Change My Church? Do It And Say Your Prayers
by Dr. Joe McKeeverFirst Baptist Church, Kenner Louisiana We have a firestorm raging here in New Orleans. It started a few days ago when Galatoire’s restaurant fired a veteran waiter named Gilberto for sexual harassment. First, a word about this world famous eatery which some refer to as a temple of food. Thirty years ago
What About This Business Of Plagiarism?
Okay, I’ll admit right off the bat, I’ve been guilty of using other peoples material and not giving them credit. Let he that is without sin, cast the first stone! We’ve all done it. Unfortunately, preachers are as guilty as anyone of stealing someone’s message and preaching it verbatim. We’re guilty of copying an article
Zip My Lips
Can you keep a secret? The longer I live, the more I realize the scarcity of persons who can be trusted with confidential information. Whether in government (an unnamed White House source) or the church, people love to talk. R.G. Lee said, “A lie travels around the world while truth is putting on its boots.”
A Sin In Good Standing
“Why did you preach my pastor’s sermon last night?” a student asked me at a seminary Bible conference. “I’m not sure I know your pastor,” I replied, “and I rarely get to hear other men preach. Was I in the congregation when you heard him preach it?” “No, I guess you weren’t,” he mumbled. “Maybe
If I Only Had Time!
If you find yourself saying in your sermons, “Now, if I had the time–” then beware! A pastor I know frequently punctuated his sermons with “If I had the time,” and one Sunday a deacon approached him about it. “Pastor, you keep saying ‘If I had the time.’ Why don’t you have the time? You
Relating To Other Ministers And Staff
From “When Pastors Wonder How” – by Howard Sugden & Warren W. Wiersbe. © 1973 – Moody Press. Used by permission of the author. What should be my relationship to former pastors of the church, especially my immediate predecessor? Stories about former pastors are often like stories about mothers-in-law: they are only stories. Make up
Dead to Flattery and Flattening
When Paul wrote Galatians 2:20, he gave all who are called to minister a timeless truth. Gal 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of
The Lord Is Talking, Who’s Listening?
By Dr. Joe McKeever First Baptist Church of Kenner, Louisiana My minister friend said, “My pastor is letting me preach sometimes. I’m really enjoying it.” Long pause. “Joe,” he said, “where do you get those stories? You always have some great stories and they can really dress up a sermon.” I said, “You just start
The Bad Ol’ Summertime
An anonymous wit has defined summer as the time of year when the children slam the doors they left open all winter. For the busy minister, summer can be either a season of open doors or slammed doors. It all depends on our attitude and our planning. If our attitude is negative and we don’t
Worship As A Moving Target Part 4
In this issue, I want to address a few issues we will never agree on. Once we realize we will never agree, we can learn to accept one another in love as Jesus commanded. We will never agree on lighting? Some want the church to be dark and reverent encouraging personal worship. Others want it
I is for Illustrations
In this day of electronic equipment that can flash a picture or even a film clip on the screen, perhaps we don’t need to think about verbal illustrations. But our sermons should be prepared so carefully that if the power fails, the people will still “see” what we’re saying. Let’s try to answer some basic
Worship As A Moving Target, Part 2
Here’s an unrelated question? But, if you are honest, you’ve got to admit it. There are times when you sit on the platform and someone is singing just before you preach and you wonder if they stepped on a nail or were trying to hit a note out of their range. When are lay singers