God Wants Something More Important than Your Help
Sometimes in our efforts to help God, we forget that God wants something else.
Was Your Easter Sermon Effective? 6 Elements to Help You Evaluate and Know
Now that the the candy's eaten, the dishes are washed, and the schedule has settled back into something resembling normalcy, take a few minutes to reflect on your Easter sermon. Was it effective? How would you know? Using BsP's 6-elements of an effective sermon, see where you excelled and where you can grow for your next sermon.
A Preacher's Meditation for Good Friday
"Christ suffered in freedom, alone, apart and in shame, in body and spirit, and since then many Christians have so suffered with him."
A Preacher's Meditation for Maundy Thursday
"Not by annihilating the wicked, not by forcibly eliminating evil from among humankind is righteousness to be realized; the Lord wills to rehabilitate the world by turning sinners from evil ways that they may live. And we must admit that this is more difficult than the use of force."
A Preacher's Meditation for Wednesday of Holy Week
"One only has explored
’The deepmost; but he did not die of it."
A Preacher's Meditation for Tuesday of Holy Week
"The women gather round the cross, fall to their knees in the wet sand and pray. Then they dance round the cross, the symbol of this folly. These women have lost everything—their homes, their families, their jobs and their possessions. They have nothing more to lose—only their chains, but everything to win."
A Preacher's Meditation for Monday of Holy Week
"God of goodness give me yourself for you are sufficient for me. I cannot properly ask anything less, to be worthy of you. If I were to ask less, I should always be in want. In you alone do I have all."
A Gift for Preachers as You Prepare Your Easter Sermons
In these busy weeks as you plan liturgies and craft sermons, we hope you'll steal a few minutes for yourself to savor this free collection of Easter quotations—not only to enliven your preaching imagination but as balm for your own spirit. We pray this rich collection of Easter wisdom, humor, and insight helps you remember the Resurrection is for preachers, too.
Preaching & Einstein's Definition of Insanity (2 Perspectives to Avoid Losing Your Mind )
The definition of insanity often attributed to Einstein is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Sometimes, preaching can feel like an exercise in insanity: we present the good news over and over with what feels like little effect. Maybe it's not our preaching that's insane, though, but our expectations. Check out two perspectives that will help you avoid the feelings of futility discourage preachers.
Four Ways a Preaching Community Improves Your Sermons
One of the most effective ways for preachers to grow and improve is to participate in a collaborative community. Discover how one church builds collaboration and feedback into their staff's weekly rhythm, and see what this kind of support can do for you.
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I participated in the Lectio study today with a complicated and double-speak Gospel (John 17:6-19) and WOW! I received so much great insight and am headed in a direction I feel really good about. Thank you to all my colleagues! If you are wondering if this is worth it, wonder no more. It is.
—Donna G.
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The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages was written to aid preacher’s in understanding what’s at stake for their listeners so they can craft sermons their audience can receive, even if they challenge cherished beliefs.
I just have to say WOW. I'm so grateful that I made the investment and joined The Collective. These Thursday [workshops] are a game-changer for me.
—Andrea M.