Sam Prellwitz

This is part 2 in a series called "On The Sermon". It's tempting to be like someone else. And today, if you're a pastor (or speaker of any kind), there is no shortage of examples to follow. Like never before, we have access to nicely packaged sermons given by popular and well-respected pastors from around the world. Some of us, without knowing it or maybe quite purposefully, have made ourselves sound just the same as our favorite speaker. And while imitating quality isn't bad, I think we often sell ourselves short. Think about this: God has placed you in the place where you are. Whatever town, city, or village you live in; God has you there doing the work you're doing. God has YOU there. Not someone else. That realization is what follows is the best advice I've ever received when preparing to give a sermon. To me, it's one of the first rules for giving a good sermon. "God made you. God likes you. So go be you." I  actually got ...

Words matter. They always have and always will. This is especially the case for Christians. Christians believe God spoke all things into being. By God's word, there is something rather than nothing. So when a person stands up (or sits down) and speaks to a gathering of people about the God who spoke all things into existence, it should matter. Why? Because when we do that, we're imitating God. We're being like God. And even more than that, we are expecting God to work through the very voice he gave us. The voice he wants us to use when sharing his good news. When we speak, we are intending our words to have an impact on the way things are. Specifically, we expect our words to carry enough significance - that they'll carry enough of Jesus in them - to change, shape, and transform the hearts and actions of those who listen. This is why the sermon still matters . This is why it will continue to matter for as long as people give attention to the woman or ...