becoming

John Ortberg helps preachers dealing with post-sermon remarks.

How many of them have you heard and/or said?

Preaching is a mysterious business, and in some ways it’s more mysterious to me now than when I started out. Sometimes the message you wish you could put in the discard pile will be the one God uses to change someone’s life. Giving a bad message can bring just the humility you need to remember that preaching—and the kingdom in general—is never subject to human management or control.

What should we aim to hear when we’re done preaching? After Jesus’ first sermon, people were cut to the heart, and they asked what they needed to do to be saved. That’s not a bad response to pray for. It sure beats Ruga Ruga Ruga.

Read the whole thing here.

[link: leadership journal]

 

…You know who I’m talking about. Numerous ministry leaders who are gracious, authentic, and engaging when talking with friends over lunch. But turn on the camera, or step into the pulpit, and they become someone else. Radio personalities suffer the same thing when they get in front of a microphone.

…Watch regular television and listen to the difference. Stop trying to be bigger than life. Be real. Speak normally. It doesn’t make you more anointed or powerful when you try to sound like God. Talk like everyone else, and you’ll be amazed at the connection.

[link: philcooke.com]

Yes, that’s the key. Try talking with your friends the way you shout/yell/scream in the pulpit, I am sure they will send you to the psychiatric hospital.

可能你會奇怪，我是Comp. Eng出身的，為甚麼講道總是那麼Low-tech？

是的，我講道從來都不用PowerPoint（生平除了本年年初「基教主日」那次，是因為要做「經文湧現」的效果）。 因為對我來說，「聽」道是有它的聖經基礎和依據的；不是一班未開發、古代不學無術的蟻民，因為沒有選擇而逼於無奈的結果。

於是，看見今天littleho的那篇Power(less)Point，是真的有「出口氣」的感覺。

研究的原文是這樣說的：  

Pioneered at the University of NSW, the research shows the human brain processes and retains more information if it is digested in either its verbal or written form, but not both at the same time.

It also questions the wisdom of centuries-old habits, such as reading along with Bible passages, at the same time they are being read aloud in church. More of the passages would be understood and retained, the researchers suggest, if heard or read separately.

不錯，我們真的要認真重尋「聽覺學習」的能力。

今天晚上參加一個基督教機構的聚餐，當中聽到戴繼宗牧師（James Hudson Taylor IV）的分享，但覺看見的比聽見的更多。聽見的是勸勉的話，但看見的卻是一個家庭、五代人對上主的忠誠、對中國人的熱愛。這樣的信息，比能聽見的信息震撼得多。

我想說的，其實並不是戴德生的家族故事，這是幾乎無人不知的。

我想說的，卻是講道者用自己生命表明所說的道。這才是信息的全部。

我不只一次說過，作主席的、代禱的，拜託不要再說：「求主膏抹講員的口…」我不知道這句說話的聖經出處在哪？若果是賽6.7那就更加糟糕，那是先知的出道差遣禮，不是講道前的禱文呢！

更大的問題是，講道者不是單用口講的！講道者是用自己的生命來illustrate所傳講的信息。是他將自己的生命押在這道上。說「求主膏抹講員的口…」就等於說：「你的生活我不理，你就是給我講一篇好道就是了。你的生命聖潔與否我不知也不想知，就是神單單潔淨你的口就夠了。因為我關心的，就是你口所講的而已。」

我們在禱告中假設了甚麼？夠荒謬嗎？

「求主膏抹講員的口…」

拜託，不要再說了。

說了，也請不要信以為真。