For the Love of Preaching
I love to preach. I think it's the core of my calling as a pastor. I often say that I don't get paid to preach. I get paid for all the other stuff. But I preach for free!
As I was driving home from the National Preaching Conference after speaking last night I had such a feeling of peaceful joy or joyful peace. I can't believe I get to do what I do. Few things compare to the joy of knowing that somehow the Spirit of God took your words and used them to change minds and touch hearts and inspire dreams.
In the AM, I did a three-hour seminar focusing on cultural exegesis. I spent some time unpacking Acts 17. I think American is a modern-day Athens. We are surrounded by altars to unknown gods. And we've got to follow Paul's example by walking into the Areopagus (the marketplace of ideas) and competing for the truth! I also talked some about new mediums and new methods. And then I wrapped it up talking about sermon branding.
As I was driving home from the National Preaching Conference after speaking last night I had such a feeling of peaceful joy or joyful peace. I can't believe I get to do what I do. Few things compare to the joy of knowing that somehow the Spirit of God took your words and used them to change minds and touch hearts and inspire dreams.
In the AM, I did a three-hour seminar focusing on cultural exegesis. I spent some time unpacking Acts 17. I think American is a modern-day Athens. We are surrounded by altars to unknown gods. And we've got to follow Paul's example by walking into the Areopagus (the marketplace of ideas) and competing for the truth! I also talked some about new mediums and new methods. And then I wrapped it up talking about sermon branding.
5 Comments:
Mark,
Do you know if the seminars from the Preaching Conference will be available for download/purchase? Thanks!
My seminar wasn't taped :) I think the main sessions are however.
Mark
ok so here goes everything y'all. Imagine this: you are walking in the falling heavy snow. Ahead of you, you see an old tootless lion circiling a pit. the lion is roaring. You have a spear and the Loin of Judah with you. You hear very faintly someone down in the pit moaning in great pain what are you going to do?
Hey Mark,
I just wanted to say that I loved hearing you at the National Preaching Conference. It is great to hear someone who doesn't mind and possibly even enjoys being foolish for Christ and His Kingdom. I'm really trying to look at everything that is thrown my way as a challenge from God positively and as an opportunity to result in a story worth telling for His Kingdom, as you said. Thanks for your inspiration.
On another note, I was excited when I recently found out about your church and your vision to open a coffeehouse as a location for ministry. I am a seminary student and I have an undergrad degree in hotel administration and I don't usually see such tangible connections between the Church and hospitality. People generally ask me why I would come to seminary after studying hospitality as if the two subjects are mutually exclusive. While I am still not sure of my path after seminary, one of my personal goals is to see a greater connection between the Church and hospitality in respect to true Christian/Biblical hospitality, receiving all people with open arms rather than just those who will somehow produce a profit. I took the opportunity before I left DC to visit Ebenezer's to get a first-hand look at the operation. It was great to see a coffeehouse that was completely open to anyone, as opposed to most churches that simply think putting a coffee shop in their building will draw in non-Christians. It really seems like a great approach to reach people relationally over time, especially with many in this generation that refuse to even enter a church. Hopefully, I will be able to see a service there someday.
I praise God that He has made groups such as your Church that redefine the normal and seek ways to put the Church in the community outside the usual bounds of the church building. I look forward to seeing the church innovations that I am sure God will continue to bless your church with. Keep being foolish for God.
Thanks again for speaking with all your passion at the preaching conference. Praying for you, your family, and NCC.
Aaron
Aaron,
Every church needs someone with your training :) Can't think of better prep than hospitality! We ought to own that industry!
Thanks for the kind words.
Blessings,
Mark
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