Seven Ways Church Members Should Prepare for a Sermon!!

Originally posted at thomrainer.com/2016/04/seven-ways-church-members-should-prepare-for-a-sermon/

Seven Ways Church Members Should Prepare for a Sermon
What if church members began their own form of sermon preparation?

For countless decades, we have heard about the role of pastors in sermon preparation. The number of hours they need to prepare. The priority of preparation. The role of prayer in sermon preparation.

But what if church members prepared for each sermon they heard? What if they believed their roles as recipients of the Word are also crucially important?

I can see incredible church revitalization taking place if church members took on their own responsibilities of sermon preparation. Here are seven ways members can actively prepare for sermons.

1. Pray for the sermon. For a few minutes, the church member should pray for the upcoming sermon. That prayer might take place during the week, the night before the preaching, or the morning of the preaching.
2. Pray for the pastor who is preaching. Pray that the pastor will understand God’s message for that text. Pray that the pastor will have no distractions. Pray that God’s Spirit will fill the pastor in both the preparation and delivery of the sermon.
3. Pray for yourself as you prepare to hear the sermon. Pray that God will speak to you through the message. Pray that you will not be distracted. Pray for clarity of mind and an open heart to receive the message.
4. Read the biblical text before the sermon is preached. If possible, read the text from which the pastor will preach. Read it thoroughly. Read it prayerfully.
5. Take notes. Take notes as the pastor preaches. You will have a greater focus and greater retention. Review the notes at least once during the next week.
6. Seek an application to your life. Ask God for discernment to help you understand how the sermon should change your life. Seek to understand the sermon not only in its biblical context, but in your life as well.
7. Share with the pastor “one thing.” If possible, share with your pastor one significant takeaway from the sermon. Pastors hear countless “good job, pastor,” or “nice message, pastor,” but they long to know if God really made a difference in the lives of the church members through the preached word. If you are able to communicate just one takeaway from the sermon in person, by email, or in social media, your pastor will be greatly encouraged.

The preaching of God’s Word is central to the life of the church. It makes sense that pastors should give it the highest priority.

But doesn’t it also make sense that church members should prepare as well?

Four BIG Words from T4G!

Originally posted at www.emmanuelbaptist.com/blog

Last week I had the great opportunity to attend Together for the Gospel (www.t4g.org) with the other Emmanuel pastors and many other men from the church.
I am very thankful for everyone who made this time of encouragement in the Word and in fellowship possible.

I wanted to share something that challenged me throughout the conference.
It is a general conviction that works itself out in many different ways.
Worship, Missions, Discipleship and Evangelism are not programs of the church.
They are what the church needs to be about.
People can become very passionate about one of these specific areas but we need to remember our purpose is to glorify God and help others.

• WORSHIP is not the singing time at the beginning of the service.
• DISCIPLESHIP is not information collection.  Discipleship is SO MUCH MORE than a Sunday morning class time or a weekly 90 minute meeting. 
• EVANGELISM is not what a small group of gifted people do at special events. 
• MISSIONS is not a line item or percent of the annual budget. 

WORSHIP:
"We need to know the joy of resting in the sufficiency of Scripture."
Worship at its heart is being in awe of who God is and God's Word is where we see Him and His glory.
"Be fearless to always preach about the depth of God and His glory."
"God is rich.  He is never stifled by the need for resources."
"We cannot separate what is preached from the pulpit and sung in the pew."

DISCIPLESHIP:
"Be in a church that is not dependent on you."
"Whatever happens in Christian ministry and in church, and whatever happens in our neighborhoods and families and workplaces, is part of what God is doing to move all things inexorably towards their goal and end - which is Jesus Christ."
"Everything we do as God's gathered people (as 'church') should be an exercise in the transformative learning of Christ."
Challenging video clip:



EVANGELISM:
"You don't have unreached people in your office or neighborhood because you are there."
"If we really believe the Gospel and the consequences of not believing/trusting in Christ, than our churches would be different."
"Leverage your job for the spread of the Gospel."

MISSION:
The fact that someone has a passion to see the Gospel spread across the nations doesn't necessarily show someone is meant to be a missionary.  It shows that they are a Christian.  Christian, do you have a passion to see the Gospel spread across the nations?
"Missions is not a compartmentalized program of the church for an elite few but it is for EVERY believer."

We need to glorify God by doing good to others.  This is done through worship, discipleship, evangelism and missions.

Four BIG WORDS from T4G (together for the Gospel)

Last week I had the great opportunity to attend Together for the Gospel (www.t4g.org) with the other Emmanuel pastors and many other men from the church.
I am very thankful for everyone who made this time of encouragement in the Word and in fellowship possible.

I wanted to share something that challenged me throughout the conference.  It is a general conviction that works itself out in many different ways.
Worship, Missions, Discipleship and Evangelism are not programs of the church.
They are what the church needs to be about.
People can become very passionate about one of these specific areas but we need to remember our purpose is to glorify God and help others.

WORSHIP is not the singing time at the beginning of the service.
DISCIPLESHIP is not information collection.  Discipleship is SO MUCH MORE than a Sunday morning class time or a weekly 90-minute meeting.
EVANGELISM is not what a small group of gifted people do at special events.
MISSIONS is not a line item or percent of the annual budget.

WORSHIP:
“Joy of resting in the sufficiency of Scripture.”   Worship at its heart is being in awe of who God is and God’s Word is where we see Him and His glory.
“Be fearless to always preach about the depth of God and His glory.”
“God is rich.  He is never stifled by the need for resources.”
“We cannot separate what is preached from the pulpit and sung in the pew.”

DISCIPLESHIP:
“Be in a church that is not dependent on you.”
“Whatever happens in Christian ministry and in church, and whatever happens in our neighborhoods and families and workplaces, is part of what God is doing to move all things inexorably towards their goal and end – which is Jesus Christ.”
“Everything we do as God’s gathered people (as ‘church’) should be an exercise in the transformative learning of Christ.”
Challenging video clip:

EVANGELISM:
“You don’t have unreached people in your office or neighborhood because you are there.”
“If we really believe the Gospel and the consequences of not believing/trusting in Christ, than our churches would be different.”
“Leverage your job for the spread of the Gospel.”

MISSION:
The fact that someone has a passion to see the Gospel spread across the nations doesn’t necessarily show someone is meant to be a missionary.  It shows that they are a Christian.  Christian, do you have a passion to see the Gospel spread across the nations?
“Missions is not a compartmentalized program of the church for an elite few but it is for EVERY believer.”

We need to glorify God by doing good to others.  This is done through worship, discipleship, evangelism and missions.

These four BIG words are so much more than strategic thinking for church leaders.

How has my life made much of God this week?  WORSHIP?
Who am I building into?  DISCIPLESHIP
What opportunities have I taken to share the Gospel?  EVANGELISM
How I have invested my resources and my life for the spread of the Gospel?  MISSIONS

Four Big Words

Last week I had the great opportunity to attend Together for the Gospel (www.t4g.org) with the other Emmanuel pastors and many other men from the church.
I am very thankful for everyone who made this time of encouragement in the Word and in fellowship possible.

I wanted to share something that challenged me throughout the conference.  It is a general conviction that works itself out in many different ways.
Worship, Missions, Discipleship and Evangelism are not programs of the church.
They are what the church needs to be about.
People can become very passionate about one of these specific areas but we need to remember our purpose is to glorify God and help others.

WORSHIP is not the singing time at the beginning of the service.
DISCIPLESHIP is not information collection.  Discipleship is SO MUCH MORE than a Sunday morning class time or a weekly 90 minute meeting.
EVANGELISM is not what a small group of gifted people do at special events.
MISSIONS is not a line item or percent of the annual budget.

WORSHIP:
“Joy of resting in the sufficiency of Scripture.”   Worship at its heart is being in awe of who God is and God’s Word is where we see Him and His glory.
“Be fearless to always preach about the depth of God and His glory.”
“God is rich.  He is never stifled by the need for resources.”
“We cannot separate what is preached from the pulpit and sung in the pew.”

DISCIPLESHIP:
“Be in a church that is not dependent on you.”
“Whatever happens in Christian ministry and in church, and whatever happens in our neighborhoods and families and workplaces, is part of what God is doing to move all things inexorably towards their goal and end – which is Jesus Christ.”
“Everything we do as God’s gathered people (as ‘church’) should be an exercise in the transformative learning of Christ.”
Challenging video clip:

EVANGELISM:
“You don’t have unreached people in your office or neighborhood because you are there.”
“If we really believe the Gospel and the consequences of not believing/trusting in Christ, than our churches would be different.”
“Leverage your job for the spread of the Gospel.”

MISSION:
The fact that someone has a passion to see the Gospel spread across the nations doesn’t necessarily show someone is meant to be a missionary.  It shows that they are a Christian.  Christian, do you have a passion to see the Gospel spread across the nations?
“Missions is not a compartmentalized program of the church for an elite few but it is for EVERY believer.”

We need to glorify God by doing good to others.  This is done through worship, discipleship, evangelism and missions.

These four BIG words are so much more than strategic thinking for church leaders.

How has my life made much of God this week?  WORSHIP?
Who am I building into?  DISCIPLESHIP
What opportunities have I taken to share the Gospel?  EVANGELISM
How I have invested my resources and my life for the spread of the Gospel?  MISSIONS

26 Ways to "Provoke the 1st Peter 3:15 Question" at Work

Taken from www.jdgreear.com/

For more about the Gospel @ Work at More Mission Essentials go to www.emmanuelbaptist.com/more-mission-essentials/

I mentioned in this weekend’s sermon that the Apostle Paul lived in such a way that he provoked a question. Peter said it this way: “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Peter is supposing that your life provokes that question—that people are asking, “Why do you do what you do?”

Here is a list of 26 ways we’ve come up with that you can live provocatively at work. (Not, dress provocatively—that’s a different kind of provocatively I would discourage… But live provocatively.) We first introduced this list at the Gospel at Work conference in February.

1. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead.
2. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.
3. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story. (“Evangelism is doing normal life with gospel intentionality.”)
4. Bring breakfast once a month for everyone in your department.
5. Organize an exercise group before or after work.
6. Start a Bible study (RightNow Media: Work as Worship; 33—The Men’s Series; or Purpose Driven Life)
7. Create a regular time to invite co-workers over or out for drinks.
8. “Put Christ on the table.” (When co-workers ask about what you did over the weekend, mention church instead of intentionally dancing around the topic.)
9. If there is another Christian in your office, meet and pray with them to hold each other accountable to the task of bringing Christ to your office.
10. Learn how to share the gospel briefly (as in, less than 30 seconds), so that you can communicate it in a conversation without hijacking it entirely.
11. Make a list of your co-workers’/clients’ birthdays or anniversaries and send a note of encouragement on that day. If appropriate, ask, “What is one thing I can be praying for you this year?”
12. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving, not complaining.
13. Find others that live near you and create a carpool. Blare your pastor’s sermons there and back. Just kidding.
14. Be the first person to welcome new people to the office.
15. Make ever effort to know the names of co-workers/clients, along with their families. Make a prayer list.
16. Offer to pray on the spot for someone who tells you they are going through a difficult time. Pray the gospel over them.
17. Volunteer to clean up for parties. Or that nasty coffee pot.
18. Hire a “corporate chaplain” if you are a business owner. If not a business owner, be the corporate chaplain.
19. Tastefully display Scripture in your office (especially verses that you are memorizing). People will ask about it.
20. Keep copies of The Reason for God, The Case for Christ, The Purpose Driven Life, or Gospel displayed in your office. Give a copy to anyone who asks about it.
21. Visit co-workers when they are in the hospital.
22. Start (or participate in) “life development” groups (e.g. Lamplighters; Raising a Modern Day Knight, YMCA groups, etc.).
23. Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people and others mostly overlooked.
24. Invite co-workers into service projects you are already involved in through your church (or company).
25. Organize a weekly forum for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop (artists meeting, etc).
26. Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.

Give an Answer

Taken from www.jdgreear.com/

For more about the Gospel @ Work at More Mission Essentials go to www.emmanuelbaptist.com/more-mission-essentials/

I mentioned in this weekend’s sermon that the Apostle Paul lived in such a way that he provoked a question. Peter said it this way: “In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Peter is supposing that your life provokes that question—that people are asking, “Why do you do what you do?”

Here is a list of 26 ways we’ve come up with that you can live provocatively at work. (Not, dress provocatively—that’s a different kind of provocatively I would discourage… But live provocatively.) We first introduced this list at the Gospel at Work conference in February.

1. Get to work early so you can spend some time praying for your co-workers and the day ahead
2. Make it a daily priority to speak or write encouragement when someone does good work.
3. Instead of eating lunch alone, intentionally eat with other co-workers and learn their story. (“Evangelism is doing normal life with gospel intentionality.”)
4. Bring breakfast once a month for everyone in your department.
5. Organize an exercise group before or after work.
6. Start a Bible study (RightNow Media: Work as Worship; 33—The Men’s Series; or Purpose Driven Life)
7. Create a regular time to invite co-workers over or out for drinks.
8. “Put Christ on the table.” (When co-workers ask about what you did over the weekend, mention church instead of intentionally dancing around the topic.)
9. If there is another Christian in your office, meet and pray with them to hold each other accountable to the task of bringing Christ to your office.
10. Learn how to share the gospel briefly (as in, less than 30 seconds), so that you can communicate it in a conversation without hijacking it entirely.
11. Make a list of your co-workers’/clients’ birthdays or anniversaries and send a note of encouragement on that day. If appropriate, ask, “What is one thing I can be praying for you this year?”
12. Make every effort to avoid gossip in the office. Be a voice of thanksgiving, not complaining.
13. Find others that live near you and create a carpool. Blare your pastor’s sermons there and back. Just kidding.
14. Be the first person to welcome new people to the office.
15. Make ever effort to know the names of co-workers/clients, along with their families. Make a prayer list.
16. Offer to pray on the spot for someone who tells you they are going through a difficult time. Pray the gospel over them.
17. Volunteer to clean up for parties. Or that nasty coffee pot.
18. Hire a “corporate chaplain” if you are a business owner. If not a business owner, be the corporate chaplain.
19. Tastefully display Scripture in your office (especially verses that you are memorizing). People will ask about it.
20. Keep copies of The Reason for God, The Case for Christ, The Purpose Driven Life, or Gospel displayed in your office. Give a copy to anyone who asks about it.
21. Visit co-workers when they are in the hospital.
22. Start (or participate in) “life development” groups (e.g. Lamplighters; Raising a Modern Day Knight, YMCA groups, etc.).
23. Go out of your way to talk to your janitors and cleaning people and others mostly overlooked.
24. Invite co-workers into service projects you are already involved in through your church (or company).
25. Organize a weekly forum for local entrepreneurs at a local coffee shop (artists meeting, etc).
26. Lead the charge in organizing others to help co-workers in need.