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THE PREACHER'S CALL
"Paul... called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel
of God" (Rom.1:1).
Introduction All committed Christians experience the call of God in
salvation. As Paul teaches, "Those [God] predestined, he also called;
those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also
glorified" (Rom.8:30). The apostle, in writing to the church in
Thessalonica, exhorted the young converts to live lives worthy of God,
"who had called them into his kingdom and glory" (1 Thess.2:12).
1. THE CALL TO PREACH
Then, God calls his people to special ministries or works of
service, which we sometimes refer to as 'callings' (see Rom.12:6-8).
Ephesians records the ministry gifts Christ gives to his church:
apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers" (Eph.4:11).
The call to preach and teach God's Word and gospel can be a powerful
one.
2. RESPONDING TO THE CALL
The knowledge of God's call to preach the word should
affect our
sermon preparation and selection - and its delivery in the pulpit. For
example, in the pulpit:
We will preach passionately
The God-given message, well-prepared in the study, will carry divine
conviction. Its delivery will involve the emotions - the message will
burn in the heart. With Paul, the anointed preached will say: "I am
compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" (1
Cor.9:16).
We will preach evangelistically
The preacher's mandate is: "Go into all the world and preach the good
news to all creation" (Mk16:15). Even pastors must "do the work of an
evangelist" (2 Tim.4:5). The pulpit should call people to repentance
and faith.
We will preach pastorally
The
Lord's command is: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"PREACHING AND
PROJECTORS Introduction Effective use can be made of overhead
projectors (OHPs) and PC projectors in preaching. But their bad use can
distract rather than attract a congregation from listening to the Word.
Here's some advice: 1. GENERAL ADVICE
a. Prepare your presentation well. Be professional about this. b. If
you're using an OHP - laser print your acetates if you can. Handwritten
presentations can be untidy and difficult to read. Underline important
points with a colour OHP pen. Do this on the reverse side of the
acetate to avoid smudging. c. Choose your typefaces, backgrounds and
colours wisely - acetates or slides should relate to each other. Don't
go overboard with colours, clipart and typefaces. Keep things simple.
The presentation should serve the preaching. d. As a general rule don't
use silly or cartoon clipart. Any kind of picture can distract a
congregation's attention from preaching. Cartoon clipart can contradict
serious points. Resist the temptation to be slick or clever with type
or pictures. Check your spelling and Scripture references carefully. f.
Test your presentations before using them. This will help you to
criticise their relevance and legibility. Seek a second opinion. g.
Prepare a handout for the projectionist so that pages are shown at the
right time. Microsoft's Powerpoint enables you to print out nine
screens on a sheet of A4 paper. h. Don't use too many acetates or
slides. Six may be enough for a three-point sermon (including the
title, introduction, main points and conclusion). You may need more for
a Bible study. 2. SPECIFIC ADVICE
a. Observe how preachers and teachers make use of visual aids. Copy
their good points. b. Don't change the acetates or operate the computer
yourself (e.g., a laptop with remote control). Doing this will divert
your attention and stereotype your mannerisms. Give the task to someone
as a supporting ministry. c. Dale Carnegie advises public speakers:
"Don't keep turning to the screen to point things out" (Art of Public
Speaking). When you do this you lose eye contact with the congregation.
The habit also creates the atmosphere of a lecture. d. Don't turn the
lights down or off in order to highlight your presentation. God's
instrument in preaching is the preacher - and people want to see the
speaker. Again, the preacher must maintain eye contact with the
congregation. Avoid the temptation of imitating the popular media in
your church services. Churches should not be in the entertainment
business. This is fast becoming the church age of floodlit pulpits and
music-backed prayers and sermons! Avoid gimmicks.
Footnote Christian web sites can be a rich source of ideas and clipart.
(Mt.28:19-21). Preaching should involve care and concern, as the
preacher is involved in "preparing God's people for works of service,
so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Eph.4:12).
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