All right, let's make
our way to session three
00:00:05.13\00:00:07.17
and here we're going to learn
how to construct the sermon,
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or how to actually
develop it and write it
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because at this point,
you've chosen your subject,
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you've chosen your
passage, and you've taken
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a few hours to
use your study tools,
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and you've written about
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two or three or
four pages of notes.
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Now you're ready to
start writing the sermon.
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And to do it,
we're going to divide it
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into four simple parts.
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It always makes it
easier when you take a big job,
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and you divide it
into smaller parts,
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one section at a time.
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Probably the introduction
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and the appeal are
the two most important
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parts of the sermon.
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And a sermon is
more than information
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is to draw a
decision out of people.
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You can take time to talk about
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what is a tax
collector anywhere?
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Why is the tax collector
considered to be immoral?
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You would have to look that
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up in the
commentary and other parts.
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And it would tell you that
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tax collectors were
looked at as enemies,
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because they
collected money for Rome.
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And they took your
money and gave it to Rome,
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and usually
charged you two times more,
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and they kept part
of it for themselves.
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That's how they got rich.
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They didn't care if
people wouldn't like them.
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They didn't care
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if they were
going to be ostracized
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by their own race, it
was a way to get rich quick.
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And, since tax
collectors were mostly men,
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who had a lot of money,
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these were the kind of guys
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who hung around themselves
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and had some very
interesting parties to go to.
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And you can be
reading between the lines,
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if you know what I mean.
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That's what tax collectors were.
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That's why they're
lumped in with sinners,
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and publicans,
and prostitutes, etc.
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And so Jesus goes to
one of these gatherings
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and that went
directly against everything
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in the culture that He lived in.
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It says the Pharisees
criticized Him for it.
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Describe what that
conversation took place.
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What was the Pharisees
mindset towards tax collectors?
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Why did they have a
problem with Jesus going there?
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And then talk
about Jesus' response.
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You remember
what His response was?
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In Luke 5:31.
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I want to read it to you
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because this
would be a key point,
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if you were
doing a sermon on this.
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You would bring this out
in the body of the sermon.
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Luke 5:32, this what Jesus says,
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"Jesus answered
and said to them,
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'Those who are well
have no need of a physician,
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but those who are sick,
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I have not come to
call the righteous,
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but sinners, to repentance."
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That tells you
where Jesus' focus was
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and where He
spent most of His time.
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Not with the
righteous, but with sinners.
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And you could use
that to talk about
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what is the job
of the church today.
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There is so
much in that passage.
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That will be the
body of the sermon.
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If you go farther
and go to the end,
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in section three,
where it says conclusion,
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this is where I bring
out two basic lessons.
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Number one,
Christ calls us to seek
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and to save the
lost just like He did.
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And number two,
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a challenging
one for some of us.
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Christ actually wants us
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to build friendships with people
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who don't know Jesus.
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And see that'll kind of
get your talk into the area
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of how do we balance this part
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where Proverbs
says, you know, be careful
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who you hang around.
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But Jesus says, "I
want you to go rub shoulders
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with people who don't know Me,
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I want you to be an
influence upon them."
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And it gives you opportunity
to talk about, you know,
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what's the balance there?
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What has God
called His church to do?
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To isolate themselves
inside the four walls?
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Or to actually make a difference
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in the community with people
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who don't really
understand who Jesus is?
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So those are the two lessons,
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it gave me a chance
to impress those lessons
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upon the heart.
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And then finally
comes the appeal.
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And the appeal section,
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this is where I ask people
to make a commitment and say,
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"Lord Jesus, I'm
willing to be Your missionary.
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And if there is a Matthew
somewhere in my world, Lord,
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I'm asking you to bring
him across my path this week."
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If you want to tell God
you're available for service,
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I invite you to come forward
as we sing our closing song.
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That was the appeal and
I actually wanted people
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to come forward in
an altar call to say,
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"Lord, if You
can use me this week.
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If You want to bring someone
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who doesn't know
You across my path,
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I just want You to know, God,
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I'm not perfect,
but I am available."
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And people came
forward during that altar call.
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I appealed for them to
make some type of decision.
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Does that make sense?
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I mean, when they say,
I'm available for service,
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Lord, is that a decision?
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It most certainly is.
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It would have done me no
good to preach that sermon
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without making an appeal.
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Because all I would have
done is given them information.
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And a sermon, especially one by
God's remnant in the last days
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should never be
just about information.
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It should be influencing people
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to take an action
and to make a decision.
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Why? Because
Jesus is coming soon.
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That's the heart of our message.
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Amen. All right,
now let's do this.
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Here's the summary again,
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the introduction,
finding something lost,
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a story of something lost.
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The body, describing
Luke 5:27-32 in detail.
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The conclusion, God
calls us to build friendships
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with the lost
and the appeal was,
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asking people to
make a commitment
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to be a missionary for Jesus.
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Those are the four
parts of that sermon.
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If you will follow
that in writing it,
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it will make it
so much more easy.
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Now, I'm not suggesting
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that preparing a
sermon is always easy.
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There will be
times when it might be
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rather
frustrating because you know,
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the mind just goes blank.
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But when you boil it
down to those four things,
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and you
understand how they connect,
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it makes perfect sense.
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Now, before we end this session,
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I want to talk about
what a topical sermon is,
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because depending
on your personality,
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maybe expository
sermons don't work for you.
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Now, do you remember
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what I said an
expository sermon is?
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That's where you
take only one passage,
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one large passage or story,
and that's your entire focus.
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And you bring all
the lessons out of it,
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you expose the
lessons in one passage, okay?
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A topical sermon is
a little bit different.
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And if you take a
look at your sheet here,
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there's an outline
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where it talks
about topical sermon.
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And I want to share with you
what the difference is on this.
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A topical sermon
has the same four parts,
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except you're choosing a topic.
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And you're going to three
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or four different
texts in the Bible,
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and bringing out the
lessons that are in it.
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You're not choosing
just one large passage
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or one large story,
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you're going to three or
four smaller texts in the Bible.
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In fact, just to make
sure you understand this,
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let me ask you, typically,
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when we do
evangelistic meetings,
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what kind of sermons are they,
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expository sermons
or topical sermons?
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You're right, they're topical.
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We take one topic,
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and we go to many
different texts in the Bible
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to bring the lessons out.
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Whichever one
you're comfortable with,
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is going to depend
on your personality,
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you know, and
maybe how God leads you.
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I prefer expository sermons.
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I think they're
easier to preach.
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And I think it's simpler
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to bring the
lessons out of them.
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So 11 am on Sabbath mornings,
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I almost always
preach expository sermons.
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The only exception
is evangelistic series,
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that's when I go
to topical sermons.
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So in case you are more
drawn to a topical sermon,
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let's take a few
minutes and go through
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what a topical
sermon may look like, okay?
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We're going to use
the same four parts.
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You're still going
to have an introduction,
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and it's going to
be a story or something
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that introduces your subject,
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that's still the
exact same thing.
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Then comes the
body of the sermon.
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Here's where it's going
to be a little bit different.
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In a topical sermon,
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you have to use
your study tools,
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and find at least three texts
that talk about that subject.
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You look up the first text,
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you describe what's
in it, what's going on.
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Then talk about
the lesson it teaches.
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You have the people
look up the second text
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to do the same thing,
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describe what's
happening in the text,
00:09:03.74\00:09:06.37
and bring out the
lesson it teaches for today.
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You go to the third
text, do the same thing.
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And if you have a
fourth one, you do it again.
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That's what a topical sermon is.
00:09:15.48\00:09:17.49
Conclusion, same thing.
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You're simply going
to summarise the lessons
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that were
learned from the texts.
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And the appeal,
you're going to invite
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the congregation to
make some sort of decision
00:09:25.96\00:09:29.36
based on the
lessons that they learned.
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Does that make sense? Yes or no?
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Okay. Let's actually do one.
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Okay, in the sheet,
the very last sermon
00:09:36.84\00:09:39.81
that you have is
a topical sermon.
00:09:39.84\00:09:43.68
So let's make this real.
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It's the one that says
the Christian's TV Guide,
00:09:45.31\00:09:48.68
do you have that one?
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Put your papers
up if we all have one
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that says the
Christian's TV Guide, okay.
00:09:52.62\00:09:55.62
This was a sermon I actually did
00:09:55.66\00:09:57.49
when I was in my
late teens or 20's.
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This was a sermon
about making choices
00:10:00.96\00:10:03.87
of what we put before our eyes.
00:10:03.90\00:10:06.87
So I divided this
out into four sections
00:10:06.90\00:10:09.54
and you will be able
to see the difference.
00:10:09.57\00:10:12.11
The introduction to this
sermon was a story of Johnny
00:10:12.14\00:10:16.64
coming into the house
and accidentally seeing
00:10:16.68\00:10:19.81
his parents watching
something inappropriate on TV.
00:10:19.85\00:10:24.29
And so that story
is actually a good one
00:10:24.32\00:10:27.06
to introduce this topic.
00:10:27.09\00:10:29.72
Then we went to
the body of the sermon.
00:10:29.76\00:10:32.23
And in the body of the sermon,
00:10:32.26\00:10:33.60
there were three
main texts that I chose.
00:10:33.63\00:10:36.80
The first one was Psalm 101:2-4.
00:10:36.83\00:10:41.50
In fact, if we had time,
00:10:41.54\00:10:42.87
I'd have you look up
each one of these texts.
00:10:42.90\00:10:45.07
Psalm 101 is where David said
that I will walk in my house
00:10:45.11\00:10:50.65
with a perfect heart, I
will not put evil things
00:10:50.68\00:10:54.35
before my eyes.
00:10:54.38\00:10:56.02
So I talked about the text.
00:10:56.05\00:10:58.15
What was happening and
brought out the lesson?
00:10:58.19\00:11:02.02
Then I went to the second text,
00:11:02.06\00:11:04.09
which ended up being Matthew 15.
00:11:04.13\00:11:06.29
And actually under Psalm 101,
00:11:06.33\00:11:08.73
I did a little survey
of how it talks about,
00:11:08.76\00:11:11.40
what goes on in
primetime television.
00:11:11.43\00:11:13.64
You know, 10
incidences of violence per hour,
00:11:13.67\00:11:16.37
10 incidences of
illicit sex per hour,
00:11:16.40\00:11:19.44
8 incidences of
profanity per hour.
00:11:19.47\00:11:22.94
And when we
constantly put that before us,
00:11:22.98\00:11:25.68
it will affect us.
00:11:25.71\00:11:27.85
And it will
come out in our life,
00:11:27.88\00:11:30.02
whether we want
to believe it or not.
00:11:30.05\00:11:32.69
So those are some of the things
that came out of that text.
00:11:32.72\00:11:35.52
The second text,
if you turn the page,
00:11:35.56\00:11:37.49
was Matthew 15:18-20.
00:11:37.53\00:11:40.73
And this is where
Jesus talked about that
00:11:40.76\00:11:43.93
what goes into your
heart will eventually
00:11:43.97\00:11:47.50
come out in your
life in some way.
00:11:47.54\00:11:51.21
And so we would talk about
00:11:51.24\00:11:52.57
what's going on in that passage,
00:11:52.61\00:11:54.38
bring a few of
the lessons out of it.
00:11:54.41\00:11:57.58
The third and last
text was Philippians 4:8.
00:11:57.61\00:12:00.68
You know what
Philippians 4:8 says?
00:12:00.72\00:12:04.25
Make a guess, starts
with the word whatsoever.
00:12:04.29\00:12:09.29
"Whatsoever things are
pure, whatsoever things are good
00:12:09.32\00:12:13.09
and lovely and have good report,
00:12:13.13\00:12:14.96
think on these things."
00:12:15.00\00:12:16.67
So we use that text,
00:12:16.70\00:12:18.57
describe why Paul wrote it
00:12:18.60\00:12:20.67
and focused on the
lesson that God says,
00:12:20.70\00:12:23.34
"We need to put into
our heart and mind things
00:12:23.37\00:12:25.74
that are good and are
edifying and are positive."
00:12:25.77\00:12:30.28
And then I included
some questions for people
00:12:30.31\00:12:33.21
to think about such as,
what message is this program
00:12:33.25\00:12:37.59
or movie sending me?
00:12:37.62\00:12:39.95
Is it promoting sin
or promoting morals?
00:12:39.99\00:12:43.89
Would I let my
children watch it?
00:12:43.93\00:12:47.10
And if you wouldn't,
should you be watching it?
00:12:47.13\00:12:49.76
And then the real
kicker, number four,
00:12:49.80\00:12:53.10
would I watch it
with Jesus by my side.
00:12:53.13\00:12:57.27
Is it keeping me,
and even if it is good,
00:12:57.31\00:13:00.38
is it keeping me from
spending time with Jesus.
00:13:00.41\00:13:04.55
Those are all
things to consider.
00:13:04.58\00:13:07.32
And then the
conclusion of the sermon
00:13:07.35\00:13:09.22
was basically reviewing
and reinforcing the lessons
00:13:09.25\00:13:13.15
that came out of those texts
00:13:13.19\00:13:15.42
and maybe
summarise them a little bit.
00:13:15.46\00:13:17.89
And then, lastly
making the appeal.
00:13:17.93\00:13:20.63
And in the appeal, this
is where I invite people
00:13:20.66\00:13:23.57
to evaluate
their viewing habits,
00:13:23.60\00:13:26.40
and choose to make right choices
00:13:26.43\00:13:28.44
of what they put
before their eyes.
00:13:28.47\00:13:30.87
And the appeal simply
went something like this.
00:13:30.91\00:13:32.91
Now, I don't know it by memory
00:13:32.94\00:13:34.28
because it's been a long
time since I preached this one,
00:13:34.31\00:13:36.51
where you might
say, "Lord Jesus,
00:13:36.54\00:13:39.35
I'm asking You to speak to me
00:13:39.38\00:13:41.82
about what I put before my eyes.
00:13:41.85\00:13:44.52
Show me if there's anything
I'm doing that needs to change.
00:13:44.55\00:13:48.32
Help me to make good decisions
00:13:48.36\00:13:50.56
about what I
allow into my heart."
00:13:50.59\00:13:53.40
If you want to give God
permission to speak to you
00:13:53.43\00:13:56.30
about what you're
putting inside your heart.
00:13:56.33\00:13:59.17
If you're willing to say,
00:13:59.20\00:14:00.54
"Lord, if I
need to make changes,
00:14:00.57\00:14:01.97
show me what they are.
00:14:02.00\00:14:03.91
I want to be involved in things
00:14:03.94\00:14:05.27
that are holy
and honoring to You."
00:14:05.31\00:14:07.94
Would you raise your hand
as we have our closing prayer?
00:14:07.98\00:14:11.35
Is that asking
people to make a decision?
00:14:11.38\00:14:13.18
It is.
00:14:13.21\00:14:14.55
They're deciding to evaluate,
00:14:14.58\00:14:16.08
or maybe reevaluate
their viewing habits.
00:14:16.12\00:14:19.75
And really, the truth is,
we all can relate to that.
00:14:19.79\00:14:23.83
Because how many of us
have ever watched something,
00:14:23.86\00:14:26.90
and then later on
thought, you know,
00:14:26.93\00:14:30.10
that probably
wasn't a good idea.
00:14:30.13\00:14:32.63
I've done things as a teenager,
00:14:32.67\00:14:34.00
I wish I had
not done or watched.
00:14:34.04\00:14:37.04
And you know, things you put
00:14:37.07\00:14:38.94
before your
eyes, they stay there.
00:14:38.97\00:14:42.21
It's not easy to
get out of your mind.
00:14:42.24\00:14:44.61
It's only by the power
of God that little by little
00:14:44.65\00:14:47.88
as we grow closer to Him,
00:14:47.92\00:14:49.58
He kind of
etches away the things
00:14:49.62\00:14:51.32
that we wish we
hadn't put there.
00:14:51.35\00:14:54.09
Fortunately, God is merciful,
and God is also powerful.
00:14:54.12\00:14:57.23
Amen.
00:14:57.26\00:14:58.59
Oh now, I'm
getting to preaching there.
00:14:58.63\00:15:00.36
So those are the four sections
of a sermon, utilize them,
00:15:00.40\00:15:06.07
it will be much
easier to preach.
00:15:06.10\00:15:08.57
Okay, welcome back.
00:15:14.81\00:15:16.14
We're about to
begin session four.
00:15:16.18\00:15:18.38
And we're going to talk about
00:15:18.41\00:15:19.75
the principles
of public speaking.
00:15:19.78\00:15:22.78
Now, this really
is an essential part
00:15:22.82\00:15:24.49
of any seminar on how to preach,
00:15:24.52\00:15:28.09
because you can have
the best sermon on paper,
00:15:28.12\00:15:31.83
you have taken maybe
hours to study a passage,
00:15:31.86\00:15:35.86
to look at the
different study tools
00:15:35.90\00:15:37.90
to write out your notes
and actually constructed
00:15:37.93\00:15:40.90
into a sermon with four parts
00:15:40.94\00:15:43.51
that has everything,
lessons and a wonderful appeal.
00:15:43.54\00:15:47.38
But if I am lackadaisical,
and I don't put some effort
00:15:47.41\00:15:51.11
into how I choose to present it,
00:15:51.15\00:15:54.05
then much of what
I've done is for naught.
00:15:54.08\00:15:57.12
Doesn't mean you have to be
00:15:57.15\00:15:58.49
a perfectly smooth
charismatic preacher,
00:15:58.52\00:16:01.29
but there are
some simple principles
00:16:01.32\00:16:03.39
of public speaking
that all of us can follow.
00:16:03.43\00:16:06.19
They can be followed in church.
00:16:06.23\00:16:07.96
And even people
in the business world
00:16:08.00\00:16:09.56
when they're
making a presentation.
00:16:09.60\00:16:11.40
They follow some of
the same principles,
00:16:11.43\00:16:14.10
but we're simply
going to apply it
00:16:14.14\00:16:16.17
to the work of the Lord.
00:16:16.20\00:16:17.54
Amen?
00:16:17.57\00:16:18.91
So some of these you
will already no doubt
00:16:18.94\00:16:20.38
have heard of,
00:16:20.41\00:16:21.74
and some of these,
00:16:21.78\00:16:23.11
you will
probably be able to say,
00:16:23.14\00:16:24.48
"Oh, I've seen people
00:16:24.51\00:16:25.85
who have
violated that principle,
00:16:25.88\00:16:27.35
because I have
probably violated all of them
00:16:27.38\00:16:29.78
myself at some point."
00:16:29.82\00:16:31.95
So let's go
through a few of them.
00:16:31.99\00:16:33.99
The first one is very obvious,
00:16:34.02\00:16:37.23
but sometimes it's the most
obvious things that we neglect.
00:16:37.26\00:16:40.70
And so by far, number one,
00:16:40.73\00:16:42.66
spend time
praying over your message.
00:16:42.70\00:16:46.67
Amen?
00:16:46.70\00:16:48.17
I don't care how much
time you've put in preparation.
00:16:48.20\00:16:52.07
The thing that's going
to move people's hearts
00:16:52.11\00:16:54.54
is not all the fancy
words you think you might use.
00:16:54.58\00:16:58.15
What's going to cause
them to make a decision
00:16:58.18\00:16:59.91
is not even those
four parts of the sermon.
00:16:59.95\00:17:03.32
It's not going to be all
those wonderful study tools
00:17:03.35\00:17:05.59
that you used.
00:17:05.62\00:17:07.09
The only thing
that's going to reach
00:17:07.12\00:17:08.72
someone's heart is if
the Holy Spirit is present.
00:17:08.76\00:17:12.76
And I have given myself
00:17:12.79\00:17:14.23
over to him to be
used in all my imperfection
00:17:14.26\00:17:18.10
and in all of my weakness.
00:17:18.13\00:17:20.30
See, that's why
sometimes God uses lay people,
00:17:20.34\00:17:23.87
maybe even more than pastors,
00:17:23.91\00:17:26.21
because sometimes
we pastors can get
00:17:26.24\00:17:28.08
a little lackadaisical thinking,
00:17:28.11\00:17:29.74
well, we've been to seminary,
00:17:29.78\00:17:31.35
I've heard many
classes on preaching,
00:17:31.38\00:17:33.15
I know how to do this.
00:17:33.18\00:17:34.68
And maybe at times,
00:17:34.72\00:17:36.05
we fall into
the trap of thinking
00:17:36.08\00:17:37.85
we have less of a
need for the Holy Spirit.
00:17:37.89\00:17:41.56
Whereas maybe the lay person
who doesn't have that training,
00:17:41.59\00:17:44.79
they recognize that
need perhaps more than we do,
00:17:44.83\00:17:48.56
and that can
actually be a very good thing,
00:17:48.60\00:17:51.37
because the person
00:17:51.40\00:17:52.73
who gets in the
pulpit and thinks that
00:17:52.77\00:17:54.54
they have it all together,
and that their charisma
00:17:54.57\00:17:58.11
and their style is
going to make a difference,
00:17:58.14\00:18:00.61
is going to be
sadly disappointed.
00:18:00.64\00:18:02.74
They may be entertaining
people on the outside.
00:18:02.78\00:18:06.11
But the purpose of a
sermon is to reach the heart
00:18:06.15\00:18:09.28
so people can make
tangible decisions.
00:18:09.32\00:18:12.49
Does that make sense? So
that's why it's important.
00:18:12.52\00:18:15.36
I need to spend time
praying over my message
00:18:15.39\00:18:18.89
and asking God to please use me
00:18:18.93\00:18:21.13
that maybe I need to say
00:18:21.16\00:18:22.50
what I never
thought of writing down.
00:18:22.53\00:18:24.73
Or maybe I need to skip
00:18:24.77\00:18:26.60
something that I wrote down
that I thought was pretty good.
00:18:26.63\00:18:29.70
Let the Holy Spirit
guide pray over your message.
00:18:29.74\00:18:34.48
That's by far number one.
00:18:34.51\00:18:37.91
Principle number two,
00:18:37.95\00:18:39.88
adequately
prepare for your message.
00:18:39.91\00:18:43.18
Okay, that means
00:18:43.22\00:18:44.55
whether you're writing
your sermon out word for word,
00:18:44.59\00:18:46.92
or whether you're
just making a long,
00:18:46.96\00:18:49.56
detailed outline,
00:18:49.59\00:18:50.96
that's more
according to your personality.
00:18:50.99\00:18:53.86
I usually do long
outlines and that's more
00:18:53.90\00:18:57.30
because of a
character flaw I have
00:18:57.33\00:19:00.04
and that is patience.
00:19:00.07\00:19:01.97
I lack patience naturally.
00:19:02.00\00:19:04.27
I have a feeling
I'm not the only one.
00:19:04.31\00:19:06.41
So to discipline
myself to sit down
00:19:06.44\00:19:09.04
and write it out word for word,
that's not always easy for me.
00:19:09.08\00:19:12.55
So I would rather
make a long outline.
00:19:12.58\00:19:15.48
But what I have discovered,
00:19:15.52\00:19:17.22
the times where I
have forced myself
00:19:17.25\00:19:19.22
to write it out word for word,
00:19:19.25\00:19:21.16
I remember it so
much better, to the point
00:19:21.19\00:19:23.63
where I don't
even need my notes,
00:19:23.66\00:19:26.23
because since
I've written it out,
00:19:26.26\00:19:27.90
I've processed it
up here a lot more.
00:19:27.93\00:19:30.60
But that's going
to be more up to you
00:19:30.63\00:19:31.97
whether you want an outline,
00:19:32.00\00:19:33.54
or whether you
want it word for word,
00:19:33.57\00:19:34.90
but here's the
point, you must prepare.
00:19:34.94\00:19:38.81
Don't take the
Lord's words out of context,
00:19:38.84\00:19:42.04
where Jesus says
when you're brought
00:19:42.08\00:19:43.58
before kings and council, etc,
00:19:43.61\00:19:46.28
that don't worry
00:19:46.31\00:19:47.65
or think what you
should say beforehand
00:19:47.68\00:19:49.38
'cause the Holy
Spirit will bring it to you.
00:19:49.42\00:19:52.22
That is not in the
context of preaching a sermon.
00:19:52.25\00:19:55.02
That is in the context of things
00:19:55.06\00:19:57.09
that happen
unexpectedly and all of a sudden
00:19:57.13\00:19:59.69
you find yourself
in front of a king
00:19:59.73\00:20:01.96
or a council or maybe
someone in your workplace.
00:20:02.00\00:20:04.77
Yes, the Holy Spirit
will bring the words,
00:20:04.80\00:20:07.14
but he will
only bring the words,
00:20:07.17\00:20:09.30
providing you have put
those words in your heart
00:20:09.34\00:20:11.61
from studying His
word to begin with.
00:20:11.64\00:20:13.48
Amen?
00:20:13.51\00:20:14.84
So that doesn't mean that
00:20:14.88\00:20:16.21
I should take that text and say,
00:20:16.24\00:20:18.28
"Well, I'm just
going to stand up front
00:20:18.31\00:20:20.68
with a blank sheet of paper
00:20:20.72\00:20:22.45
and whatever the Holy
Spirit gives me to say,
00:20:22.48\00:20:24.85
I'm going to say."
00:20:24.89\00:20:26.55
That is a recipe for disaster.
00:20:26.59\00:20:29.29
And I know that some
people might disagree with that.
00:20:29.32\00:20:32.03
Now, it's a little bit different
00:20:32.06\00:20:33.40
if I just find
out on Friday night
00:20:33.43\00:20:37.13
that the preacher got sick,
00:20:37.17\00:20:38.67
and I'm supposed to
preach the next day.
00:20:38.70\00:20:40.54
Yeah, then I
better claim that promise.
00:20:40.57\00:20:42.70
But it's a whole different story
00:20:42.74\00:20:44.07
if I've known for three
weeks that I'm going to preach,
00:20:44.11\00:20:46.68
and I just put other things
ahead of that as a priority.
00:20:46.71\00:20:50.21
And I willfully and
purposely get up unprepared,
00:20:50.25\00:20:53.78
that promise
does not apply to me.
00:20:53.82\00:20:56.89
I hope that make sense.
00:20:56.92\00:20:58.25
So when you have
opportunity, adequately prepare.
00:20:58.29\00:21:02.52
When there are
last minute emergencies,
00:21:02.56\00:21:04.66
yes, the Holy Spirit is
always going to guide you.
00:21:04.69\00:21:07.96
And, of course, He'll
guide you even when you prepare.
00:21:08.00\00:21:12.23
Principle number three,
00:21:12.27\00:21:14.94
don't read your sermon.
00:21:14.97\00:21:18.71
Speak from the heart.
00:21:18.74\00:21:21.28
What the temptation will be,
especially if you wrote it out,
00:21:21.31\00:21:24.28
is to have your sermon up
here, put it on the pulpit,
00:21:24.31\00:21:28.72
and you're afraid
to veer away from it.
00:21:28.75\00:21:30.59
And you're going to look down
00:21:30.62\00:21:31.95
and you're gonna just keep
you know, just keep reading it.
00:21:31.99\00:21:34.52
Jesus had been
traveling through the cities
00:21:34.56\00:21:36.46
of Galilee teaching and healing.
00:21:36.49\00:21:38.56
He was spending a
lot of personal time
00:21:38.59\00:21:40.83
with people in the synagogues,
00:21:40.86\00:21:42.66
and in their homes
and by the seashore.
00:21:42.70\00:21:45.33
And many people were being
00:21:45.37\00:21:46.70
affected by His
life and ministry.
00:21:46.74\00:21:48.90
One of the people
who had been affected
00:21:48.94\00:21:50.54
by Jesus was a tax
collector named Matthew.
00:21:50.57\00:21:54.81
Do I have your attention there?
00:21:54.84\00:21:56.61
Probably not
'cause you're going to be
00:21:56.64\00:21:57.98
gone in about five minutes
00:21:58.01\00:21:59.55
because I'm not
making eye contact with you.
00:21:59.58\00:22:02.75
My focus isn't on you.
00:22:02.78\00:22:04.72
Everything about me
is looking downward.
00:22:04.75\00:22:07.82
My eyes are tied
to my paper, okay?
00:22:07.86\00:22:11.23
This is why you
adequately prepare.
00:22:11.26\00:22:13.09
This is why you take
notes and use your study tools,
00:22:13.13\00:22:16.03
this is why you
write the sermon out.
00:22:16.06\00:22:17.70
So it's up here
and you don't have
00:22:17.73\00:22:19.73
to constantly be looking down.
00:22:19.77\00:22:22.47
And then that doesn't mean
00:22:22.50\00:22:23.84
if there is a point
you really want to make,
00:22:23.87\00:22:25.64
and you've written out
a quote in a certain way.
00:22:25.67\00:22:28.18
Well, certainly, you know,
00:22:28.21\00:22:29.54
you can read
that from your paper.
00:22:29.58\00:22:31.21
But what you're not going to do
00:22:31.25\00:22:32.58
is spend 30
minutes of the sermon,
00:22:32.61\00:22:34.82
just simply
reading what you wrote.
00:22:34.85\00:22:37.99
Speak from the heart.
00:22:38.02\00:22:40.16
Oh but Pastor Dave, I
won't say it the same way
00:22:40.19\00:22:42.12
I put it on
paper, it doesn't matter.
00:22:42.16\00:22:44.63
Because if you don't say
00:22:44.66\00:22:45.99
it the same way
you put on paper,
00:22:46.03\00:22:48.03
guess who's the only one
that's going to know that?
00:22:48.06\00:22:51.33
You, maybe your spouse.
00:22:51.37\00:22:53.47
The people on the congregation
aren't going to know that
00:22:53.50\00:22:56.04
'cause they don't
know what's on your paper.
00:22:56.07\00:22:59.01
So maybe you
didn't say it perfectly.
00:22:59.04\00:23:01.28
Does that mean God can't use it?
00:23:01.31\00:23:03.85
Certainly not.
00:23:03.88\00:23:05.21
I would much rather hear
someone speak from their heart,
00:23:05.25\00:23:09.28
even if they fumble a little bit
00:23:09.32\00:23:11.59
than I would
someone reading from a paper
00:23:11.62\00:23:13.99
who is using all these
upper echelon eloquent words,
00:23:14.02\00:23:18.53
but really doesn't seem to
be into what they're saying.
00:23:18.56\00:23:21.70
You understand?
00:23:21.73\00:23:23.06
Speak from your heart.
00:23:23.10\00:23:25.03
Don't just read from a paper
00:23:25.07\00:23:27.80
'cause I would bet even
in the secular work world
00:23:27.84\00:23:30.87
when someone's
making a presentation,
00:23:30.91\00:23:32.81
if they're just
reading the paper,
00:23:32.84\00:23:35.04
they're going to lose
your attention fairly quickly.
00:23:35.08\00:23:38.71
Let it be from the heart.
00:23:38.75\00:23:41.12
Also be passionate
about your message.
00:23:41.15\00:23:43.62
Now when I say be passionate,
00:23:43.65\00:23:45.95
I'm not talking
about entertaining
00:23:45.99\00:23:48.56
and doing crazy
things from the pulpit.
00:23:48.59\00:23:51.23
I don't know if
you've ever turned on
00:23:51.26\00:23:52.59
a Christian television station.
00:23:52.63\00:23:54.46
And you've seen
what really looks like
00:23:54.50\00:23:56.67
total entertainment,
you know from the pulpit,
00:23:56.70\00:23:58.90
I've seen that
at times, you know,
00:23:58.93\00:24:00.47
where you know
in certain cultures
00:24:00.50\00:24:02.27
it may be the organ's playing
00:24:02.30\00:24:04.34
and ramping it up
while the preacher's
00:24:04.37\00:24:05.84
trying to make a point.
00:24:05.87\00:24:07.38
And it almost seems
like the person is screaming
00:24:07.41\00:24:09.84
or out of control.
00:24:09.88\00:24:11.25
I'm not talking
about that. Okay?
00:24:11.28\00:24:14.05
What passion is,
you're excited about
00:24:14.08\00:24:16.52
what you have to say.
00:24:16.55\00:24:18.15
You believe it, you
know it's important.
00:24:18.19\00:24:21.36
You want people to
hear and understand it.
00:24:21.39\00:24:24.43
You want to be passionate
00:24:24.46\00:24:25.79
about whatever God
has laid on your heart.
00:24:25.83\00:24:29.36
And people have
different levels of passion.
00:24:29.40\00:24:31.43
For some people
the way I am right now
00:24:31.47\00:24:33.13
that's about as passionate
as they get and that's okay.
00:24:33.17\00:24:36.40
You know, for
others or sometimes
00:24:36.44\00:24:37.77
I may raise my voice
and walk around the pulpit,
00:24:37.81\00:24:40.81
particularly when I go to
African-American churches.
00:24:40.84\00:24:42.78
I really like that
00:24:42.81\00:24:44.15
because they're a
little bit more expressive
00:24:44.18\00:24:45.75
so I know I can, you
know, I can really get into it.
00:24:45.78\00:24:49.48
Whereas my Caucasian friends
might can't quite understand me
00:24:49.52\00:24:52.99
if I get a little
bit too passionate.
00:24:53.02\00:24:55.12
You know, but
this is not talking
00:24:55.16\00:24:56.49
about entertaining.
00:24:56.52\00:24:58.73
It is talking about believing
00:24:58.76\00:25:00.90
and showing some
spiritual enthusiasm
00:25:00.93\00:25:04.43
about what you're sharing.
00:25:04.47\00:25:06.57
I mean, you can apply that
to a personal conversation.
00:25:06.60\00:25:09.20
When you have a one on
one conversation with someone,
00:25:09.24\00:25:11.64
do you listen to the person
more who shows enthusiasm,
00:25:11.67\00:25:15.48
or the person who just
speaks in a monotone tone
00:25:15.51\00:25:18.08
and really doesn't
make eye contact with you
00:25:18.11\00:25:20.15
and really doesn't seem
to be at all excited about
00:25:20.18\00:25:22.42
what they're talking about?
00:25:22.45\00:25:24.15
Who's going to get
your attention more?
00:25:24.19\00:25:26.45
Be passionate, as passionate
00:25:26.49\00:25:28.39
as your personality
will allow you to be.
00:25:28.42\00:25:31.83
Another one is
that keep it simple
00:25:31.86\00:25:34.20
and easy to understand.
00:25:34.23\00:25:36.56
A sermon is not about
trying to impress people
00:25:36.60\00:25:40.50
with the
vocabulary that you think
00:25:40.54\00:25:42.47
that you have attained.
00:25:42.50\00:25:44.61
I mean, have you
ever heard a sermon
00:25:44.64\00:25:46.27
where you know
what the person said
00:25:46.31\00:25:48.84
sounded real good and
sounded real educated.
00:25:48.88\00:25:51.85
You just don't know
what in the world he said.
00:25:51.88\00:25:53.92
You don't know what
he was talking about.
00:25:53.95\00:25:55.78
Because he used, you know,
00:25:55.82\00:25:57.15
15 syllable words
that maybe Webster
00:25:57.19\00:25:59.59
doesn't even have
in the dictionary.
00:25:59.62\00:26:01.69
That's not the point of it.
00:26:01.72\00:26:03.63
If people don't
understand what you're saying,
00:26:03.66\00:26:06.76
and I'm just going to
be blunt, it's worthless.
00:26:06.80\00:26:09.93
People have to
understand a sermon.
00:26:09.96\00:26:12.70
You say, "What about
the really educated person
00:26:12.73\00:26:14.77
in the church?"
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.14
You know what?
00:26:16.17\00:26:17.51
If they are sincere,
00:26:17.54\00:26:19.31
a simple sermon
will reach the children,
00:26:19.34\00:26:22.24
and it can reach the adults.
00:26:22.28\00:26:24.28
And as long as
our heart is open,
00:26:24.31\00:26:26.21
it can reach
the highly educated.
00:26:26.25\00:26:28.82
Because what it
really comes down to,
00:26:28.85\00:26:31.25
is the heart of the
listener open to God's word,
00:26:31.29\00:26:34.52
and is the heart of the
speaker open to being used.
00:26:34.56\00:26:38.46
There's no need for me
to use difficult language
00:26:38.49\00:26:40.96
and try to come up with words
00:26:41.00\00:26:42.76
that most people
are not familiar with.
00:26:42.80\00:26:45.67
That frustrates people.
00:26:45.70\00:26:47.57
And not only that,
if you keep using words
00:26:47.60\00:26:49.54
they don't understand,
00:26:49.57\00:26:51.21
they're going to turn you off
00:26:51.24\00:26:52.61
at some point
because they figure,
00:26:52.64\00:26:54.04
I don't know what
this guy is saying,
00:26:54.08\00:26:55.64
and I can't relate to him.
00:26:55.68\00:26:57.75
So you know the old
acronym kiss, K-I-S-S.
00:26:57.78\00:27:01.82
Keep it simple, stupid.
00:27:01.85\00:27:04.19
But I wouldn't use
the word you know, stupid.
00:27:04.22\00:27:06.22
Find another word for
that. This one is so important.
00:27:06.25\00:27:11.93
Be positive and do what? Smile.
00:27:11.96\00:27:15.70
In fact, I would go
so far as to suggest,
00:27:15.73\00:27:19.10
if it is physically impossible
00:27:19.13\00:27:20.94
for your facial
muscles to smile, don't preach.
00:27:20.97\00:27:25.64
Find another ministry
to be involved in, okay?
00:27:25.67\00:27:28.71
Smiling and being
positive is so essential.
00:27:28.74\00:27:33.28
I remember when I was
pastoring in Pennsylvania,
00:27:33.31\00:27:36.15
there was an elder
00:27:36.18\00:27:37.52
who was willing to
go visiting with me,
00:27:37.55\00:27:40.02
but he always made me nervous.
00:27:40.06\00:27:41.62
Now he was a good soul.
00:27:41.66\00:27:43.39
He was always willing
to visit and it was hard
00:27:43.43\00:27:45.36
to get people to go visit him.
00:27:45.39\00:27:47.46
But the problem was
because of his personality,
00:27:47.50\00:27:50.83
he would never smile.
00:27:50.87\00:27:53.20
And so you'd be in this house,
00:27:53.23\00:27:55.70
having a pretty serious
conversation with people,
00:27:55.74\00:27:58.01
you know, people pouring
out their heart, you know,
00:27:58.04\00:28:00.71
and the elder's
just sitting there
00:28:00.74\00:28:03.04
with no expression,
you know, whatsoever.
00:28:03.08\00:28:06.11
And, boy, it
just made me nervous.
00:28:06.15\00:28:07.68
I felt like I had to,
you know, counteract that.
00:28:07.72\00:28:10.65
It's the same for
preaching up front.
00:28:10.69\00:28:13.79
People respond much
better if you're being positive.
00:28:13.82\00:28:18.63
That doesn't mean that
00:28:18.66\00:28:20.00
you don't say
challenging things.
00:28:20.03\00:28:22.26
That doesn't mean
you may never step
00:28:22.30\00:28:24.27
on someone's toe.
00:28:24.30\00:28:26.20
But when someone comes at you
00:28:26.23\00:28:28.14
with a negative,
degrading attitude,
00:28:28.17\00:28:32.17
where it feels like
00:28:32.21\00:28:33.54
they're beating
you over the head,
00:28:33.58\00:28:35.11
you're going to turn them off.
00:28:35.14\00:28:37.11
And to be honest with you,
even like with my personality,
00:28:37.15\00:28:40.72
I'm German so I can say this.
00:28:40.75\00:28:42.25
We're kind of stubborn
people, even in our marriage.
00:28:42.28\00:28:45.15
Marquita knows that
if she approaches me
00:28:45.19\00:28:46.82
the wrong way with
the wrong attitude,
00:28:46.86\00:28:48.86
I'm not going to listen to her
00:28:48.89\00:28:50.23
even if I know she's
right and vice versa.
00:28:50.26\00:28:53.86
And don't look at me
strange, you're all married,
00:28:53.90\00:28:55.53
you know what that's all about.
00:28:55.56\00:28:57.23
So same way in preaching.
00:28:57.27\00:28:59.53
The information may be great,
00:28:59.57\00:29:01.14
you may have been
making a wonderful point.
00:29:01.17\00:29:03.34
But if you can't smile,
00:29:03.37\00:29:05.01
it's going to
turn some people off.
00:29:05.04\00:29:06.71
If you have to say
some challenging things,
00:29:06.74\00:29:09.24
do it in a loving
way, in a loving manner.
00:29:09.28\00:29:12.61
And if you've got to
use some negative examples,
00:29:12.65\00:29:15.98
it's usually
best to use yourself
00:29:16.02\00:29:19.52
rather than someone else.
00:29:19.55\00:29:20.89
Unless it's somebody anonymous,
who lives 5000 miles away,
00:29:20.92\00:29:24.56
don't use
somebody in your own church
00:29:24.59\00:29:26.33
or in your own city.
00:29:26.36\00:29:28.33
And one of the reasons
that would be important is,
00:29:28.36\00:29:31.50
I know when I've
spoken at workers' meetings,
00:29:31.53\00:29:34.70
people seem to relate a lot more
00:29:34.74\00:29:38.21
when you're
willing to be transparent,
00:29:38.24\00:29:40.71
and share your own failures.
00:29:40.74\00:29:43.04
They relate to that more
than someone standing up front
00:29:43.08\00:29:46.55
talking about
all their successes.
00:29:46.58\00:29:48.88
Now, there's nothing
wrong with talking about
00:29:48.92\00:29:50.42
some success as an example,
00:29:50.45\00:29:52.65
but be willing to be transparent
00:29:52.69\00:29:54.49
and talk about your failures
00:29:54.52\00:29:56.26
so that people
can relate to you.
00:29:56.29\00:29:58.99
Now I'm not saying, you know,
00:29:59.03\00:30:00.80
pour out super secret
things from the pulpit.
00:30:00.83\00:30:03.67
There's some things
only between you and God.
00:30:03.70\00:30:07.17
But those things
that are appropriate,
00:30:07.20\00:30:09.00
be willing to be transparent,
be positive and smile.
00:30:09.04\00:30:13.11
It communicates a lot.
00:30:13.14\00:30:16.71
The other thing and
this is not on the screen.
00:30:16.75\00:30:19.61
Don't lean over
the pulpit you know,
00:30:19.65\00:30:21.72
like this and look like
you're relaxing, you know,
00:30:21.75\00:30:24.65
like a Roman God on the
couch or something, you know,
00:30:24.69\00:30:27.66
feeding yourself
grapes, you, you know,
00:30:27.69\00:30:29.82
stand erect and speak to people.
00:30:29.86\00:30:32.79
You know, sometimes
people go like this,
00:30:32.83\00:30:34.63
but that's a far cry
from, you know, being like this,
00:30:34.66\00:30:38.47
that communicates
00:30:38.50\00:30:39.87
that you're not
really interested
00:30:39.90\00:30:41.67
in what you're saying.
00:30:41.70\00:30:43.91
Another thing to remember,
00:30:43.94\00:30:45.34
and this is a pet peeve of mine,
00:30:45.37\00:30:47.38
I cannot stand to
see people do this.
00:30:47.41\00:30:50.45
Do not
apologize for your sermon.
00:30:50.48\00:30:54.38
Have you ever seen
somebody get up and say,
00:30:54.42\00:30:57.82
"Well, folks, I'm
going to try here,
00:30:57.85\00:30:59.69
but my week was pretty
busy, and I didn't do my best.
00:30:59.72\00:31:02.59
So thank you for
putting up with me.
00:31:02.62\00:31:04.46
Hopefully this
sermon, you'll be able to get
00:31:04.49\00:31:05.99
something out of it."
00:31:06.03\00:31:07.86
Now, as soon as
they have said that,
00:31:07.90\00:31:09.23
what have they
communicated to you?
00:31:09.26\00:31:13.13
This sermon isn't
worth listening to.
00:31:13.17\00:31:15.64
This is inferior.
00:31:15.67\00:31:17.01
So if you don't
listen and fall asleep,
00:31:17.04\00:31:18.87
I can understand
that, don't worry about it.
00:31:18.91\00:31:21.51
If someone started
their sermon that way,
00:31:21.54\00:31:23.98
I'm probably gone.
00:31:24.01\00:31:25.51
They've already told
me, this isn't important.
00:31:25.55\00:31:28.12
So even if you're
not feeling confident,
00:31:28.15\00:31:30.89
you don't have
to tell people that.
00:31:30.92\00:31:33.36
Even if you got called
on Friday night at midnight
00:31:33.39\00:31:36.26
and found out the
guest speaker is sick,
00:31:36.29\00:31:39.49
or couldn't make it
because of a tornado warning
00:31:39.53\00:31:41.70
or something,
00:31:41.73\00:31:43.10
you don't have to
tell the congregation that.
00:31:43.13\00:31:45.93
Just get up and do your best.
00:31:45.97\00:31:49.14
Don't apologize
right from the beginning
00:31:49.17\00:31:52.01
and start off
on a negative note.
00:31:52.04\00:31:55.44
I remember one
preacher taught me that,
00:31:55.48\00:31:57.15
I don't remember who it was,
but I've never forgotten it.
00:31:57.18\00:32:00.52
Now that makes sense.
Could you say amen to that?
00:32:00.55\00:32:03.89
Never apologize.
00:32:03.92\00:32:05.62
If God has called
you to do something,
00:32:05.65\00:32:07.62
and circumstances met,
00:32:07.66\00:32:08.99
you couldn't spend
as much time in it.
00:32:09.02\00:32:10.96
You don't have to
tell the audience that.
00:32:10.99\00:32:12.99
Sometimes God, not sometimes
God will take our weakness.
00:32:13.03\00:32:17.40
And He can make it a strength
00:32:17.43\00:32:19.00
only by His glory and His power.
00:32:19.03\00:32:22.54
Another thing is make
eye contact with people.
00:32:22.57\00:32:25.97
Don't, you know, look around,
00:32:26.01\00:32:27.58
up at the ceiling and
down or just, you know,
00:32:27.61\00:32:29.78
be looking at your
paper, look at people!
00:32:29.81\00:32:32.68
Make a connection with them.
00:32:32.71\00:32:34.55
So that even though
00:32:34.58\00:32:35.92
you're talking to
a whole congregation,
00:32:35.95\00:32:37.49
it feels a
little bit more personal
00:32:37.52\00:32:38.85
when you look at them.
00:32:38.89\00:32:40.32
Now I'm not saying stare
at one person the whole time.
00:32:40.36\00:32:42.92
And that's going
to make them nervous.
00:32:42.96\00:32:44.29
They're going
to think, you know,
00:32:44.33\00:32:45.66
you're preaching right at them.
00:32:45.69\00:32:47.03
But you know, look at this
side and look at this side,
00:32:47.06\00:32:49.76
and look at this side.
00:32:49.80\00:32:51.80
And sometimes you
got to be aware of that
00:32:51.83\00:32:53.44
because people have told
me and Marquita has told me,
00:32:53.47\00:32:56.54
I tend to look to the right,
00:32:56.57\00:32:59.21
a lot more than I do the
left because I'm right handed.
00:32:59.24\00:33:02.48
And so they've said
00:33:02.51\00:33:03.85
you're neglecting the left side.
00:33:03.88\00:33:05.21
I've actually had people
00:33:05.25\00:33:06.58
listening to
the sermon say that.
00:33:06.61\00:33:08.15
So don't think they don't notice
00:33:08.18\00:33:09.68
because they do.
00:33:09.72\00:33:11.59
So make eye contact with people.
00:33:11.62\00:33:14.16
In fact, that actually
helps to keep them awake
00:33:14.19\00:33:16.62
when you do that,
because if they know that
00:33:16.66\00:33:18.63
you're looking around,
00:33:18.66\00:33:20.03
they are less
likely to fall asleep.
00:33:20.06\00:33:24.43
There was one church I
had when I was first a pastor.
00:33:24.47\00:33:29.04
And there was an elder
who almost always fell asleep
00:33:29.07\00:33:32.81
during my sermons every Sabbath,
00:33:32.84\00:33:34.54
and it really irritated me.
00:33:34.58\00:33:37.21
And I'd be standing up front,
I'd be seen him falling asleep,
00:33:37.25\00:33:39.91
and I would let it distract me
00:33:39.95\00:33:41.38
to the point where
it was bothering me.
00:33:41.42\00:33:43.72
You know, and I would think,
you know, I'm not Mark Finley,
00:33:43.75\00:33:47.46
but I know I'm not that boring.
00:33:47.49\00:33:49.52
You know, and I just
wanted to, you know, do that.
00:33:49.56\00:33:52.99
But he worked at a hospital
and sometimes probably late
00:33:53.03\00:33:57.23
I had to understand that.
00:33:57.27\00:33:58.80
But if there are
people that fall asleep,
00:33:58.83\00:34:01.27
don't take it personally
'cause I'm going to tell you,
00:34:01.30\00:34:03.91
that will happen
in every congregation.
00:34:03.94\00:34:07.74
Human nature
wants to focus on it,
00:34:07.78\00:34:10.05
because it's kind of like a dig,
00:34:10.08\00:34:12.51
you know, at our sermon,
00:34:12.55\00:34:13.88
it's a dig on
whether we're a good speaker,
00:34:13.92\00:34:15.38
that's how we take it.
00:34:15.42\00:34:16.75
That's how I took it.
00:34:16.79\00:34:18.12
You know, when I
was first in ministry.
00:34:18.15\00:34:19.79
Don't focus on the
person falling asleep,
00:34:19.82\00:34:22.09
focus on the other 95%
00:34:22.12\00:34:23.96
who are listening to your sermon
00:34:23.99\00:34:25.83
and looking for
something positive.
00:34:25.86\00:34:29.56
In fact, what I have learned is,
00:34:29.60\00:34:32.03
even those people that
look like they're sleeping,
00:34:32.07\00:34:35.47
they might not
actually be sleeping.
00:34:35.50\00:34:38.07
They're actually
listening intently,
00:34:38.11\00:34:40.81
they just don't
want you to know it.
00:34:40.84\00:34:44.31
I'm serious when I say that.
00:34:44.35\00:34:46.21
So don't focus on those
who aren't paying attention
00:34:46.25\00:34:48.55
because for every
person that's not,
00:34:48.58\00:34:50.22
there's 10
other people that are.
00:34:50.25\00:34:53.32
Also, keep your sermon
short and to the point.
00:34:53.36\00:34:57.66
Now, we'll ignore the
fact that we're doing this
00:34:57.69\00:34:59.29
three hour
seminar all in one shot,
00:34:59.33\00:35:01.70
but keep it
short into the point.
00:35:01.73\00:35:04.07
Even in, I've
heard in colleges today
00:35:04.10\00:35:06.23
they're
teaching young ministers,
00:35:06.27\00:35:08.54
you know, 20 minutes or less.
00:35:08.57\00:35:10.57
But that's probably
never going to work for me
00:35:10.61\00:35:11.94
because I'm an evangelist.
00:35:11.97\00:35:13.31
So 20 minutes
ain't gonna happen.
00:35:13.34\00:35:14.84
But you know, you
don't have to go an hour
00:35:14.88\00:35:17.15
if you can say it
all in 30 minutes.
00:35:17.18\00:35:20.72
The only exception to
that is probably going to be
00:35:20.75\00:35:23.42
evangelistic sermons.
00:35:23.45\00:35:24.79
You know why that is?
00:35:24.82\00:35:26.15
Most evangelistic
sermons are how long?
00:35:26.19\00:35:29.29
They're about an
hour. And you know why?
00:35:29.32\00:35:32.06
It's because the people
who are coming are coming
00:35:32.09\00:35:35.03
from other
places, other cultures.
00:35:35.06\00:35:37.03
They haven't heard
these things before,
00:35:37.07\00:35:39.13
and they're excited about it.
00:35:39.17\00:35:41.00
They could stay
all night many times
00:35:41.04\00:35:43.04
that they will say
because Daniel and Revelation
00:35:43.07\00:35:45.71
and all these
truths are new to them.
00:35:45.74\00:35:47.78
The people who get
bored after 20 minutes
00:35:47.81\00:35:49.58
I hate to say are
usually the church members
00:35:49.61\00:35:52.25
because they think that
they've heard this all before.
00:35:52.28\00:35:55.45
So this doesn't apply
00:35:55.48\00:35:56.89
to evangelistic
meetings necessarily,
00:35:56.92\00:35:59.35
but for 11 am Sabbath
morning or whenever it is.
00:35:59.39\00:36:02.56
Keep it short, to the point.
00:36:02.59\00:36:04.69
If you can say it in 30 minutes,
00:36:04.73\00:36:06.66
you don't have to
stretch it for an hour.
00:36:06.70\00:36:10.67
Now here are some ways to
get your audience involved.
00:36:10.70\00:36:13.60
And you've probably
seen me do this today.
00:36:13.64\00:36:16.54
Getting your audience
involved, keeps them awake,
00:36:16.57\00:36:20.14
interacts with them,
00:36:20.18\00:36:21.81
keeps them from
falling to sleep,
00:36:21.84\00:36:23.21
you can ask them
to raise your hand,
00:36:23.24\00:36:24.85
kind of like I did today.
00:36:24.88\00:36:26.21
You know, how many of you
00:36:26.25\00:36:27.58
have ever been
to another country?
00:36:27.62\00:36:28.95
Could you raise your
hand some of you, you know,
00:36:28.98\00:36:30.32
raised your hand there.
00:36:30.35\00:36:31.69
You can ask them to
finish a sentence you know,
00:36:31.72\00:36:34.19
in your sermon that
something well known.
00:36:34.22\00:36:36.59
Invite them to look
up the texts with you.
00:36:36.62\00:36:39.56
When you're reading the text,
00:36:39.59\00:36:41.16
invite them to fill
in some of the blanks,
00:36:41.20\00:36:44.10
so it encourages them
to follow along, you know,
00:36:44.13\00:36:47.50
for God so loved
the world or, you know,
00:36:47.54\00:36:51.67
whatever you're reading,
let them fill in the bank,
00:36:51.71\00:36:54.94
keeps them interactive,
00:36:54.98\00:36:56.85
and it's okay to
ask them questions.
00:36:56.88\00:36:58.98
Now you may not
hear what they say,
00:36:59.01\00:37:01.05
but there will be
some people who respond.
00:37:01.08\00:37:03.08
And you want
that because you know,
00:37:03.12\00:37:05.55
they're
listening and believe me,
00:37:05.59\00:37:08.69
when a speaker knows
00:37:08.72\00:37:10.43
his congregation is into it,
it really energizes him or her.
00:37:10.46\00:37:16.36
I have been in churches
00:37:16.40\00:37:18.23
where you could hear a pin drop.
00:37:18.27\00:37:21.77
And no matter
what I did or said,
00:37:21.80\00:37:24.57
they would not respond.
00:37:24.61\00:37:27.68
And frankly,
that makes me nervous.
00:37:27.71\00:37:29.88
Because I wonder
well, what's going on here?
00:37:29.91\00:37:32.51
So when your
congregation's into it,
00:37:32.55\00:37:35.08
not only will it help
them, it will help you.
00:37:35.12\00:37:38.22
Now, some congregations,
00:37:38.25\00:37:39.59
you're going to
have to coax them
00:37:39.62\00:37:40.96
a little bit to get into it.
00:37:40.99\00:37:42.32
If their culture
is one of being quiet,
00:37:42.36\00:37:44.36
they're not going
to be used to this.
00:37:44.39\00:37:46.36
Now, this is going to depend
a lot on ethnicity as well.
00:37:46.39\00:37:49.53
If you go to a predominantly
African-American church,
00:37:49.56\00:37:52.57
you don't have to
coax them to get involved.
00:37:52.60\00:37:54.60
They're already
going to be involved.
00:37:54.64\00:37:56.30
If you go to a Spanish
church, for the most part,
00:37:56.34\00:37:58.87
you don't have to coax
them, you know, to get involved,
00:37:58.91\00:38:01.54
and also some
parts of the Caribbean.
00:38:01.58\00:38:03.95
But every church is different.
00:38:03.98\00:38:05.78
If they seem quiet,
00:38:05.81\00:38:07.45
you're going to
have to do things
00:38:07.48\00:38:08.82
like what's on the screen there.
00:38:08.85\00:38:10.65
Or you can
invite them to say amen.
00:38:10.69\00:38:13.59
You know, you've heard
me make a point and say,
00:38:13.62\00:38:15.72
"Can somebody say amen tonight?"
00:38:15.76\00:38:17.63
People will say amen, you know,
00:38:17.66\00:38:19.09
"Can I get a
witness in the house?"
00:38:19.13\00:38:20.80
That's more an
African, you know,
00:38:20.83\00:38:22.16
African-American term.
00:38:22.20\00:38:23.60
Now, you're not want to do,
00:38:23.63\00:38:24.97
you don't want to
do that every minute.
00:38:25.00\00:38:26.33
You know, can you say amen,
00:38:26.37\00:38:27.70
can you say
amen, can you say amen.
00:38:27.74\00:38:29.07
That gets old after a while,
00:38:29.10\00:38:30.64
but at certain
points in the sermon,
00:38:30.67\00:38:32.51
follow some of these
things, get them involved,
00:38:32.54\00:38:35.61
don't be afraid
to ask questions.
00:38:35.64\00:38:38.51
You will love an
interactive audience.
00:38:38.55\00:38:43.18
Finally, at the end,
make a strong appeal.
00:38:43.22\00:38:48.72
And what I mean is
that don't be timid.
00:38:48.76\00:38:52.13
Don't make the appeal.
00:38:52.16\00:38:53.80
Well, if maybe
there's somebody here
00:38:53.83\00:38:56.03
this morning who is, you know,
00:38:56.06\00:38:58.03
might possibly think, you know,
00:38:58.07\00:39:00.17
giving their life to Jesus
or maybe might want to make a,
00:39:00.20\00:39:04.27
you know, commitment to Him.
00:39:04.31\00:39:06.61
I wonder if you just might
raise your hand at this point.
00:39:06.64\00:39:09.74
Or maybe you
consider coming forward
00:39:09.78\00:39:11.85
during the closing song.
00:39:11.88\00:39:13.95
Does that sound
like a strong appeal?
00:39:13.98\00:39:16.18
No.
00:39:16.22\00:39:17.55
Talk like you expect
people to make a decision.
00:39:17.59\00:39:21.79
The great preacher,
Charles Finney, a student,
00:39:21.82\00:39:25.16
a young preacher
once asked him and said,
00:39:25.19\00:39:27.33
"Pastor Finney, I
don't get decisions
00:39:27.36\00:39:30.67
on a lot of my
sermons in meetings.
00:39:30.70\00:39:33.20
How is it that you
get so many decisions
00:39:33.23\00:39:35.64
when you preach?"
00:39:35.67\00:39:37.47
And Pastor Finney
looked at him and said,
00:39:37.51\00:39:39.81
"Young man, you don't
expect to get decisions
00:39:39.84\00:39:43.35
every time you preach, do you?"
00:39:43.38\00:39:47.08
And the students said,
the young preacher said,
00:39:47.12\00:39:49.58
"Well, no, I don't expect people
00:39:49.62\00:39:51.15
to make decisions every time."
00:39:51.19\00:39:53.99
And the pastor said,
"That's your problem.
00:39:54.02\00:39:56.83
You don't expect
people to make decisions
00:39:56.86\00:39:59.93
every time you preach."
00:39:59.96\00:40:02.80
Go with an expectancy,
if you've prayed that
00:40:02.83\00:40:06.53
there's one person
that will be affected,
00:40:06.57\00:40:09.24
trust God to do it.
00:40:09.27\00:40:11.41
Make a strong
appeal, do not be timid.
00:40:11.44\00:40:16.48
Martin Luther King Jr. did this
and he was a preacher as well.
00:40:16.51\00:40:20.78
Even during the
Civil Rights Movement,
00:40:20.82\00:40:22.38
he made strong appeals,
even though the subjects
00:40:22.42\00:40:25.82
he talked about at his
time were sensitive subjects.
00:40:25.85\00:40:30.19
We're working for God.
Make that strong appeal.
00:40:30.23\00:40:34.26
Don't be ashamed on
what you're talking about.
00:40:34.30\00:40:38.10
Let me share a
couple quotes with you
00:40:38.13\00:40:39.57
before we end this
particular session.
00:40:39.60\00:40:42.70
In the Desire of
Ages, page 250, it says,
00:40:42.74\00:40:46.21
"There is no limit to
the usefulness of one,
00:40:46.24\00:40:49.34
who putting
self aside makes room
00:40:49.38\00:40:52.55
for the working
of the Holy Spirit
00:40:52.58\00:40:54.75
upon his heart
00:40:54.78\00:40:56.35
and lives a life
holy consecrated to God."
00:40:56.38\00:41:01.22
Doesn't matter whether
you're man, woman, child,
00:41:01.26\00:41:05.69
the promise says, the
person who puts self aside,
00:41:05.73\00:41:09.90
regardless of whether
they've been to seminary,
00:41:09.93\00:41:12.27
regardless of what the
educational attainments
00:41:12.30\00:41:14.47
have been, if
they put self aside,
00:41:14.50\00:41:17.41
there is no
limit to the usefulness
00:41:17.44\00:41:22.34
of how God can use that person.
00:41:22.38\00:41:25.61
All right, let's go
to session number five.
00:41:29.48\00:41:32.19
And we're going to talk about
the different types of appeals
00:41:32.22\00:41:35.32
that you can make
00:41:35.36\00:41:36.86
when you're presenting a sermon.
00:41:36.89\00:41:39.39
So let's look at a
few of these options.
00:41:39.43\00:41:42.66
The first option is
one that's very easy to do.
00:41:42.70\00:41:46.03
Most people have seen this,
that's the raising of hands
00:41:46.07\00:41:49.37
or asking people to stand
00:41:49.40\00:41:51.07
and that's a
very general appeal.
00:41:51.11\00:41:53.48
Most people can do
it pretty comfortably.
00:41:53.51\00:41:56.75
And if you're
working with a church
00:41:56.78\00:41:58.41
or maybe you're doing
an evangelistic series,
00:41:58.45\00:42:00.42
this is a good one to start
with to get people comfortable
00:42:00.45\00:42:04.32
with making a decision.
00:42:04.35\00:42:06.52
Because usually if
you say to a congregation,
00:42:06.55\00:42:09.22
"If you would like
to say, Lord Jesus,
00:42:09.26\00:42:11.63
I want You to come one day soon
and save me in Your kingdom.
00:42:11.66\00:42:15.36
Would you like
to raise your hand
00:42:15.40\00:42:16.73
as we pray?"
00:42:16.77\00:42:18.10
How many people are
going to raise their hand?
00:42:18.13\00:42:19.97
Almost everybody.
00:42:20.00\00:42:21.67
And even if
someone doesn't want to,
00:42:21.70\00:42:23.61
or if you're asking them
to stand a lot of people,
00:42:23.64\00:42:27.54
oh, I don't want
to look like a pagan.
00:42:27.58\00:42:28.91
I guess I better
stand up, you know,
00:42:28.94\00:42:31.01
but God knows who are
standing for genuine reasons.
00:42:31.05\00:42:35.28
And it's still an appeal.
00:42:35.32\00:42:37.22
It's still asking
people to make a decision.
00:42:37.25\00:42:40.72
Now, that's an easy one to use.
00:42:40.76\00:42:42.76
You might want
to start with that.
00:42:42.79\00:42:45.59
Another option, one
that is not used very often,
00:42:45.63\00:42:49.80
maybe a time of
silent prayer in the pew.
00:42:49.83\00:42:53.64
Now that's a general
appeal and that can be used more
00:42:53.67\00:42:58.44
when you're asking people
to make a private decision,
00:42:58.47\00:43:01.91
or you're talking
about sensitive subjects.
00:43:01.94\00:43:05.41
Like for example,
suppose you preached
00:43:05.45\00:43:07.85
a sermon on forgiveness.
00:43:07.88\00:43:10.59
How do you think it
would work to make an appeal,
00:43:10.62\00:43:13.96
or an altar call that
would go something like this?
00:43:13.99\00:43:17.73
"Today, you've heard
00:43:17.76\00:43:19.09
what God's Word
has said about being
00:43:19.13\00:43:20.96
willing to humble our
hearts and to forgive others.
00:43:21.00\00:43:24.20
And maybe there's
someone here today
00:43:24.23\00:43:26.00
where you've had hardness
in your heart for years,
00:43:26.03\00:43:29.00
you held
something against someone
00:43:29.04\00:43:30.81
who's hurt you
and done you wrong.
00:43:30.84\00:43:33.07
And today, you
would like to say,
00:43:33.11\00:43:34.64
'Lord Jesus, I'm asking
you to take this bitterness,
00:43:34.68\00:43:37.18
take this
hatred out of my heart,
00:43:37.21\00:43:39.15
and teach me to forgive.
00:43:39.18\00:43:40.62
I don't want to give the
devil a foothold anymore.'"
00:43:40.65\00:43:43.65
If you'd like to make
that decision today and say,
00:43:43.69\00:43:46.09
"Lord, take the
hatred out of my heart.
00:43:46.12\00:43:48.12
I'd like to invite
you to come forward
00:43:48.16\00:43:50.09
as we sing our closing song."
00:43:50.13\00:43:52.49
How well you think
that's going to work out?
00:43:52.53\00:43:54.66
How many people you think
are going to come forward?
00:43:54.70\00:43:57.23
Probably nobody.
00:43:57.27\00:43:58.97
The only place that may work
00:43:59.00\00:44:00.47
is if you were
talking in a conference
00:44:00.50\00:44:04.21
where people have
learned not to forgive,
00:44:04.24\00:44:06.88
and everybody's
in the same boat.
00:44:06.91\00:44:08.54
But you could do
something like this.
00:44:08.58\00:44:12.51
"Maybe in your
heart, you're struggling
00:44:12.55\00:44:14.42
because there's
someone that's hurt you.
00:44:14.45\00:44:17.42
There's someone that's
just devastated your life.
00:44:17.45\00:44:20.69
And you found it
very hard to forgive.
00:44:20.72\00:44:23.56
You found that that bitterness
has been affecting you.
00:44:23.59\00:44:26.46
And today, you just want to say,
00:44:26.49\00:44:27.83
Lord, please help
me to forgive, please,
00:44:27.86\00:44:30.73
by Your power help me to let go.
00:44:30.77\00:44:34.10
Just now I want to invite
00:44:34.14\00:44:35.47
the organist to
play just for a minute
00:44:35.50\00:44:37.11
or two and just where you are,
00:44:37.14\00:44:38.64
I would invite
you to bow your heads
00:44:38.67\00:44:40.11
and talk to God about
what you've heard today.
00:44:40.14\00:44:42.84
And if God brings
someone's name to your mind,
00:44:42.88\00:44:45.18
if you're
struggling with someone,
00:44:45.21\00:44:47.28
talk to God about it.
00:44:47.32\00:44:48.85
And in the quietness, ask Him,
what He would have you to do.
00:44:48.88\00:44:54.49
That would probably
be more appropriate.
00:44:54.52\00:44:56.62
Are you asking
to make a decision?
00:44:56.66\00:44:59.06
You are and it's
an important decision.
00:44:59.09\00:45:01.23
The difference here is you
may not know about the decision
00:45:01.26\00:45:03.83
that they're making.
00:45:03.87\00:45:05.30
But the speaker doesn't have
00:45:05.33\00:45:06.67
to know about
every single decision
00:45:06.70\00:45:08.74
if it involves
very private things.
00:45:08.77\00:45:11.51
That's not one
that we use very often,
00:45:11.54\00:45:14.21
but it is available.
00:45:14.24\00:45:16.54
Another one is the altar call.
00:45:16.58\00:45:19.15
Now, that's a
big step of action.
00:45:19.18\00:45:21.68
Because that means getting
out of your seat, standing up,
00:45:21.72\00:45:25.65
walking up front,
00:45:25.69\00:45:27.02
while people are looking at you.
00:45:27.06\00:45:29.06
That is harder to
do for some people.
00:45:29.09\00:45:32.26
But it really
deepens a person's decision.
00:45:32.29\00:45:35.23
Because to be able
to take that action
00:45:35.26\00:45:38.50
on a decision that's
being made in the heart
00:45:38.53\00:45:41.04
strengthens it.
00:45:41.07\00:45:43.14
In fact, I like it because
00:45:43.17\00:45:45.51
sometimes when folks
see others coming forward,
00:45:45.54\00:45:49.08
it plants a seed in their heart,
00:45:49.11\00:45:51.11
and it encourages
them to do the same thing.
00:45:51.15\00:45:54.78
Now the temptation that
will happen here is this
00:45:54.82\00:45:57.85
'cause it's
happened to me many a time.
00:45:57.89\00:46:01.22
The first thought that
will go through our mind is,
00:46:01.26\00:46:04.26
what if nobody comes forward?
00:46:04.29\00:46:07.23
What if no one
comes forward on the call
00:46:07.26\00:46:09.20
and I stand up here by
myself looking like a fool?
00:46:09.23\00:46:12.73
I don't want to look
like that. I've done that.
00:46:12.77\00:46:16.10
When I was afraid that
people might not come forward.
00:46:16.14\00:46:19.37
And I didn't want to look bad.
00:46:19.41\00:46:21.24
I didn't make the call
when I sensed God's Spirit
00:46:21.28\00:46:24.91
telling me that I should.
00:46:24.95\00:46:27.52
And what was the entire reason?
00:46:27.55\00:46:29.58
The entire reason was self
00:46:29.62\00:46:31.52
'cause I worried about
how I was going to look.
00:46:31.55\00:46:35.32
And I can assure you
00:46:35.36\00:46:36.69
one of the worst
feelings in the world
00:46:36.73\00:46:39.49
is to know that
00:46:39.53\00:46:40.86
you should have made
a call and you didn't.
00:46:40.90\00:46:43.67
That feels 10 times worse than
00:46:43.70\00:46:46.00
making a call and
no one comes forward.
00:46:46.03\00:46:49.44
Especially when someone comes
after you afterwards and says,
00:46:49.47\00:46:53.24
"I wish you
would have made a call
00:46:53.27\00:46:54.71
because I was
ready to come forward."
00:46:54.74\00:46:57.25
You feel about that small.
00:46:57.28\00:46:59.88
I would rather make a call
and have no one come forward
00:46:59.91\00:47:04.09
than to not make one,
00:47:04.12\00:47:05.85
and someone
missed an opportunity.
00:47:05.89\00:47:09.12
Now, I'll tell you what
I do on an altar call that
00:47:09.16\00:47:11.09
might make it a
little easier for you.
00:47:11.13\00:47:13.29
There's a reason
I do it this way.
00:47:13.33\00:47:15.20
Did you notice
this morning at 11 am
00:47:15.23\00:47:17.77
when I made the call,
00:47:17.80\00:47:19.80
I invited people to come forward
00:47:19.83\00:47:22.57
while we were
singing the closing song.
00:47:22.60\00:47:25.97
You know why I did it that way.
00:47:26.01\00:47:28.98
You don't have
to do it this way,
00:47:29.01\00:47:30.35
but this is why I do.
00:47:30.38\00:47:31.71
Number one, it
makes me more comfortable.
00:47:31.75\00:47:33.52
Because they're
already standing up
00:47:33.55\00:47:36.15
to sing the closing song.
00:47:36.18\00:47:37.79
So when they're
standing up, right,
00:47:37.82\00:47:39.15
there is half the battle.
00:47:39.19\00:47:41.12
The other reason
is, it gives me a chance
00:47:41.16\00:47:43.32
to step down where
they are and meet them.
00:47:43.36\00:47:47.50
And I don't have to
figure out what else to say.
00:47:47.53\00:47:49.96
We're singing the closing song.
00:47:50.00\00:47:52.10
So I don't have to talk
00:47:52.13\00:47:53.47
for another five
minutes trying to say
00:47:53.50\00:47:55.07
the same thing
in different words,
00:47:55.10\00:47:57.67
because you know,
you've seen some preachers
00:47:57.71\00:47:59.57
and in some
cultures, it's perfectly fine.
00:47:59.61\00:48:02.04
They'll come down,
and they'll make an appeal
00:48:02.08\00:48:04.18
for another 20 minutes.
00:48:04.21\00:48:05.81
And they'll keep talking
until you do come forward.
00:48:05.85\00:48:08.75
Now, you know in
other cultures that's fine.
00:48:08.78\00:48:11.79
Usually in the
Caucasian culture,
00:48:11.82\00:48:13.49
they don't
particularly appreciate that.
00:48:13.52\00:48:15.59
So I like to do it
during the closing song
00:48:15.62\00:48:18.46
so I don't have to
think of other things to say,
00:48:18.49\00:48:20.63
I can simply come down,
00:48:20.66\00:48:22.36
pray silently and
watch as God works.
00:48:22.40\00:48:25.83
That's what
makes me comfortable,
00:48:25.87\00:48:27.80
you might find that
it works for you as well.
00:48:27.84\00:48:32.04
Decision cards.
00:48:32.07\00:48:34.54
Decision cards is also
a major step of action,
00:48:34.58\00:48:37.98
because it gives people
a chance to fill out a card
00:48:38.01\00:48:41.62
who may not come
forward in a public call,
00:48:41.65\00:48:44.42
so it's a little
bit more private.
00:48:44.45\00:48:46.79
And so you're
able to take a card
00:48:46.82\00:48:49.99
and review it with your audience
00:48:50.03\00:48:52.43
or your congregation.
00:48:52.46\00:48:54.23
But when you do that,
make sure that you explain
00:48:54.26\00:48:58.03
what you want them
to do with the card.
00:48:58.07\00:49:01.34
Where are they
supposed to hand it in?
00:49:01.37\00:49:03.24
Are they going to
be deacons at the door?
00:49:03.27\00:49:05.31
Is there a box in the lobby?
00:49:05.34\00:49:07.51
Or deacons going to come
down the aisle and collect it?
00:49:07.54\00:49:10.65
Do you have a box up front
00:49:10.68\00:49:12.01
where you want to
invite them to come forward
00:49:12.05\00:49:13.88
during the
closing song and hand it
00:49:13.92\00:49:15.68
and be clear of
what you want them
00:49:15.72\00:49:17.99
to do with that decision card.
00:49:18.02\00:49:20.92
If you choose to make
your own decision card,
00:49:20.96\00:49:24.89
then it might look
something like this.
00:49:24.93\00:49:26.80
Each line has a purpose.
00:49:26.83\00:49:29.76
The first line is
simply asking the question.
00:49:29.80\00:49:33.27
Is this clear to you?
00:49:33.30\00:49:35.07
It's making an
intellectual decision
00:49:35.10\00:49:37.27
because people
don't make choices
00:49:37.31\00:49:39.67
about things that
are unclear to them.
00:49:39.71\00:49:42.48
So the first line
is, is this clear?
00:49:42.51\00:49:44.78
The second line
is you're asking them
00:49:44.81\00:49:46.61
to take a half a
step in the decision
00:49:46.65\00:49:49.75
maybe like a baby step.
00:49:49.78\00:49:51.79
The third line is
asking for the full commitment.
00:49:51.82\00:49:55.32
The fourth line is where
00:49:55.36\00:49:56.99
they're
requesting extra material
00:49:57.03\00:49:59.26
or they would like a
personal visit to ask.
00:49:59.29\00:50:03.26
So it might look like
this on a Sabbath card,
00:50:03.30\00:50:05.63
the first part?
00:50:05.67\00:50:07.24
Is it clear to me?
00:50:07.27\00:50:08.80
Or it is clear to me that
00:50:08.84\00:50:10.27
the seventh day Sabbath
is an important Bible truth?
00:50:10.31\00:50:13.78
You're asking, is it clear?
00:50:13.81\00:50:15.91
Is it intellectually
clear in their minds?
00:50:15.94\00:50:17.75
That's just simply,
you know, asking them that.
00:50:17.78\00:50:21.48
The second one, you're
asking for a half a step.
00:50:21.52\00:50:24.75
I choose that I want to
follow Jesus in my life,
00:50:24.79\00:50:27.22
you're not asking
them to keep the Sabbath.
00:50:27.26\00:50:29.06
I want to follow
Jesus in my life,
00:50:29.09\00:50:30.43
that's half step.
00:50:30.46\00:50:31.79
The third line, I
choose to follow Jesus
00:50:31.83\00:50:34.66
by honoring His
seventh day Sabbath,
00:50:34.70\00:50:37.17
that's where you asked
for the full commitment.
00:50:37.20\00:50:39.47
And then number
four, I have some questions
00:50:39.50\00:50:42.40
and I would like
a personal visit.
00:50:42.44\00:50:44.87
This is where people
have a chance to say,
00:50:44.91\00:50:47.11
I didn't quite understand it,
but I'd like to talk about it.
00:50:47.14\00:50:50.71
And so when
people hand cards in,
00:50:50.75\00:50:53.01
this is a sacred trust.
00:50:53.05\00:50:55.38
Always follow up
on decision cards
00:50:55.42\00:50:59.25
that had been handed in.
00:50:59.29\00:51:00.89
People fill them
out for a reason.
00:51:00.92\00:51:03.96
And if you wait two weeks,
00:51:03.99\00:51:06.73
the conviction might be gone.
00:51:06.76\00:51:10.17
In fact, I see nothing wrong
00:51:10.20\00:51:12.40
with a church having
decision cards in their pews.
00:51:12.43\00:51:15.44
And you can use
them every Sabbath
00:51:15.47\00:51:16.94
as their general decision cards,
00:51:16.97\00:51:19.24
and they may kind of look like
what you have on the screen,
00:51:19.27\00:51:22.28
where they're
generic, and you ask,
00:51:22.31\00:51:25.01
the subject we
studied today is clear to me.
00:51:25.05\00:51:28.42
I am choosing to
follow Jesus in this matter.
00:51:28.45\00:51:31.49
I would like prayer
concerning this matter.
00:51:31.52\00:51:34.42
There are some
obstacles in my life
00:51:34.46\00:51:36.06
and I would like
to talk to someone
00:51:36.09\00:51:38.06
or I would like to
prepare for baptism.
00:51:38.09\00:51:40.20
That's a card you can use
00:51:40.23\00:51:41.76
with any subject
that you study on
00:51:41.80\00:51:43.87
any Sabbath
morning, if you choose to.
00:51:43.90\00:51:46.30
So if the speaker decides to
make a call at the last minute,
00:51:46.33\00:51:49.90
he's already got those cards
in the pews to be able to use.
00:51:49.94\00:51:54.34
And after all,
shouldn't Sabbath morning
00:51:54.38\00:51:57.78
be like an
evangelistic series in a sense,
00:51:57.81\00:52:00.92
where we ask
people to make decisions.
00:52:00.95\00:52:05.15
Now let's start to wind it down
00:52:05.19\00:52:06.52
a little bit with these appeals.
00:52:06.55\00:52:09.09
When you make an appeal,
00:52:09.12\00:52:10.56
there's a few
things to remember.
00:52:10.59\00:52:12.76
Number one, be specific.
00:52:12.79\00:52:15.26
People have to understand
00:52:15.30\00:52:17.13
what decision are
you asking them to make?
00:52:17.17\00:52:20.34
You know, are you
asking them to be baptized?
00:52:20.37\00:52:22.84
Or are you asking them
00:52:22.87\00:52:24.21
to recommit
their lives to Jesus?
00:52:24.24\00:52:26.27
Or are you asking them
to be faithful in tithe?
00:52:26.31\00:52:28.78
Or are you asking
them to join the church?
00:52:28.81\00:52:31.01
Be specific,
because if people don't know
00:52:31.05\00:52:33.72
what you're asking,
00:52:33.75\00:52:35.38
they're not going
to make a decision.
00:52:35.42\00:52:38.49
Be positive in your appeal,
not negative and belittling.
00:52:38.52\00:52:42.56
You say, "What do
you mean by that?"
00:52:42.59\00:52:45.36
How do you think an
appeal like this would go over?
00:52:45.39\00:52:47.06
Let's say you've
preached a sermon on stewardship
00:52:47.10\00:52:49.56
and being faithful in tithe.
00:52:49.60\00:52:52.33
Maybe today as you've
heard what Jesus said about
00:52:52.37\00:52:55.44
being faithful
in our stewardship.
00:52:55.47\00:52:58.21
Maybe today you would
like to say, Lord Jesus,
00:52:58.24\00:53:01.74
help me not to be
selfish with my tithe anymore.
00:53:01.78\00:53:05.48
Lord, help me not to
keep these things for myself
00:53:05.51\00:53:08.45
and to just pile up
my material possessions,
00:53:08.48\00:53:10.92
Lord, lose my own eternal life,
00:53:10.95\00:53:12.95
Lord, help me to
make better decisions.
00:53:12.99\00:53:15.02
If that's your desire today,
00:53:15.06\00:53:16.39
would you raise
your hand as we pray?
00:53:16.42\00:53:19.29
How many responses do you
think you're going to get?
00:53:19.33\00:53:22.46
Not many.
00:53:22.50\00:53:23.83
Because what you've done is
you focused on the negative.
00:53:23.87\00:53:27.74
You always
focus on the positive.
00:53:27.77\00:53:31.81
Today, as you've heard
what Jesus has said about
00:53:31.84\00:53:34.18
stewardship that
everything belongs to Him.
00:53:34.21\00:53:37.21
If you would like
to say, Lord Jesus,
00:53:37.25\00:53:38.88
I acknowledge You as
the owner of everything.
00:53:38.91\00:53:41.92
I acknowledge You as the
Lord and leader in my life.
00:53:41.95\00:53:45.49
And, Lord, today I choose
00:53:45.52\00:53:47.12
that I want to return a
faithful tithe and I ask you,
00:53:47.16\00:53:49.76
Lord, to help me to be
faithful in all things.
00:53:49.79\00:53:52.79
If that's the
desire of your heart,
00:53:52.83\00:53:54.16
would you raise
your hands as we pray?
00:53:54.20\00:53:56.63
Is that appeal different? It is.
00:53:56.67\00:53:59.20
People make decisions by
focusing on the positive,
00:53:59.23\00:54:03.27
not by being
negative and belittling them.
00:54:03.30\00:54:06.81
Thirdly, make
sure they understand
00:54:06.84\00:54:10.15
what do you wanting them to do
00:54:10.18\00:54:11.51
when they come
forward or in this appeal?
00:54:11.55\00:54:14.02
Are they
supposed to come up front?
00:54:14.05\00:54:16.42
When are they
supposed to do this now
00:54:16.45\00:54:18.29
or during the closing song?
00:54:18.32\00:54:20.06
Are they supposed
to go on this side,
00:54:20.09\00:54:22.09
or they just
supposed to stand up?
00:54:22.12\00:54:23.83
Make sure you clearly explain
00:54:23.86\00:54:26.49
what it is you're
wanting them to do.
00:54:26.53\00:54:29.30
And you will have to repeat
the appeal two or three times.
00:54:29.33\00:54:33.17
Maybe not in the same words
00:54:33.20\00:54:34.67
because they might not have
understood it the first time.
00:54:34.70\00:54:37.81
So be willing to
repeat it so that it is clear.
00:54:37.84\00:54:42.04
I mean, if you're
going to spend time
00:54:42.08\00:54:43.41
making a 30 minute sermon,
00:54:43.45\00:54:45.28
you might as well spend
time being clear on the appeal
00:54:45.31\00:54:48.85
and on what you're
asking them to be able to do.
00:54:48.88\00:54:53.79
So later on,
00:54:53.82\00:54:55.16
as you look through the packets,
00:54:55.19\00:54:56.52
you're going to see
some examples of appeals
00:54:56.56\00:54:58.99
and you'll be able
to look through them
00:54:59.03\00:55:01.03
and read through them.
00:55:01.06\00:55:02.40
And I'm just going to
do one or two as an example
00:55:02.43\00:55:04.83
before we close
here this morning.
00:55:04.87\00:55:08.10
Say that you were going to do
00:55:08.14\00:55:09.47
an appeal for the
character of Jesus.
00:55:09.50\00:55:11.21
You've talked about
the fruit of the Spirit,
00:55:11.24\00:55:13.31
and how we're to be like Christ.
00:55:13.34\00:55:15.88
So your appeal might
go something like this,
00:55:15.91\00:55:19.31
as you see it on the
screen, you might say,
00:55:19.35\00:55:23.05
"Would you like others to
see the character of Jesus
00:55:23.08\00:55:25.79
in your life?
00:55:25.82\00:55:27.16
Would you like
to be more patient
00:55:27.19\00:55:28.59
and kind with others?
00:55:28.62\00:55:30.53
This morning, if
you would like to say,
00:55:30.56\00:55:32.99
Lord Jesus, make
me more like you.
00:55:33.03\00:55:36.30
Create in me a loving heart,
come into my life and, Lord,
00:55:36.33\00:55:40.00
just enable me to have the fruit
00:55:40.04\00:55:42.20
of the Spirit in my life.
00:55:42.24\00:55:44.37
If you'd like to ask
Jesus to do this for you,
00:55:44.41\00:55:47.18
then I'd like to
invite you to come forward
00:55:47.21\00:55:49.41
during our closing
song and just stand with me
00:55:49.44\00:55:52.38
here at the altar.
00:55:52.41\00:55:54.32
By coming forward,
you're not saying, Lord,
00:55:54.35\00:55:56.38
I'm perfect in this area.
00:55:56.42\00:55:58.42
You're simply saying, Jesus,
00:55:58.45\00:56:00.36
I'm asking You
to make me like You.
00:56:00.39\00:56:03.69
If that's your desire,
00:56:03.73\00:56:05.39
join me here in
front of the altar
00:56:05.43\00:56:08.06
when we start
singing our closing song.
00:56:08.10\00:56:11.63
That can be the
example of a simple appeal.
00:56:11.67\00:56:15.47
And one more, say
you're doing an appeal
00:56:15.50\00:56:18.37
for being a witness to Jesus.
00:56:18.41\00:56:22.08
Your appeal may go like this.
00:56:22.11\00:56:23.45
And notice I've
written it out for a reason.
00:56:23.48\00:56:25.78
You might say something
like, God is looking for people
00:56:25.81\00:56:29.28
who are willing to
say, "Here I am, Lord,
00:56:29.32\00:56:32.62
You can use me."
00:56:32.65\00:56:34.86
Would you like to
be used by Jesus today
00:56:34.89\00:56:37.59
this week to be able
to touch someone's heart?
00:56:37.63\00:56:40.83
Are you willing to tell God
00:56:40.86\00:56:42.20
that you are
available for service?
00:56:42.23\00:56:45.50
This morning, if
you can say, "Lord,
00:56:45.53\00:56:47.87
if there's someone in my life
00:56:47.90\00:56:49.40
who needs to
know the love of Jesus
00:56:49.44\00:56:51.24
this week, then I'm
giving You permission
00:56:51.27\00:56:53.84
to bring them across my path.
00:56:53.88\00:56:56.78
Lord, if You can use me,
I'm available for service."
00:56:56.81\00:57:01.52
It could be
someone in your family.
00:57:01.55\00:57:03.49
It could be
someone in your workplace.
00:57:03.52\00:57:05.62
It might be
someone at your school.
00:57:05.65\00:57:08.06
It might even be
a total stranger.
00:57:08.09\00:57:10.29
But if you are
ready to say, "Lord Jesus,
00:57:10.33\00:57:12.59
if someone needs Your
love, here I am, Lord,
00:57:12.63\00:57:16.20
I give You permission to
bring them across my path."
00:57:16.23\00:57:20.20
If that's your desire,
00:57:20.24\00:57:21.57
I invite you to raise your hand,
00:57:21.60\00:57:23.54
as we pray this
morning, or in this appeal,
00:57:23.57\00:57:27.14
it says to stand as we pray.
00:57:27.18\00:57:29.84
So these are some examples
you can look through that
00:57:29.88\00:57:32.31
in your notes.
00:57:32.35\00:57:33.92
And the thing that I
would like to leave with you
00:57:33.95\00:57:36.35
is this final slide.
00:57:36.38\00:57:38.75
In order to get decisions,
you must ask for that.
00:57:38.79\00:57:44.69
Don't just preach a
sermon and assume people
00:57:44.73\00:57:47.56
will take that
information and make a choice.
00:57:47.60\00:57:50.70
You have to
appeal to their hearts.
00:57:50.73\00:57:53.30
The only way you get decisions
is if you ask for that.
00:57:53.34\00:57:57.91
And if you write your appeal out
00:57:57.94\00:57:59.97
and you make it
strongly and boldly.
00:58:00.01\00:58:03.04
You don't have to be perfect.
00:58:03.08\00:58:05.25
You don't have to
say everything right.
00:58:05.28\00:58:07.48
But if you've
given it over to God,
00:58:07.52\00:58:09.02
I can guarantee you,
00:58:09.05\00:58:10.95
there will be
at least one person
00:58:10.99\00:58:12.79
in that congregation
00:58:12.82\00:58:15.09
whose heart and life
has been positively affected
00:58:15.12\00:58:18.53
by your appeal,
00:58:18.56\00:58:19.96
even if they never come forward,
00:58:20.00\00:58:21.86
even if it's
never visible to you,
00:58:21.90\00:58:24.10
someone's life will
be positively changed.
00:58:24.13\00:58:28.90
So ask for the
appeal, ask for decisions.
00:58:28.94\00:58:32.84