Preaching that’s predictable usually isn’t very powerful. If our listeners know where we’re going in a sermon and how we plan to get there, they will soon lose interest in the message, no matter how well we preach it. Without the unexpected and the element of surprise, even the best message will sound bland. Predictable
All of us have experienced the honeymoon stage in a new church. It’s the time when the pulpit committee thinks they’ve called the Apostle Paul, when the little old ladies class thinks you are the best looking preacher in town and when the overwhelming majority believe in you. However, something happens along the way. Sooner
"Never be afraid to test yourself by your critic's words." - Martin Luther
"I had rather that true and faithful teachers should rebuke and condemn me, and reprove my ways, than that hypocrites should flatter me and applaud me as a saint." - Martin Luther
"When people kick us, it is sometimes a sign that we are in front of them." - Percy Ray
"Prophets of God have usually been on the receiving end of more mud than medals." - Vance Havner
"Don't defend your church or your organization against criticism. If the criticism is false it can do no harm. If it is true you need to hear it and do something about it." - A. W. Tozer
"Don't be a quitter because somebody criticizes you. Many a choir singer has performed until somebody hurt her feelings. Then the nightingale became a raven croaking, 'Nevermore!'" - Vance Havner
"Our Lord allows no room for criticism in the spiritual life, but He does allow room for discernment and discrimination." - Oswald Chambers
"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, and most fools do." - Ben Franklin
"The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism." - Norman Vincent Peale
"The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities. I exact more from myself and less from others." - John Wesley
"Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been erected to a critic." - Jean Sibelius
"I know enough about Satan to realize that he will have all his weapons ready for determined opposition. He would be a missionary simpleton who expected plain sailing in any work of God." - James O. Fraser
"Had I cared for the comments of people, I should never have been a Missionary…" - C. T. Studd
"Young man, sit down; when God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid or mine." - said to discourage a young William Carey.
"One pastor had a sign on his desk that read LOOK BEYOND THE CRITIC. It reminded him to see the Lord on the throne, to see the total church ministry and the many friends who loved him, and to see the purposes God wanted to achieve." - Warren W. Wiersbe
Criticism
– Irving L. Jensen The method of this resource is to motivate the student to discover new truths on his own. The usefulness of this guide is virtually inexhaustible. A basic resource that will be used for years to come by preachers and teachers. 2 Volumes, published by Moody Press. 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website,
The most exciting book announced at the recent Christian Booksellers Convention was The Church Janitor’s Bible Commentary, published by Boiler Room Press of Kokomo, Indiana. The editor, Claude Faucett, was kind enough to give me a free copy and explain the merits of the book. “People think church janitors are illiterate,” he said, “but we
– Edward G. Dobson, Speed B. Leas and Marshall Shelley. Another resource for dealing with church conflict. This book can help you discern the root cause of controversy, how to deal with and minimize inevitable conflict and how to turn conflicts into good. Published by Multnomah. 2ProphetU2ProphetU is an online magazine/website, started by Warren Wiersbe
A Guide to Changing Churches – Paul D. Robbins A part of The Leadership Library series, this book provides timely help for pastors in transition. The eleven writers with experiences ranging from Episcopalian to Nazarene, tell of struggles they’ve faced, misgivings they’ve weighed and solutions they’ve found. The book is a practical game plan to
– Leslie B. Flynn In this book, the author recounts many problems facing the church and recalls similar strife that faced believers in the early church. Drawing from the book of Acts and Paul’s epistles, he then shows how these Christians turned their skirmishes into training grounds for victory. Published by Victor Books 2ProphetU2ProphetU is
2 volumes. From the publishers of The Preachers Outline & Sermon Bible. A very helpful book to the novice in Greek or the person proficient in the languages. When you look up a word in English, you’ll find the Greek word, English transliteration, Pronunciation and Grammatical Parsing. With each word, there’s a section with the
– Lawrence O. Richards. As preachers and teachers of the Word, we need to know what the Bible terms mean, as they were used in the Bible. This is the purpose of this book. Because of the increasing number of translations, this particular book has a narrow focus on only the NIV and NASB. 2ProphetU2ProphetU
Sermon Outline Michael C. Catt Jude 20,21 The Central Injuction: Keep yourselves in the love of God. What is Meant by the Love of God? John 15:9 Negatively stated: it is not our love to God. Positively stated: it is God’s love to us. Can a Man Get Out of the Love of God? God’s