As I mentioned last week in my blog transitions I have been pondering, studying, and seeking God on the many transitions in my life.
Here are few more insights into what I have done:
1. Preaching: How can I transition my preaching so that I honor God, and I honor all those men who have gone before me that I have the privilege of proclaiming the Word of God!
1.a. What is my purpose in preaching each week?
One way that I addressed the 1. was through attending a Summit Ministries International conference in October called “Preaching the Word with Power and Anointing”. It was an amazing opportunity to hear some domestic and international leaders speak on the art, opportunity, and reverence of preaching.
In addition, I have began planning and preparing a preaching calendar well in advance, got 2010 done {praying over it}, and working on graphics, props, and media support for those already. This will allow me and our worship team to be more creative in our approach and give the presentation of the Gospel the preparation, respect, and admiration that it deserves.
That brings me to 1.a.
I really prayed and focused on why am I preaching week after week. I finally determined that the reason I am preaching each week is to help grow healthy believers who are passionately seeking and nurturing a relationship with Jesus Christ and becoming more Kingdom minded believers. This reason includes introducing unbelivears, unchurched, and dechurched to the freedom that comes with living in the Kingdom. A secondary, yet vitally important part of my preaching includes preparing and training up the saints for the work of ministry.
One of the things, I have been working on for a couple of months, and feel I am finally beginning to start being effective is giving away those things that others can do, and probably do better than I do.
This weekend, for the first time ever, I showed up to pray, worship, and preach then simply went home. I did no set-up, no prep work, and no clean up or tear down. It was freeing moment for me.
If your asking why I mention this on my blog, I just thought it might share a little insight into how important I find our weekly time together at Overflow.
November 11, 2009 at 2:13 am |
hi kevin, i enjoyed reading your blog. I often wonder about the time the Lord takes in answering our prayers. I have come to realize that he does it in his own time and while we are anxiously waiting he is also testing our faith in him. my faith has really been tested over the past few months. I have been in severe pain since july 5. I went to so many drs to find out why i am in this pain. i finally found out i have fibromyalgia and there is a treatment plan however, it is something that i will have to learn to live with and what to do to make my pain less each day. i went to the pastor last monday and spoke with him, we prayed and i have felt better so far this week. i was in so much pain last week i though i would die and welcomed the thought as the pain was so unbearable. i knew if i did die i would be in the presence of the lord and this i am not afraid of. my faith is strong but i was sorely tested. i still did my praying and always the same in my sharing of the lord and what he has done for me. i have many blessings and for that i am thankful. my body was so stressful that it finally just stopped. this is not of god–it was not his will. so i pray that he is going to find a way for me to deal with this and return to a somewhat normal life. i ask that you include me in your prayers and as always i will pray for all of you. i love you and i know god is blessing you everyday with your work. love, vickie