PREACHING: SERMON OUTLINES OR MESSAGES FROM GOD?

Due to the mystery of God, I lack the capacity to address this idea well.  Be merciful while I stumble about.  However, it is important to weigh what it is we pulpiteers are preaching.  Are we delivering sermon outlines or messages from God?  If the former, we are merely taking up the time.  And, that really was my goal in my formidable years.  The latter would be our foremost goal.

I have experienced both.  I've done both.  There is a difference.

We are called to preach the Word.  It alone is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword.  Consider the following ideas regarding our preaching:

• We are to have a reverent view of the inspired Word.  Nothing equals it.
• We are to carry on a relationship with the Living God.  This means we will talk to Him and He to us.  We must hear from Him the thoughts of His great heart about the coordination of His Word with His people.  He calls this exchange "wisdom from above"....Jas. 3:13-18.
• We must grieve--possess a holy ache--for skill from above to make such a presentation that directly connects the Loving God with a hungry people....Isa. 6:1-6.
• We cannot speak our best and our truest until we experience a similarity to Isaiah 6:1-6 where we admit we are nothing on earth but ruined in His presence.  Until then, we will preach sermon outlines.
• We must speak where the Bible speaks and discontinue the insanity of speaking where it doesn't.  I saw a bit of a forum this week where it was questioned as to whether it was all right to have a worship service in a nursing home.  Look up worship service and nursing home in the Bible and then one should have the correct answer.  And if it isn't there, we should have no comment.

God is all in all.  We are individual vessels used by God as the Spirit wills.  Live with Him.  Listen to Him.  Everything you and He discuss will never be contrary to the Word; but rather will fit like a glove.  Be more confident in God than in yourself.  Love Him and love the people.  And pray like crazy that He will form a communication skill in you that ears will understand as if God had spoken.

Blessings to all who strive to preach with kingdom-sized effectiveness.