:: AIP#30 - Roadtrip Stop 2: Frisco ::

After initial meetings in Fort Worth, the first "on-the-road" stop of this training roadtrip took me to Frisco, where a small group of guys in various stages of church planting gather the first Wednesday of each month to talk through various aspects of "church life," hear from a couple folks with experience under their belt, and swap ideas, etc. Hosted by Barry Keldie and Providence Church, these have been continual times of encouragement over the past several months.

This month's topic was preaching, and Matt Chandler and Barry Keldie (lead pastors of The Village Church and Providence, respectively) led the afternoon-long forum. Below are a few notes from each of their presentations, plus a few practical notes/thoughts from the Q&A that followed. I'm detailing them because I think they're applicable and hope they're helpful for you and for anyone who will be preaching/teaching God's word in any context.

Philosophical Advice:
Matt began by showing the biblical basis for preaching, where from Moses to Paul and beyond, the primary means by which God spreads his kingdom is through the proclamation of his word. In his view, the primary issue for solid preachers today isn't "good exegesis" (although that's a huge concern for "less-than-solid" preachers!); it's clearly proclaiming the gospel, on both the macro and the micro scale.

While both sides are true representations of the gospel, both sides are only partial representations. To proclaim too strongly the "macro" gospel - that God is about redeeming a people; fighting injustice; has a mission for us - leaves out the personal nature of God's redemptive work in "me" - the individual. On the other hand, if preachers only focus on the personal nature of the gospel - that you are a sinner who God, in love, has redeemed - you're missing out on the big picture; the redeemed people God is building; you miss the focus on the mission God has called us to, as the gospel prompts us to live in grateful transformation.

The answer? We must clearly proclaim both. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. [AND] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Eph 2:8-10

Barry had more practical advice, but presented the basis for preaching as Moses' speech in Exodus 19, saying that the purpose of preaching is that people would leave affected - not just more knowledgeable about God or the Bible - but deeply moved; stirred to something; pointed toward God himself and responding.


Practical Advice:
Between the two of them, they had great practical advice to follow up these foundations. Among them...

• Create a feedback loop, asking people to challenge & refine your theology, gospel presentation, delivery, etc.
• Spend as much time on the conclusion as you do on the intro & body of the semon
• Stay immersed in the Bible - more than books, podcasts, commentaries, etc.
• Don't assume the gospel; preach it continually and clearly
• Take strategic days "out of the pulpit," to allow other men to develop their gifts
• You want people to remember what you say, not that you said it.
• Start with shorter sermons, with more impact: "minimize width; maximize depth"
• Remember, your goal is that your audience MEETS GOD.

So that was Wednesday in Frisco. Thursday took me north to Oklahoma, where I had a great time with two guys in very different stages of their church plants. More on that tomorrow...