Monday Morning Preacher

How can pastors improve the tone of their preaching? In this episode, Matt Woodley and Dr. Hershael York, Senior Pastor at Buck Run Baptist Church set the record straight. He also serves as the Dean of Southern Seminary’s School of Theology. Tone can be communicated through your pace, pitch, volume, and even body language. Sometimes a person’s tone doesn’t match the content, of what they’d like to convey. And that’s often what can be harmful, in a conversation with a spouse, a friend – or in a sermon. Dr. York said “I always need to grow in delivery, passion and getting rid of verbal bridges. Those things are incredibly challenging for me, even after all of these years. I have much room to grow.” He warns pastors of preaching the emotion you feel, instead of the emotion of the Biblical text. “Your tone has to match the content of the text,” said Dr. York. Learn more about him on Southern Seminary's website: https://www.sbts.edu/dr-hershael-york-dean-of-the-school-of-theology/

How can preachers respond to a tense political climate? In this episode, Kevin Miller and Matt Woodley seek to find a way forward, after a divisive presidential election. More specifically, they delve into how pastors can disciple people in Christian citizenship and political engagement after the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Stewart Ruch, an Anglican bishop said “We, as those who treasure sacred symbols, decry the combination of holy and unholy symbols that were employed in ways that undermine the dignity of any human being.” Miller offers four steps pastors can take, to speak into politics – while maintaining a wise, Christian position: • Honor the many evangelical leaders who have spoken up. • Teach more specifically on “how to think about” politics. • Speak into the fears that created the feelings of “do-or-die urgency.” • Stop reading current political leaders into the Bible. Check out what was referenced on the podcast: Justin Gibony’s book "Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign's Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement" https://www.ivpress.com/compassion-conviction

Martin Luther said that “the ears are the organ of conversion.” How do you craft the right combination of words, so that it sticks in the minds and hearts of your listeners? The Rev. Canon David Roseberry, an Anglican pastor and executive director of the non-profit, LeaderWorks explores how to make sermons powerful with potent phrases, alongside Kevin Miller. Roseberry said “The turn of phrase – the idea of being able to sum up what you’re trying to say in a memorable phrase is really a skill that’s acquired and honed over time.” When he started preaching 30 years ago, he used manuscripts. Now Roseberry carefully crafts summary statements, a punchline that listeners can go home with. Sometimes they manifest themselves as puns, that reinforce a big idea from a particular passage of scripture. If you were summing up Jonah chapter three, you could say “you can run, but you cannot hide.” Learn more about his ministry at leaderworks.org: https://www.leaderworks.org/about

Charles H. Spurgeon, a Baptist minister from England (1834-1892) has a unique legacy as a preacher. His sermons “often contain subtle and bold references to Christ on the cross,” according to Thomas Breimaijer, author of Tethered to the Cross: The Life and Preaching of Charles H. Spurgeon. In this episode, Matt Woodley and Breimaier explore Spurgeon’s life and ministry. “His upbringing was very much steeped in this rural identity, which is interesting given that he’s known for his preaching in London at the Metropolitan Tabernacle which was the largest protestant church in the world,” Breimaijer said. He wrote his thesis “The Cross in the Tabernacle: Charles Haddon Spurgeon & Biblical Hermeneutics” while earning his PhD at the University of Edinburgh, which laid the groundwork for his new book, Tethered to the Cross. He argues that Spurgeon viewed the entire Bible through the lens of the cross of Christ. “He preached to thousands of people each week, and through his influence he started a college for pastors,” according to Breimaijer who is a Tutor of Systematic Theology and History at Spurgeon’s College in London, England. You can buy the book here: https://www.ivpress.com/tethered-to-the-cross

How do you preach on the genres of scripture? Matt Woodley and Ken J. Langley, Senior Pastor at Christ Community Church in Zion, Illinois explore this topic. He is also an Adjust Professor of Homiletics at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. They also discuss a few COVID-19 preaching challenges, like preaching to a camera in an empty room. Ken said “There are different types of literature. Some start once upon a time. Some start the White House issued a statement today. Some start with ‘thus says the Lord.’ He indicated that genre sensitivity in preaching would mean attentiveness to how different types (or forms of scripture) work.” When preaching on the Psalms, it’s important to honor the form, and the emotion of the text. Ken draws attention to “the poet’s agonized scream,” from a commentary on the Psalms. This shows how emotion should be prioritized over form, when exegeting some Biblical passages from the Psalms.

Are you preaching in a way that speaks to people, in their vocations? In this episode Matt Woodley talks to Steven Garber, author and Senior Fellow for Vocation and the Common Good for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. He’s also the author of "Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good." Matt and Steven explore how pastors can equip people, with their preaching for their everyday lives, and vocations as teachers, garbage men, doctors, and corporate executives. Steven shares the story of a retired, Wall Street CEO who felt slighted by the church “You know – I’ve been a faithful member of the church for a long time, and I’ve tried to be there regularly whenever I could be there to be part of the church’s life. I contributed to the church’s life in many ways, as I’ve been able to. I’ve never in my life heard a sermon where the preacher thought about somebody like me when he prepared his sermon.” Check out what was referenced on the podcast: • Steven Garber's book Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good. IVP, 2014. https://www.ivpress.com/visions-of-vocation • Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in The Age of Show Business. Penguin Books, 2006. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/297276/amusing-ourselves-to-death-by-neil-postman/ • Nicholas Karr’s book the Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. W.W Norton & Company, 2010. https://wwnorton.com/books/The-Shallows/

In this episode, co-hosts Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller explore the intricacies of sermon openings and why they’re so critical to getting your point across. Kevin said “The opening really matters, because we have to have people’s attention.” He cites an introduction from a sermon entitled “Yet I Will Praise Thee” from Jill Briscoe, international author and speaker. She posed the question “Have you ever asked God questions and felt you haven't received a good answer?” Jill's sermon opening is relatable, and as a result gets your attention. This episode will help you craft introductions that explain what your sermon is about, and why your listeners should care.

How can you maintain spiritual health as a pastor? Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller talk about difficult seasons in their life and ministry. Over the years, Matt learned the importance of examining his own spiritual health. Here are the questions he uses for his spiritual audit: 1) Am I receiving God’s word with meekness? 2) Do some people really know me? 3) Is my prayer life growing? 4) Is there a growing affection for Jesus in my heart? Matt and Kevin also explore the importance of prayer, confession, friendship and taking time to slow down in pastoral ministry. Matt cited Rick Warren’s advice “if we would confess our temptations, we wouldn’t have to confess as many sins.”

How can pastors prepare people for Christmas? Matt Woodley talks to Matt Erickson, Senior Pastor at Eastbrook Church about how to approach this in Advent. This year, he’s doing a four week series on the genealogy of Jesus, from Matthew chapter one. The series will focus on some of the key men, and women that are part of Jesus story including Mary and Joseph. Last year, he did an Advent series entitled “Songs of the Savior: Psalms for Advent,” based on Messianic Psalms. He said “It was a powerful journey with church to engage with the Psalms.” They also explore preaching challenges in 2020: the global COVID-19 pandemic, racial tensions in the U.S., and a presidential election with high stakes.

Should pastors preach on the divisive subject of politics? Matt Woodley explores this topic with co-host, Kevin Miller. If you decide to preach on politics, keep the five principles in mind that are outlined in this episode. Remember that people at your church may identify with opposing political parties. So the important thing is to be faithful to the gospel, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Matt said “Christians should engage politics, because doing so provides us with a robust opportunity, to love our neighbor by acting justly, promoting human flourishing and seeking the prosperity of our community” an excerpt from the book “Compassion and Conviction.”

What role should your emotions play in expository preaching? Matt Woodley explores this topic with Greg Hollifield, Associate Dean for Assessment and Reporting at Memphis College of Urban and Theological Studies at Union University. He said “So I started listening more closely to Haddon (Robinson’s) sermons, and I realized the emotions he was evoking were in line with the content of the text that he was expositing.” He also warns preachers of being emotionally or intellectually manipulative, when preaching God’s word. Greg talks about a recent sermon he preached where Jacob wrestles with an angel, to pursue a blessing. Find out how he frames this story, to capture the emotion of the text.  Check out what was referenced on the podcast: -Kenneth Quick’s article "Your Text Has Feelings" found in “Staying True to the Text,” a preaching guide from Preaching Today. https://www.preachingtoday.com/preaching-guides/staying-true-to-text/your-text-has-feelings.html -John Walsh’s book "The Art of Storytelling." Moody Publishers, 2014. https://www.moodypublishers.com/the-art-of-storytelling/

Is the big idea more helpful or hurtful to listeners? Matt Woodley explores this question with Abe Kuruvilla, Senior Research Professor of Preaching and Pastoral Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary. Abe said "The big idea is ultimately a creation of the preacher. It's not in the text. It's something the preacher creates." He argues that the text isn't a plain glass window to look through; but a stained glass window to look at. Check out what was referenced on the podcast: -Abraham Kuruvilla's article "Time to Kill the Big Idea? A Fresh Look at Preaching" found in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 2018. https://homiletix.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/KURUVILLA-Big-Idea-JETS2.pdf -Abraham Kuruvilla's book "Privilege the Text!: A Theological Hermeneutic for Preaching." Moody Publishers, 2013. https://www.moodypublishers.com/privilege-the-text/

How can you preach to people on the margins? What does this look like on a practical level? Matt Woodley explores these questions with Patricia Batten, Associate Director of the Haddon W. Robinson Center for Preaching at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She drew attention to how a preacher can overlook certain people groups, without realizing it. Pat said she often preaches to the middle, but recently felt convicted that she should expand her audience. She also shares a story about her daughter, which demonstrates her conviction that all people are made in the image of God. Check out what was referenced in this episode: Patricia Batten's book "Parenting by Faith: What Jesus Said to Parents." Rose Publishing LLC, 2019. https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Faith-What-Jesus-Parents/dp/1628627816/

What does it mean to achieve success as a preacher? What makes a successful sermon? Matt Woodley explores these questions with Wes Oden, who has served as Senior Pastor at Houghton Wesleyan Church in New York for 24 years. When he first accepted the role, he was nervous to serve an intellectual congregation. But his wife reminded him that they were called to love people. Wes said "one of the things that scares me the most is becoming stagnant." Check out what was referenced on the podcast: For sermons from Wes, visit his church's website: https://hwchurch.org/audio-podcast-archive-links/ Get Matt Woodley's book "The Folly of Prayer," on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Folly-Prayer-Practicing-Presence-Absence/dp/0830837124/

What are people seeing in their mind's eye as you preach? Ideally, you want them to see Jesus, or how God is at work among his people. In this episode, Matt Woodley and Kevin Miller outline three ways to bring listeners into the Bible scene: point people to the picture, not to the page; bring people into the present moment; and help them hear the actors, not the author. You'll also get a backstage pass to "stump the hosts," where they put preaching methods to the test.