenced on the podcast: -Kenneth Quick’s article "Your Text Has Feelings" found in “Staying True to the Text,” a preaching guide from Preaching Today. https://www.preachingtoday.com/preaching-guides/staying-true-to-text/your-text-has-feelings.html -John Walsh’s book "The Art of Storytelling." Moody Publishers, 2014. https://www.moodypublishers.com/the-art-of-storytelling/

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Is The Big Idea More Helpful or Hurtful? It's Complicated. Sep 14, 2020

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Is the big idea more helpful or hurtful to listeners? Matt Woodley explores this question with Abe Kuruvilla, Senior Research Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. Abe said "The big idea is ultimately a creation of the preacher. It's not in the text. It's something the preacher creates." He argues that the text isn't a plain glass window to look through; but a stained glass window to look at. Check out what was referenced on the podcast: -Abraham Kuruvilla's article "Time to Kill the Big Idea? A Fresh Look at Preaching" found in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2018. https://homiletix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/KURUVILLA-Big-Idea-JETS2.pdf -Abraham Kuruvilla's book "Privilege the Text!: A Theological Hermeneutic for Preaching." Moody Publishers, 2013. https://www.moodypublishers.com/privilege-the-text/

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Preaching to People on the Margins Sep 03, 2020

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How can you preach to people on the margins? What does this look like on a practical level? Matt Woodley explores these questions with Patricia Batten, Associate Director of the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She drew attention to how a preacher can overlook certain people groups, without realizing it. Pat said she often preaches to the middle, but recently felt convicted that she should expand her audience. She also shares a story about her daughter, which demonstrates her conviction that all people are made in the image of God. Check out what was referenced in this episode: Patricia Batten's book "Parenting by Faith: What Jesus Said to Parents." Rose Publishing LLC, 2019. https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Faith-What-Jesus-Parents/dp/1628627816/

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Called To Faithful, Not Successful Preaching Aug 18, 2020

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What does it mean to achieve success as a preacher? What makes a successful sermon? Matt Woodley explores these questions with Wes Oden, who has served as Senior Pastor at Houghton Wesleyan Church in New York for 24 years. When he first accepted the role, he was nervous to serve an intellectual congregation. But his wife reminded him that they were called to love people. Wes said "one of the things that scares me the most is becoming stagnant." Check out what was referenced on the podcast: For sermons from Wes, visit his church's website: https://hwchurch.org/audio-podcast-archive-links/ Get Matt Woodley's book "The Folly of Prayer," on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Folly-Prayer-Practicing-Presence-Absence/dp/0830837124/

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Bringing Listeners into the Bible Scene Jul 22, 2020

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What are people seeing in their mind's eye as you preach? Ideally, you want them to see Jesus, or how God is at work among his people. In this episode, Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller outline three ways to bring listeners into the Bible scene: point people to the picture, not to the page; bring people into the present moment; and help them hear the actors, not the author. You'll also get a backstage pass to "stump the hosts," where they put preaching methods to the test.

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Preaching Principles from the Book of Hebrews Jul 06, 2020

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You’re called to be a faithful and effective communicator of God’s Word. But what exactly are the core principles of a “biblical sermon”? In this episode, Matt Woodley talks to Jeremy McKeen, author of "The Model Sermon: Principles of Preaching from the Book of Hebrews." It turns out that God did include a blueprint to guide us within the canon of Scripture—the Book of Hebrews. The Model Sermon will not only help you master the major preaching principles found in Hebrews—itself a sermon—but also offers practical steps to immediately apply each to your preaching. BUY THE BOOK: “The Model Sermon,” website, created by Preachingtoday.com, Christianity Today, updated 2020: http://themodelsermon.com/ “The Model Sermon” book, Preaching Today Books, created by Preachingtoday.com, Christianity Today, updated 2020: https://bit.ly/3dYxAR2

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A Dialogue on Racism and Justice Jun 19, 2020

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How do you address racial issues at the pulpit? Maybe this question is weighing on you heavily, in light of current events. In this episode, Matt Woodley interviews Lawrence Aker III, Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York and George E. Hurtt, Pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California. Based on their own life experience, George and Lawrence assess what change might look like on a practical level. They talk about the Civil Rights movement, the Great Migration, and the emergence of soul food. Check out what was referenced on the podcast: A lecture entitled "Racism and Corporate Evil: A White Guy’s Perspective – Tim Keller" given on August, 2017. https://youtu.be/EhJJcTKTVGo Genesis 1:27 (ESV) "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Galatians 6:10 (ESV) "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Luke 10:29-31 (ESV) "But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side."

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Spiritual Warfare in Preaching Jun 10, 2020

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Spiritual warfare is no stranger to preachers. In this episode, Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller explore how spiritual attack manifests itself, and how you can overcome it. They share stories of spiritual attacks in their own pastoral ministry, and how God overpowered the darkness with light. One tell tale sign of an attack is feeling crippling anxiety, or self-doubt. Kevin said "spiritual warfare is the battle between what Satan wants for my life, and what God wants." Check out what was referenced on the podcast: James 3:14 (ESV) “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.” I Peter 5:8 (ESV) "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

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Say What You Need to Say May 19, 2020

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Have you ever felt like you said too much, or too little in your sermon? In this episode, Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller will help you “say what you need to say,” nothing more and nothing less. Every part of your sermon counts, especially introductions and conclusions. Matt shares the challenge of balancing humor, while pointing people to Christ. For a sermon to be a home run, you need to trust your hearers – that they are really listening to you.

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Is the Big Idea Dead? Former Navy Chaplain Decides May 06, 2020

Show notes

Is big idea preaching a good idea? Maybe this question is plaguing you, or your colleagues in ministry. In this episode, Matt Woodley asks Russell St. John, senior pastor at Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in Missouri to weigh in. Haddon Robinson popularized the big idea, as he aided in the revival of expository preaching in the late twentieth century. Russell emphasized the importance of knowing your own inadequacy as a preacher, and relying on the Holy Spirit. He defined the big idea as “a succinct statement of the teaching and the application of the text together.” You can achieve this by asking two questions in sermon prep: What is the author talking about? What is the author saying about what’s he’s talking about? The big idea should be biblical and faithful to the text, but catchy enough to grab people’s attention. Listen to this episode to find out if big idea preaching is right for you.

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