To follow up with last week’s post called, Silver . . . Sloth . . . Self . . . Sex, I want to urge you to watch a gut-level talk on the subject of lust.
I delivered this message to those entering ministry, but I share it with you because we never outgrow the crucial reminders. That includes me.
Can you remember when life was joyful? Even funny? When did everything get so serious?
When did a well-exercised sense of humor get sacrificed on the altar of adulthood? Who says becoming a “responsible person” means a long face and an all-serious attitude toward life?
A very precocious ten-year old asked, “How old are you, Grandma?”
Application of the Bible is a priority in my preaching. I never leave the congregation to guess how the text applies. I plan the application of the message just as carefully as I work through its introduction and exposition.
I have discovered that if you cannot summarize the application of your sermon in a sentence or two, you don’t have a sermon. You may have a number of interesting and accurate thoughts, but you won’t have it drawn together into a cohesive whole. The result? No one will remember what was said. You ought to be able to give your message in one or two sentences. Here’s an example: Christ has set us free, and we should enjoy the liberty that He’s provided for us through His death and resurrection. Your message should state and restate that thought from various angles so that the theme pulsates through your sermon.