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Welcome to Preachers' Meeting
We are glad you have dropped by!
You will notice some posts below that relate to various topics of discussion by our online community of preachers.
One of the purposes of Preachers' Meeting is to provide a place for young ministers or those recently called to preach to interact around the principles in a course of study recommended by our local group of preachers in the Southern Illinois area.
We invite you to look in on our conversations. If you would like to add comments as a guest, you are welcome to do so.
If this looks interesting to you, you may join us as we start a new session. You can look in the side bar (or sometimes it is moved to right below this post) to see the weekly requirements. We start new courses every 8 or 9 weeks. As already mentioned, you are welcome to comment as a guest before that time.
Below these posts, you will see the word, "comments." Just click on it, and you will see a box on the right side of the screen where you may add your comments.
Look around. Enjoy yourself, and come back often!
You will notice some posts below that relate to various topics of discussion by our online community of preachers.
One of the purposes of Preachers' Meeting is to provide a place for young ministers or those recently called to preach to interact around the principles in a course of study recommended by our local group of preachers in the Southern Illinois area.
We invite you to look in on our conversations. If you would like to add comments as a guest, you are welcome to do so.
If this looks interesting to you, you may join us as we start a new session. You can look in the side bar (or sometimes it is moved to right below this post) to see the weekly requirements. We start new courses every 8 or 9 weeks. As already mentioned, you are welcome to comment as a guest before that time.
Below these posts, you will see the word, "comments." Just click on it, and you will see a box on the right side of the screen where you may add your comments.
Look around. Enjoy yourself, and come back often!
Weekly Requirements
Here is a review of the general requirements for each week.
You have three assignments each week
(1) Make at least two initial posts in your posting area. The first one will be the name of the course, and the names (or numbers of the DVD's) of the chapters or lectures you will be covering during the week. The second one will be a comment on one of those chapters. You will receive one point for getting the first post in on Tuesday or Wednesday. You will also get a point for getting at least one more initial post in.
(2) Go to your fellow student's posting areas, and ask them a question or make comments about their intial posts. You will recieve one point for completing this assignment before 12:00 a.m. on Friday morning (that would be before midnight on Thursday).
(3) Answer the questions asked.
(4) On Fridays, I will also give directions for making remaining posts during the week. Be sure and read those, and take them into account when making at least one of your remaining posts.
In all, we want to make at least nine posts during the week. You will receive points for that as follows:
9 or more posts - 12 points
6-8 posts - 10 points
3-5 posts - 6 points
1-2 posts - 3 points
You will have the extra points you had accumulated by getting things in on time. Those are bonus points that will be used only to move your grade closer to 100 if you need them. They will be awarded each week if needed to move your grade up to 12 for the week. If you do not need them for that week, they will be carried over to the next week(s). Remember the posts that count for points will be at least three sentences long.
You have three assignments each week
(1) Make at least two initial posts in your posting area. The first one will be the name of the course, and the names (or numbers of the DVD's) of the chapters or lectures you will be covering during the week. The second one will be a comment on one of those chapters. You will receive one point for getting the first post in on Tuesday or Wednesday. You will also get a point for getting at least one more initial post in.
(2) Go to your fellow student's posting areas, and ask them a question or make comments about their intial posts. You will recieve one point for completing this assignment before 12:00 a.m. on Friday morning (that would be before midnight on Thursday).
(3) Answer the questions asked.
(4) On Fridays, I will also give directions for making remaining posts during the week. Be sure and read those, and take them into account when making at least one of your remaining posts.
In all, we want to make at least nine posts during the week. You will receive points for that as follows:
9 or more posts - 12 points
6-8 posts - 10 points
3-5 posts - 6 points
1-2 posts - 3 points
You will have the extra points you had accumulated by getting things in on time. Those are bonus points that will be used only to move your grade closer to 100 if you need them. They will be awarded each week if needed to move your grade up to 12 for the week. If you do not need them for that week, they will be carried over to the next week(s). Remember the posts that count for points will be at least three sentences long.
Thoughts on Application
Roger gave some good thoughts on application:
"Chapter 75, titled: 'Apply Within' is a lesson in application. The writer explains why it is sometimes difficult applying a sermon to real life situations. I will list some of the reasons application is not applied to our lives.
"First it is "hard work", it is hard to find application to every situation in the congregation,
"second, is wrong assumptions, assuming the audience is able to apply any and all biblical truths is totally a wrong assumption,
"third, is fear, fear of being to deep or to simplistic in the text and failing at application, and then there is training or lack thereof,
"many preachers know the text, and the history and the order of things but are totally untrained in application. One gentleman said it this way," how can you be a good football player when you can pass the ball, or when you can kick the ball, or when you can run with the ball but you don't know the rules of the game."
"Chapter 75, titled: 'Apply Within' is a lesson in application. The writer explains why it is sometimes difficult applying a sermon to real life situations. I will list some of the reasons application is not applied to our lives.
"First it is "hard work", it is hard to find application to every situation in the congregation,
"second, is wrong assumptions, assuming the audience is able to apply any and all biblical truths is totally a wrong assumption,
"third, is fear, fear of being to deep or to simplistic in the text and failing at application, and then there is training or lack thereof,
"many preachers know the text, and the history and the order of things but are totally untrained in application. One gentleman said it this way," how can you be a good football player when you can pass the ball, or when you can kick the ball, or when you can run with the ball but you don't know the rules of the game."
About Me
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2009
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November
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- Thanksgiving Weekend
- The Historical Jesus
- Course 10 Week 5 Main Posting Area
- Good Job
- Hospital Visits
- Offering Prayer as Part of a Hospital Visit
- Course 10 Week 4 Main Comments
- What Is the Way to Heaven?
- The Problem of Evil
- Jesus' Role in Creation
- Course 10 Week 3 Main Comments
- End of Life Issues
- Funerals for Those You Don't Know Very Well
- Care-Giving Is Like Communication in Marriage
- More about Boundaries
- Two-Question Method of Counseling
- Course 10 Week 2 Main Posting Area
- Spiritual Care-Givers and Boundaries
- Creation and Christ
- Life's Confusing Moments
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November
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Good Links
Marriage Tips and Other Ideas
Good Articles
Marriage Seminar
If you live in the souther Illinois area, we would like to invite you to a Couples' Marriage Enrichment Seminar on Saturday, February 27. It starts at 6:00 p.m and will run to 9:00 p.m.
After the welcome, there will be a dinner. Then there will be an opening session, followed by two breakout sessions, then a short closing.
The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Randy Carney (That's me :)!) and Roger and Janet Dutton will be speaking during the breakout sessions (That's Roger, who is commenting on this blog during this term!). Randy and Rhonda (my wife!) Carney will also have a breakout session discussing "Keys to Marital Bliss."
The Keynote Address will be on the topic of "The Way to a Successful Marriage: The Shocking and Surprising Truth."
Roger and Janet will be talking about "Hope for Restoring your marriage."
The cost is $15.00 per couple and that includes a dinner and all seminar materials. A nursery and childcare will be available. (Please indicate that you need these services when you register.) A book table with resources from Handfuls on Purpose Christian Bookstore will be available.
The seminar is for couples of all ages, ranging from newlyweds to marriage veterans!
To register, call 618-627-2228 to let the church know how may will be attending. Payment can be made at the event. (Make checks to TFBC.) For more information, call the church at 618-627-2228.
After the welcome, there will be a dinner. Then there will be an opening session, followed by two breakout sessions, then a short closing.
The Keynote Speaker is Dr. Randy Carney (That's me :)!) and Roger and Janet Dutton will be speaking during the breakout sessions (That's Roger, who is commenting on this blog during this term!). Randy and Rhonda (my wife!) Carney will also have a breakout session discussing "Keys to Marital Bliss."
The Keynote Address will be on the topic of "The Way to a Successful Marriage: The Shocking and Surprising Truth."
Roger and Janet will be talking about "Hope for Restoring your marriage."
The cost is $15.00 per couple and that includes a dinner and all seminar materials. A nursery and childcare will be available. (Please indicate that you need these services when you register.) A book table with resources from Handfuls on Purpose Christian Bookstore will be available.
The seminar is for couples of all ages, ranging from newlyweds to marriage veterans!
To register, call 618-627-2228 to let the church know how may will be attending. Payment can be made at the event. (Make checks to TFBC.) For more information, call the church at 618-627-2228.
The Greatest Love
Since Valentine's Day falls on Sunday this year, I imagine there will be a ton of sermons going out on the topic of love.
Paul talked about love and respect in marriage (Ephesians 5), but he was really saying that that was an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church.
Christ
Left Heaven to come to this earth.
He
Overcame adversity while here. He even conquered death!
He
Valued mankind so much that He gave Himself on the cross.
He desires fellowship with us. He reconciled the world to Himself, so that people could have an
Intimate realtionship with Him.
He meets all of our
Needs.
He is the supreme example of
Giving.
Do you see the word, LOVING, there? That is what He is--our LOVING Savior! Because of that, we should love one another.
Paul talked about love and respect in marriage (Ephesians 5), but he was really saying that that was an illustration of the relationship between Christ and the church.
Christ
Left Heaven to come to this earth.
He
Overcame adversity while here. He even conquered death!
He
Valued mankind so much that He gave Himself on the cross.
He desires fellowship with us. He reconciled the world to Himself, so that people could have an
Intimate realtionship with Him.
He meets all of our
Needs.
He is the supreme example of
Giving.
Do you see the word, LOVING, there? That is what He is--our LOVING Savior! Because of that, we should love one another.
Course 11 Week 4
Scroll down to the week 4 area to begin commenting.
Dealing with the Closed American Mind
One of the chapters Roger is reading is entitled, (something like) "Dealing with the Closed American Mind." I don't know if it is mentioned in the chapter, but I suspect that if you tak about something where a person has a felt need, you can gain their hearing somewhat.
What are your thoughts?
You may scroll down and comment in the week 3 comments area. Visitors are welcome to comment also.
What are your thoughts?
You may scroll down and comment in the week 3 comments area. Visitors are welcome to comment also.
Connecting with Postmoderns
This is something most preachers do every Sunday. If you have young unchurched visitors in your church, you will be trying to reach postmoderns. Even some of your church youth are more influenced by postmodernism than by their previous Sunday school teaching.
Here is my reply to one of Roger's posts:
"Roger, what tips stand out to you for commecting with postmoderns? I think the term modern referred to an age in history that related to new thoughts in science, etc. (If I am off base, refresh my memory.) Post modern refers to the time following that era. Connecting with postmoderns is something you have to do, whether you realize it or not, almost every time you preach."
I will post some of his answers here if he sees the question in time.
Here is my reply to one of Roger's posts:
"Roger, what tips stand out to you for commecting with postmoderns? I think the term modern referred to an age in history that related to new thoughts in science, etc. (If I am off base, refresh my memory.) Post modern refers to the time following that era. Connecting with postmoderns is something you have to do, whether you realize it or not, almost every time you preach."
I will post some of his answers here if he sees the question in time.
Preaching--Proclamation of God's Word
Preaching, by one definition, is the proclamation of God's Word. As such, a person, can take the Scriptural passage and find some of its main points and emphasize those points.
While I believe we should learn all we can about the grammatical construction of the words of Scripture, and that we should learn all we can about the historical setting for when those words were originally spoken; the nice thing about proclaiming the Word is that you can just take what the text says and emphasize it. Then the Word will not return void.
People with all different types of backgrounds have been called to preach throughout the centuries. Some very "unlearned" (as the world would put it) men have had great results by simply taking the main ideas of Scripture and simply emphasizing them. As long as we do not twist the meaning, this simply shows the amazing power of the Word of God.
While I believe we should learn all we can about the grammatical construction of the words of Scripture, and that we should learn all we can about the historical setting for when those words were originally spoken; the nice thing about proclaiming the Word is that you can just take what the text says and emphasize it. Then the Word will not return void.
People with all different types of backgrounds have been called to preach throughout the centuries. Some very "unlearned" (as the world would put it) men have had great results by simply taking the main ideas of Scripture and simply emphasizing them. As long as we do not twist the meaning, this simply shows the amazing power of the Word of God.
New Format
I am going to try putting my comments for each day in this left sidebar. The comments areas for the remaining weeks are displayed to the right. That is where you will place your comments for each week.
33 comments:
Roger, I am copying the other post here since it was made on Nov. 3, and so that I won't forget to count it for this week. Here is the quote:
"Absolutely God created the earth and all things in it, on it and under it, that is my faith speaking but not without questions. Some reading I have done suggest a period of time between Gen. 1:1 and Gen.1:2 known as "The Gap Theory". Is this relevent to what is being discussed?"
Yes, it is relavant. While I know there is a textual basis for the gap theory when you compare Isaiah
45:18 with Genesis 1:2, I don't think it is necessary to use it like some do.
That textual basis goes something like this:
In Isaiah, the Bible says God did not create the earth in vain.
"Who did not create it in vain" (Isaiah 45:18). Isaih said that the earth was not Created in vain. Genesis says in chapter 1, verse 2 that "the earth was without form, and void."
I am told the Hebrew word for vain and "form and void." is the same. If that is the case, God did not create the earth (according to Isaiah) like it was in verse 2 in Genesis. So, the speculation is that something happened between veses one and two--a "gap," so to speak.
While I acknowledge that textual basis, I also realize that people could use that for all kinds of things. Some people insert millions of years of time in that gap.
I don't think it is necessary to put millions of years of time there; and I think our "young earth creationist friends" can give credible explanations as to why millions of years do not have to be place there, or anywhere else for that matter." Still, I do have to acknowledge at this point that there is textual basis for using a gap (however large OR SMALL) to harmonize Isaiah and Genesis. That means that, while I don't think long periods of time are necessary there, I do know of some Christians who do place long periods of time there. I do acknowledge that they are indeed Christians :) !
I know the Lord will explain it to us some day.
The title of my book is THE ART AND CRAFT OF BIBLICAL PREACHING. The general editors are Haddon Robinson and Craig Brian Larson. I will be reading twenty chapters this week.
43.Connecting with Postmoderns
44. Preaching amid Pluralism
45. Connecting with Non-Christians
46. How to Translate Male Sermons to Women
47. He Said, She Said
48. Connecting with Men
49. Creating a Singles-Friendly Sermon
50. Preaching to Preschoolers
51. Hispanic-American Preaching
52. African-American Preaching
53. Asian-American Preaching
54. Work Wins?
55. One Sermon, Two Messages
56. The Playful Preacher
57. What Authority Do We Have Anymore?
58. Why the Sermon?
59. Getting the Gold from the Text
60. Faithful First
61. God's Letter of Intent
62.Five Bird-dogging Questions for Biblical Exposition
63. The Rules of the Game
Chapter forty-six is about speaking to women and connecting with them. We have to know how women think and use their kind of language. They are not as direct as men are, so we must be conscience of that. There are three ways we can show women we care enough to connect with them. We must translat masculine images into feminine images. We must translate abstract principles into terms of concrete realationships. We also must translate masculine language into feminine language.
CHapter fifty is about preaching to kids. We must not make it a light thing to do this. We have to ask them real questions, not just "safe" questions. We must use the Word and it is a good idea to use object lessons whenever possible.
In Craig Blomberg's book titled: Jesus and the Gospels, I will be reading chapters four and five this week and they are titled:
4. Historical Criticism of the Gospels.
5. Literary Criticism of the Gospels.
Muddling through the text of this book is a real challenge for me, the writer writes over my head with all this educated form of writing, guess I'm being critical about this study, I just finished a book on preaching to be understood and then attempt to study this book is my challenge. Maybe this is a lesson in Perseverence?
Chapter four is basically a survey of the history of the text invovled, The Gospels, comparing some of the first writings and interpretation of those writings, using thus lower criticisms and higher criticisms.
Roger, you pulled together three of your classes in one comment.
Since the book uses a lot of terminology that is over your head, this might be a good time to try the "word detective" techniques I often have you do before a course is over.
Just read until you come to an unfamiliar word or phrase. Then go to your notebook (or a notecard) and write down your guess as to what it means.
The next time you come to the same word or phrase, see if your guess still fits. If not, refine your guess or come up with an alternate guess.
Chack it out again the next time you come to the word or phrase, and keep doing the process over and over again.
You might have a lot of them in a book such as what you are reading, but you really will grow through the process.
Of course you might not have time to do all that. If not, get the big ideas as well as you can.
On the other hand, you really can learn a lot. I would try to do at least one each time I read if I didn't have time to do it all. After some time of doing this, you can check out your words with a dictionary.
It's the best way I know of to tackle really hard reading.
Tyler, do you remember some of the things we talked about in making distinctions between lower and higher criticisms?
Chapter fifty-five is about preaching to two different groups in different services. We must preach to traditional type people as well as contemporary folks. We can preach the same message to them. All it takes is some tweaking here and there. We can get away from different styles, but the Word must be the same.
I am looking forward to Quarterly Meeting this weekend. I hope to see you guys there. I am glad to be a part of it. It is a special thing to me to be part of this Quarterly Meeting. I am glad God called me into it.
One thing impresses me about "The Historical Criticism of the Gospels", is the fact that no one person has been studied more and written about as much as Jesus. Think about our history is surrounded by JESUS. The harmony of the gospels I think is unique because of the men whom God allowed to take their role in our history.
Hey Tyler, I can see why preaching to women and children can be important and necessary because our church for a long time was basically just that, so would you say that connecting to these and making an influence would give a preacher more success in winning men? Does that make sense?
I need to apologize Bro. Randy, I guess I was getting frustrated with all the terminolgy and text of this book. I know that there are jewels to be found in this study,and pray that The Holy Spirit would open my eyes and mind to what he would have me to glean from this. Guess I just needed to vent!! Amen and God Bless you!!!
Roger,
you didn't have to apologize. I just gave one of our typical "men responses" about how to possibly "fix the problem." Still, I think the word study advice is helpful.
Hey, Guys, help me out. Where is the Quarterly tomorrow night?
Criticism, criticism, so many criticisms, comparison is more my word, chapter five talks about studying the Bible simply as literature and applying such characteristics as plot,symbolism, point of view, figure of speech, and so on. This is known as, " Narrative Criticism".Public schools can teach literature of the Bible without promoting a religion using this method.
The Quarterly Meeting is at Mt. Pleasant.
I think the answer to your question about whether preaching to women and children would help us preach to men is yes. Men by far our the easiest to preach to. Why? Because we like to have things given to us straight. We like everything in a "nutshell". Women and chidren tend to need more explanation about things.
Hey, Bro, Roger. I know how you feel about the book you are reading. It is sometimes hard for a simple country boy like me to understand things. Sometimes I wish that I were as smart as some of those guys. I think that God wants to get into books like those because we will have to study more to understand it. This is also the case if we disagree with something that we have read. When this happens, I go directly to the Word. That is a good way for the Lord to compel us to read the Bible more.
Chapter fifty-nine is a good one. It is about getting riches out of Scripture without sounding like a commentary. The main focus is about staying in text and not trying to get something out of it that it is not about. We have to know what the text is trying to tell us.
Thanks Tyler, for the words of encouragement, God Bless!!
Most study bibles that I have seen all seem to have a section in the back called "The Harmony of the Gospels". Is there harmony? In a literary criticism there is a form of study known as : The Genre of the Gospels, what I get out of that is a comparison of the Gospels with other types of writtings such as modern biographies, and the writings of the gospels in this way show significent differences such as , The Gospels of Mark and John tell us nothing about the birth of Jesus, so is there harmony, I would have to say yes simply because comparring writings and authors is exactly what your comparring and not the "story".
Basically my summarization of what I remember about biblical criticism is something like this.
There are two types of criticism: One refers to "lower criticism" or "textual criticism." Basically, this is an attempt to study all of the available manuscripts that we have in order to arrive at a document that most closely gives us the original words of Scripture. That is an admirable thing to do.
Higher criticism, on the other hand, just looks at the bible as though it were any other book. It questions miracles. It tries to give naturalistic explanations for supernatural happenings. I do not think that is a good thing.
So, my oversimplified idea is like this:
Lower criticism or textual criticism = good!
Higher criticism = (generally) bad!
Hope that helps you, Roger. There may be other types of criticam mentioned in your writing, but if you look closely, you will probably be able to see whether they fall into one of the two categories I just mentioned.
We missed you guys at the Quarterly Meeting. It was a little down in attendance this time. It was still a good time in the Lord. It was good to see all the different ones from the different churches there. We had a good time of fellowship.
You know I was thinking this morning about the Gospels and the authors and about them telling the same events but in a different way, and I was thinking about a game we played at Camp Jericho when we would start with one person and retell it to others and at the end the story was miles away than when it started. Do you know the game? Well I'm glad thatafter Matthew,Mark ,Luke, and John finished the story is still the same, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!!Amen? Just a thought I had, God Bless you all.
Bro. Randy, do I get points from the three studies I commented on, on Nov. 4
Tyler,
I had already committed to go to my daughter's house in Nashville, TN, this past weekend. Af first, I thought I would be able to go to the Quarterly on Friday night, but we ended up leaving right after (Rhonda's) work on Friday. It did make for a much better trip.
Sorry I missed the quarterly. I do miss the fellowship.
Roger, you will get credit for points on November 4. Where did you post them?
Oh, do you mean the ones posted right in this posting area. Yes, you get credit for them.
Roger, you got two bonus points for Tuesday and Wednesday, and another one for the question asked before Friday.
Tyler, you received two bonus points for the two or more posts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
I haven't heard about the "Gap Theory" in awhile.....I think there is no scriptural evidence at all that can support a notion that a gap existed between verses 1 and 2....Chalmers was an idiot for even coming up with the idea, I think he was trying to make friends with his evolution buddies. It really doesn't matter, if he would not of came up with this far out idea then we would not have had to waste the time to learn it.
It is true that there is no scriptual basis for such a theory but you have to ask why the detailed God that placed the sun just close enough, the detailed God that knows the number of hairs on your head, the detailed God created man in his own image, would create something without form and void. God Bless
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