How is this for an opening line to a sermon on “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth”? What I’m about to say today makes absolutely no sense and may end up being of no practical value whatsoever, but since what I’m about to say is based on something Jesus said, I […]
The Good News of the Resurrection
Here is a simple three point sermon for you. The resurrection is good news . . . 1. For Jesus–after all, he was the one who was dead! 2. For creation–it will be transformed into a new heavens and a new earth. 3. For sinners like us–God is making all things new, including you and […]
March 23, 2008 by 2 Comments
Run Lola Run (AKA The Worst Easter Sermon Ever)
I preached one of my worst sermons on Easter Sunday seven years ago. On paper, it looked like a masterpiece. It preached like a wounded duck. Here’s what happened. Ever noticed how many people in the gospels run in response to the news of the resurrection? You’ve got people running to the tomb, from the […]
March 21, 2008 by 9 Comments
Countdown to Sunday
Listen up preacher geeks. I’ve got a book recommendation for you. Check out Chris Erdman’s Countdown to Sunday. I usually read about one book on preaching a year and this is my book for 2007. It’s really a collection of essays on preaching that are loosely related. There is some practical text to sermon stuff […]
November 15, 2007 by 12 Comments
Made to Stick: SUCCESs
Sticky ideas are understandable, memorable, and effective in changing thoughts and behavior. The Curse of Knowledge keeps our ideas from being sticky. The Heath brothers give us six qualities of sticky ideas. They’ve given us a cute little acronym to help them (ahem) stick: SUCCESs Simple–the core message that is compact and profound. It functions […]
April 16, 2007 by 3 Comments
Made to Stick: The Curse of Knowledge
I’ve been spending some time with what I think is a pretty important book. It’s important if you teach or preach or do fund raising or blog or do anything else that depends on the communication of a message. The book is Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath […]
April 11, 2007 by 5 Comments
How to Believe in God
Last Sunday, I finished up my “How to Believe in God” series. It turned out to be one of my favorite series of teachings that I’ve done. I’ve had great feedback on it from the church as well. You can listen to it here or at the Garnett Podcast at Itunes. My two favorite messages […]
November 9, 2006 by 3 Comments
Five Years Later
On Sunday, September 9th, 2001, I told the church I was working with in Bellingham, Washington that I was resigning at the end of the year and probably getting out of professional ministry. I was going to get my real estate license and get busy buying, selling, and developing property. I was disillusioned, depressed, and […]
September 11, 2006 by 15 Comments
The Ice-Storm Cometh
Everything at Garnett was cancelled this morning because of ice. My first thought when I heard the news from our administrator last night: Next week’s message is in the can and ready to go! My second thought: Uh oh, how are we ever gonna make up the collection? My third thought: I’m going to a […]
February 19, 2006 by 5 Comments
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons