Writing a Sermon

What does it take to write a sermon? 

    To answer this question one must first have an understanding of what a sermon is.  Is a sermon just a nice talk?  Is it an advertisement for God's work in the lives of people?  Is it an argument to prove that miracles did happen in the past and still happen today?  Is the sermon's purpose to convert unbelievers or is it mean for only believers?  Where is the sermon supposed to take God people?  What is it suppose to accomplish?

    These are all questions which need to be asked before we can really tackle writing a sermon.  However, there is one aspect of a Christian sermon which we all need to consider; the Christian sermon is meant to be "proclamation".  It is like the town crier maing the announcement that something significant happened that will effect all the members of the town.  It is the message which tells the debtor that someone else has paid the debt.  Now what does that mean for the one who hears this "Good News"?

    I just wanted to get you thinking about something we all may take for granted.  How would you answer these questions?

 

Blessings & Peace,

Pastor John

Hebrews 13:20-21

A Person Without Folds

Are you a person without folds? Or are there some folds in your life that need to be ironed out. While this is a great goal to reach for we must allow God and His Word to dwell in our hearts to make it a reality.

Spiros Zodhiates writes... There is a significant word in the Greek New Testament which is used to describe a person who truly exhibits sincerity in their Christian life. The word is haplotes, which literally means without folds. This is best illustrated by examining a simple sheet of paper. As you fold down the edges or if you were to crumple the page, you will notice that in trying to straighten it out, there is still evidence which is permanently ingrained into the texture of the paper.

A person that is truly sincere will have evidences of "no folds." In the New Testament, this type of person is described as faithful, pure and benevolent (Eph. 6:5; Col 3:22). Also, it is used to describe a generous giver who has no ulterior motives (2 Cor. 9:13). Are you a person "without folds" in your character? In the workplace, are you the type of worker who respects authority for the right reasons? When God looks at you does He see your sincerity?

This information comes to us through: A Dose of Inspiration from www.newtouch.org