Volume 2, Number 3
Life-related Preaching
The criteria for determining whether what we say from the pulpit is something worthwhile: Jesus says, “Preach the gospel,” Paul says, “Preach the Word.” … Good preaching is always life-related… People in the pew feel short-changed (if not tormented) when they have trouble relating what they hear to their lives.
Preach the Word in Real Life
What do critics mean when they say a sermon is “boring?” …I’m convinced most people mean that the sermon didn’t connect with their life. … Scripture is timelessly relevant. But culture changes and idioms change; how people listen and learn changes.
Relating Scripture to Real Life – Sermon Excerpt
With a heart that is grateful for God’s forgiveness, and with the strength and abilities God has given you, tell your people that spiritually they don’t bring a thing to the table, but that Christ has set out for them the banquet of the kingdom of heaven – forgiveness, peace, joy, heaven and on and on … Part of an installation sermon is that these words first hit home with you personally, just like they need to for me personally, just like they need to for every last one of us personally.