The real test of preaching...

"The real test of preaching is not the praise of the public, nor even its faithfulness to the original Greek of the biblical text, but rather the ability of the pastor's sermon to evoke a prophetic people." 

(taken from William Willimon's Proclamation & Theology) 

The past few weeks have marked the first time I have "preached" (though I have "shared", lead chapels, bible studies, and other things) in front of a church, and while I have  been encouraged by the feedback I have received, I find myself wrestling with the question deep within myself: Is what I am proclaiming in my Sunday endeavors eliciting any change in the people who are hearing it? Is it making any difference?

I know that it is the job of the Holy Spirit to move, to convict, to motivate, to encourage, to fan to flame God's people. I know that. Deep down inside. (And I find that SO relieving because it is not my job to change people, it is to proclaim the Gospel. The Holy Spirit changes people.) And I realize I most likely will not see the fruit of my labours. However, I cannot help but wrestle and pray that the words that I speak are being used to penetrate deep enough to inspire heart-change. I don't want to be told that I had a good sermon, or am a good speaker. I want to know how it has/or will change perspective, or change life.

Please Lord let me be faithful to declare your Word.

\manda

our true identity

Failure to deal with the presence of sin can often be traced back to spiritual amnesia – forgetting our new, true, real identity. As a believer, I am someone who has been delivered from the dominion of sin and who therefore is free and motivated to fight against the remnants of sin in my heart. You must know, rest in, think through, and act upon your new identity – you are in Christ" — Sinclair B. Ferguson (In Christ Alone: Living the Gospel Centered Life)

You should review it. Then you should read it.

...nothing can cure you of the desire to receive honour from men, or of the sensitivity and pain and anger which come when it is not given, except giving yourself to seek only the glory that comes from God. Let the glory of the all-glorious God be everything to you. You will be freed from the glory of men and of self, and be content and glad to be nothing. Out of this nothingness you will grow strong in faith, giving glory to God. You will find that the deeper you sink in humility before Him, the nearer He is to fulfill every desire of your faith.
Andrew Murry - Humility

Mirror, Mirror...

"For most teenagers, what they see in the mirror comprises nine-tenths of thier identity. But the mirror always lies because it can only reveal an image, a shell. Not a soul."
Tim Huff - Bent Hope: a street journal

"...in this world are very few things made from logic alone. It is illogical for a man to be too logical. Some thing we must just let stand. The mystery is more important than any possible explanation...The searcher after truth must search with humanity. Ruthless logic is the sign of a limited mind. The truth can only add to the sum of what you know, while a harmless mystery left unexplored often adds to the meaning of life. When a truth is not so important, it is better left as a mystery."

the Doc to Peekay in The Power of One by Bruce Courtenay

quote

My Grade 11 Students had to write a short paper on leadership and captaining a team. And this is a great quote from one of them:

"Next time I will like to win, because who ever said that participating is what is important, was probably a loser."

Oh truth.


\manda