Martin Luther on preaching
Martin Luther, in his Table Talk, lists properties and virtues that "a good preacher should have." Teach systematically.A ready witEloquenceA good voice A good memoryKnow…
Preacher and Pastor
Preaching is important. It's a huge part of being a pastor. But it's not the only thing we do. Indeed--there are many associate pastors who…
Listening face
One of my best friends has intensity written all over his face. I remember the first moment I laid eyes on him. It was the…
Concretize
Never use abstract nouns when concrete ones will do. If you mean "More people died" don't say "Mortality rose."C.S. Lewis, Letters to Children C.S. Lewis…
Inside jokes
If you have siblings, you probably have inside jokes--some of them may go all the way back to your childhood. They may involve super-obscure references…
Chapel palate
In my ministry, I have the pleasure of interacting with college students from local Christian universities. These students attend chapel services several times per week.…
Translation
Long words save time because they carry the meaning of longer sentences, even paragraphs, of information. Can you translate yourself? Can you break it down…
Generous listening
The dictionary defines rapport as "a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well" Daniel Goleman…
The drama of the dogma
Preach in such a way that your faithful listeners deeply hope that what you are saying is true. I don't mean a long-shot kind of…