A while back, I was reading Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity when I came across a quote from Benjamin Franklin that stuck with me: “I am settling my old accounts and hope soon to be quite a master of my own time… I am in a fair way of having no other tasks than such as I should like to give myself and of enjoying what I look upon as a great happiness—leisure to read, study, make experiments and converse at large on such points as may produce something of common benefit to mankind—uninterrupted by … [Read more...]
The Power of Practicing Your Sermon
I’ve been reading Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography, and I came across a fascinating observation he made about George Whitefield’s preaching. Franklin heard Whitefield preach often enough that he could tell the difference between a sermon Whitefield had recently written and one he had preached many times. The difference was refinement. Franklin observed that Whitefield’s frequently repeated sermons became so polished that “every accent, every emphasis, every modulation of voice” was … [Read more...]
Staying Fresh in the Pulpit
The best way to stay fresh in the pulpit is to read books on preaching and then apply what you learn. A sermon is made up of distinct parts—the greeting, introduction, background, exposition, conclusion, and closing prayer—and preaching books offer Scripture-based insight into how to prepare each one well. As you learn to craft a stronger introduction, a clearer exposition, or a more effective conclusion, your preaching doesn’t just improve—it changes. And change is the very definition of … [Read more...]
The Unenviable Job of a Leader
I recently spent time with a pastor friend, and as we caught up he began to share some of the leadership strain he’s been carrying. Several staff members were upset with him—upset enough to resign—over a leadership decision he had made. The issue was this: For the church’s vision to move from paper to reality, restructuring was necessary. And my friend, being the kind of leader churches need, didn’t avoid the hard work. He led the staff through the process carefully and intentionally. But the … [Read more...]
Core Four: Evaluate
RWMC is an acronym that helps us easily remember the four questions we have to ask ourselves each week about our Sunday services…. R stands for what went right? W stands for what went wrong? M stands for what was missing? And C stands for what was confusing? And these are the four questions you want to ask about every Sunday service. So here’s what you do: Make a note on your phone that you label RWMC. Under that make four headings: 1) right, 2) wrong, 3) missing, 4) confusing. Then, on … [Read more...]
A Thanksgiving Devotional
I’m reading Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick and wrote the following devotional based off what I’ve learned in the book. Enjoy! The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621. The Pilgrims didn’t call it “Thanksgiving” at the time, but because the purpose of their feast was to thank God for His blessings, it was later given that name. What makes this so striking is the context. Of the roughly 100 people who arrived on the Mayflower, half died within the first year. They faced disease, … [Read more...]
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