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Your Next Project

November 7, 2012 — 2 Comments

Projects in business are common. Co-workers come together, collaborate, research, design, and then plan to achieve a particular goal. We learn from a young age, during school, how to partner with classmates to complete a project. Lately, I’ve been thinking about kingdom growth and church work in the context of projects.

Projects

Christianity is a mission to multiply, build, and expand for God’s glory. In that mission, we’re honored to work side-by-side for that aim. The Bible itself is a book full of men who took on projects. They collaborated with others to do great things for God’s glory.

Noah’s family built an ark (for God’s glory).
Nehemiah led crews to reconstruct the wall (for God’s glory).
Solomon managed the building of the temple (for God’s glory).
Joshua led armies into battle (for God’s glory).
Paul took partners on mission trips and planted churches (for God’s glory).

All these men had a project. And their vision for the kingdom of God was so great, they couldn’t do it alone. These men knew the aim of their projects was for the world to see God’s glory. They each believed in their project, and knew it was important. They had everyone in on their deal: family members, friends, fellow-ministers, and co-workers. You should emulate biblical leadership and consider these 5 questions before starting your next great project…

Is your project collaborative? Don’t let all your work become “do-it-yourself” items on your own personal checklist. God’s kingdom is greater than any one man’s plan. So, team up. Pool resources. Put your heads together, challenge, and push each other to the greatest result.

Is your project a solution to a problem? Will the end result meet a definite need? Consider what shortage or inadequacy you want to eliminate. Don’t show up with bricks during a famine, or towels during a drought. Bring food for the hungry, and drink for those who thirst. Church demands and scarcities could be filled if your group decided to do something about it.

Is your project helping someone else? Great men of the Bible set out to encourage and bless. Encourage those around you. Bless future generations ahead of you. Your work has the potential to benefit people today, and tomorrow. Your project could be something that serves your children and your great-great-grandchildren. So, bathe it in humility and love.

Is your project advancing the gospel? Of all the trips to take, books to write, structures to build, and needs to meet, is your focus on spreading the message? Lost souls could hear about the life-saving blood of Jesus Christ through your “project”.

Is your project giving God glory? When the credits roll, whose name appears? Your work will either point to yourself or to the Savior. Your next project has the potential to give the world a glimpse of God. Your next project could be the city on the hill, the light of good works that shines so men can glorify God (Matthew 5:16).

So, what’s your project?

When was the last time you partnered up for a major kingdom endeavor? What task is too big for you to accomplish on your own? Where can God use your cooperative skills with others to dream, undertake, and build something big? How long before you pick up the phone and call other friends, church members, or ministers to get your “next big thing” off the ground?

I hope church workers hear this challenge world-wide. Think creative. Dream big. Combine efforts. Brainstorm wide. Plan wise. Reach deep. Execute well. Finish for His glory. The world depends on it.

In Manhood, Materials, Methods, Ministry, Mission

The Bible’s Tricks and Treats

October 31, 2012 — Leave a comment

From time to time, I put my classes in the hands of my students. This week, they sat in groups of three and worked through Scripture together. In the spirit of Halloween, the teens really got into the challenge of listing tricks and treats of the Bible. Enjoy their responses…

Trick or Treat

Treats of the Bible:

John 4:14 Jesus meets the woman at the well, offers her the water of life
Luke 18:15-17 let the little Children come to Me- Jesus offers the kingdom
Rev 10:9-10 The angel tells John to eat the scroll
Genesis 15:5 God blessing Abraham’s descendants as the stars of the sky
Matthew 14:19-20 Jesus feeds the 5,000
Luke 24:1-2 Jesus rises from the dead
1 Samuel 14:27 Jonathan’s tip of staff in honey
Jonah 1:15-17 Fish eats Jonah
Genesis 2:20-23 God makes woman from Adams rib
Matthew 1:18-25 Jesus born

Tricks of the Bible:

Ex 14:4-8– Pharoah telling the people to go
Gen3:1-5–Serpent tricks Eve into eating the fruit
1Sam24:4–David cuts the robe of Saul while relieving himself
Gen27:26–Jacob pretending to be Esau
1Sam28:3–Saul consults Witch of Endor
2Sam11:15-17– David puts Uriah on frontline
Ex1:6-10–Israelites enslaved in Egypt
Gen3:6–Eve convinces Adam to eat fruit
Acts5:1-11–Ananias & Saphira steal money
Gen22:2–God tests Abraham in sacrificing his son.

Thanks to students in my Wednesday night class. They remind me often not to discount the creativity, Bible knowledge, spirituality, and productivity of teenagers.

In Message, Methods

4 Things To Pray During a Storm

October 30, 2012 — Leave a comment

The past 24 hours have been frightening. Yesterday (Monday, October 29th, 2012), one of the strongest storms on record hammered the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast coast. The hurricane brought historic coastal flooding, monster-force winds, unrelenting rain, and blinding mountain snow. The NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center called it “an incredible day in meteorological history.”

Hurricane Sandy

My prayer through the entire day was for the east coast. Protection for the victims. Safety for the responders. Strength for the churches. And even for Jesus to be magnified above the destruction of this hurricane. We can’t forget how crucial moments of prayer can change our hearts, and provide greater perspective of gospel rescue. Here are four focus-points to remember praying before, during, and after the big storm.

Protection for the victims. Obviously, we fear for those in harm’s way. I imagine ever since the first torrential drowning of Noah’s day, people have cried out in fear of storms. Our prayer for can echo the words of Nahum 1:7… “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, He knows those who take refuge in Him.” By the power of the Spirit, Jesus stilled the storm, and saved his disciples. By asking for God’s protection, we acknowledge His power, and praise His might to protect those who trust in Him.

Safety for the responders. Military, emergency personnel, and first-responders act as lives are endangered. They fly, row, drive, dig, pull, and lift others from danger. In every way, they exemplify the honor of sacrificing their own bodies for the good of another. They remind us of Jesus, who came as seeker and savior of those who were the path of danger and storm of sin.

Strength for the churches. Natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy allow churches to serve and lovingly meet the needs of their cities. A bottle of clean water, a set of dry clothes, a warm place to sleep, a hot meal to eat. The church can comfort and cry with families experiencing such tremendous loss. These are all crucial and immediate needs of those affected by the devastation. Hours, days, weeks, and months after a storm are opportune times for the church show God’s light defeating the night.

Encounters for lost people with Jesus. Our greatest hope in the face of disaster, is that many lost souls would meet the Savior, and know the shelter of His body, the church. The hope of the world is Jesus (the man) who slept through a storm, and Jesus (God) who stilled the storm. We believe that Jesus would use even a hurricane to bring back sinners from the spiritual catastrophe of sin. Our prayer for salvation is for the world to know Him, in whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

Prayer changes perspective. It helps us see these “incredible days in meteorological history” as the Creator stands over the tempest, calls it to peace, and commands the obedience of his creation. Yes, Mother Nature still bows to Father God. “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41) Let’s continue praying in Christ’s name for all those affected in the path of Sandy.

In Ministry, Mission

Why Little Girls Need Their Dad

October 24, 2012 — 2 Comments

Since beginning in family ministry, certain patterns seem to stick out in my mind. Without a doubt, the most crystal clear of those patterns is this: Daughters thrive on intimate connections with their daddy. The (emotional, physical, mental & spiritual) health of young girls seems to be predominantly sustained by strong father-daughter relationships. This post deals with that pattern.

Photo Credit: creationswap.com/MarianTrinidad

In a recent study, the Barna Research Group proved the importance of the father’s connection with his daughter. Young girls who were “very close” to their father are:

More likely to feel “very satisfied” with their life
More likely to abstain from sexual intercourse
More likely to adopt biblical standards of truth and morality
More likely to attend church
More likely to read their Bible consistently
More likely to pray

I’m not discounting moms, because most of them are present, and filling the gap where fathers have left their roles of responsibility. But this seems to be the leading factor of problems in the family, church, society and the world: fathers who fail to be present as dads. As a man and a minister, I’ve worked with teen girls overcoming the deficit of their fathers who neglected them, and cheat them out of health, development and happiness.

This past month, I’ve had to accept that fact that my little girl has turned 3. Watching her grow the last three years has been the greatest privilege and blessing of my adult years. As we bear the image of Father God, our daughters need some things from us. Let’s not forget [7 reasons] why little girls need their dad…

Your daughter needs dad’s arms to hold her. This is where it all starts. It was God’s design for the strength of a man’s arms to protect the gentleness of his little girl. Her sense of protection, defense, and safety from the world, begins in his arms. Confidence in young women comes from a that inborn knowledge that she will be safely secured in her father’s arms.
Your daughter needs her dad’s lap to sit. Dad’s lap has to be landing place of closeness and trust. It is the place where they can come to lay down, laugh, and be loved. Her sense acceptance and affection is deep-seated and wrapped on the knees of her daddy. It is the best gift a dad can give.
Your daughter needs dad to teach her. Instruction from God’s Word at a young age is pivotal in her growth as a person. How he speaks to her, and how she responds. They both affect the way she listens, fears, repsonds, and respects God/others for the rest of her life. She needs him to read, sing, play, and interact.
Your daughter needs dad’s prayers to heal her. Knowing the sin/hurt of the world, a dad’s prayers are the ointment of healing. As she falls asleep at night, dad pleas for her, intercedes for her, makes requests for her, blesses God for her, and lifts her up to her Creator, King, and Maker. The Father knows our daughter better than us dads ever will.
Your daughter needs dad to model the heavenly Father. For the rest of her life, she will compare you to God, her Heavenly Father. Your love for her will serve as a helpful comparison or a painful contrast. So do what God does. Give her good gifts. Spend time and make conversation with her. Tell her she is special. Listen to her. Leave her an inheritance. Have fun, hold her, tickle her, and bless her. You are the clearest picture she’ll have her real Father.
Your daughter needs dad to be like Jesus. Our daughters need to see dads in a humble, obedient, loving relationship with Jesus Christ. The spirit of Christ must flow out of him in patience, gentleness, and self-control. As her older brother in God’s family, dads must be an authentic example of the friend Jesus is to her.
Your daughter needs dad to lead her toward heaven. Just like crossing the street, dads know the danger and risk involved in walking from one side to other. Our daughters need men who will take them by the hand, cross through this world, and deliver them safely to the other side. Let’s not fail as shepherds to the most precious of our sheep.

Father God, If it depends on dads, I want to be there. Help me to love my daughter like you have loved me. Unconditionally, undeservedly, and unfailing. Help me to pursue, protect and guide her from this world to heaven, giving her every opportunity for health, development, and happiness along the way. Help her to see Christ living in me so she knows He lives in her as well. In Jesus name, Amen.

In Manhood

11 Points From Retreat And A Recommendation

October 22, 2012 — Leave a comment

Privileged and proud. That’s how I feel after spending the weekend with an amazing group of young people at our annual fall beach retreat. This year’s keynote was Tristan Wheeler, the youth minister at the Center Chapel church in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee.

Our theme was Fast Forward – Planning our Future by the Finished Work of Christ. And it was a full weekend spent unpacking truth and treasure from God’s Word. Tristan poured out the Spirit as he shared each lesson:

Jesus Created. I Will Create. [Psalm 129:13-16]
Jesus Built. I Will Build. [Matt 16:18]
Jesus Forgave. I Will Forgive. [Jer 31:34]
Jesus Rose. I Will Rise. [1 Cor 15]

Here are 11 excerpts (just drops) from the fountain of teaching he blessed us with this weekend…

“God didn’t create from scratch. He created from NOTHING. God exhibits His boldness through His creation.”
“My life is not about me, but what God does through me. We were created to give Him glory.”
“Christ can be your stumbling block or cornerstone. You can trip on Him or stand in Him.”
“God wants our structures to be shaken so they can be rebuilt on Jesus.”
“We are here to build on the name of Jesus.”
“Christ called us to build on Him. People will try to tear you down. Build anyway.”
“Christ forgave us from the cross, and took away our every excuse not to forgive others.”
“Things have never been darker than at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.”
“Life’s darkest point is where Christ shines the brightest.”
“God did not call us to be experts, but witnesses of the resurrection. Go tell the world.”
“The story of Jesus is the ultimate comeback. The hero rises. He comes back.”

Let me recommend you invite Tristan Wheeler to your church/youth event. Right now, Tristan doubles work as youth minister and a UPS man. God is using his talents to connect with young people and convey truth in powerful ways. He is a humble, spiritual, respectful, passionate, and a crucified kind of young man. He came well-prepared to magnify the name of Jesus to our young people at Spring Meadows and made an eternity of difference in their hearts. His attitude and example will go a long way serving and influencing others to build up the kingdom.

Tristan has a creative way of illustrating biblical principles through real life stories and application. You can see an example of his teaching at http://hashtagyouthseries.com/sanctification/ where He spoke on being mixed in with Christ, instead of mixed up with sin. Don’t let your young people miss out on listening and watching God’s work happen in the life of Tristan Wheeler. Book him for your event today.

In Message, Messenger, Ministry

40 Ideas for a Great Date Night

October 18, 2012 — Leave a comment

What are your plans for this week’s date night? For the past five years, I’ve been dating my wife. As funny as that sounds, it’s the most rewarding and enjoyable night we have together. With work responsibilities, financial strains, and finding childcare, dates can be difficult to schedule. But it’s been worth the extra effort, and is probably the best practice we’ve adopted as a young married couple.

Photo Credit: Parkway Pics

Here’s why us guys/husbands need to take it more seriously…

Jesus loving the church set the standard for how men should pursue their bride.
Christ pursued the church. Christian men pursue their bride.
Christ cares for the church. Christian men care for their bride.
Christ cultivates and leads the church. Christian men cultivate and lead their bride.
Christ protects the church. Christian men protect their bride.
Christ has future plans for the church. Christian men make future plans with the bride.
Christ made great promises to the church. Christian men make & keep promises to their bride.
Christ fully invested (time, energy, money, life) in the church. Christian men fully invest in their bride.

So get a budget, a babysitter, and a fresh bouquet of flowers. Here are some ideas (some we’ve done, some we haven’t) to get your night underway…

Go out for her favorite dinner and a movie.
Go to a ballgame and root for your favorite teams.
Ride horses.
Host a game night with friends.
Attend worship or a gospel meeting together.
Get in the spirit. Carve pumpkins. Color Easter eggs. Wrap gifts.
Go to a concert.
Prepare a candlelit dinner.
Picnic.
Do a service project together. Habitat, soup kitchen, disaster relief, etc…
Spend a night in prayer.
Get tickets for a symphony.
Go fish.
Hang at a coffee shop.
Read together.
Go shopping.
Exercise.
Schedule a couples massage.
Take a hike.
Do a scavenger hunt.
Go camping.
Study your Bibles together.
Build a fire.
Look through old photo albums.
Go skating. Roller or ice.
Bowl.
Research your family tree.
Shoot guns.
Ride bikes.
Watch sunset.
Visit the farm.
Go for dessert.
Try something new.
Ride rides at the county fair.
Pick up new outfits at the thrift store.
Go hear a comedian.
Take a historic tour.
Take dance lessons.
Swim.
Double-date.

Christian marriages are a place where husband and wife pursue each other. The husband-wife relationship reflects the desire, intimacy, and sacrifice of Christ with His church. Date nights provide the crucial time for spouses to talk, laugh and enjoy each other. These nights help Christian mates in the joy of growing, cultivating, and causing each other to flourish. The long-term benefits of this night will far outweigh the short trouble it took took to plan it.

So,what are your ideas for a great date? What should we add to the list? What immediate or long-term benefits does a regularly scheduled date night offer a married couple?

In Manhood, Marriage

The Highest Office In the Land

October 17, 2012 — Leave a comment

This post is probably more political than I’ll ever get. My engagement has remained limited through recent campaign advertisements, debates, and upcoming election. With reason. Is it just me or is the argument getting old? One man takes office for four years and the other party criticizes and complains. So the other party’s candidate takes office and roles reverse.

Rightful Throne

Hours and hours of political debating, mocking, name-calling, and speculating. Millions of dollars spent on campaigns to elevate the name of one politician. Billions of status updates, tweets, and blogs blowing up about the failure of the government.

Anybody else feeling the pain?

It just seems that we expect the government to be so much more. Like the politicians are suppose to save us or deliver us. Is the government a god? A system meant to execute and administer justice seems to be elevated as this idol we expect to fulfill and rescue us.

Let’s not make it what it’s not.

I wonder if our rants and debates have our hearts so tied up we forget the greater Government. With all the talk of our White House, do we lose perspective of who sits on the Great White Throne [Rev 20:11]? All of this to elect a man who is not the Lord? These are times that make me thankful for the higher office of Christ, and the wisdom of God to appoint Him King. Let’s put it in perspective…

Christ rules over the nations. With Jesus on the throne, we can obey the laws of our nation and hope that justice is administrated wisely. But good or bad, our politicians will be used by God to accomplish His purpose. One day all people (Republicans and Democrats and everybody else) will bow to his royal authority [Phil 2:9-10]

Christ defends and protects the nations. The borders of this land are defended by the One who created it. Every soldier and army is a shadow of His might and victory in battle. And he is much more concerned about the borders of His kingdom, and if we are working to expand it for His glory.

Christ shepherds the nations. The church is God’s safe-house for the defenseless. Care for the poor, the unborn, the homeless, and hungry should start in the church. We work to spread the values and interests of our King. Regardless of who stands elected president, Jesus still sits as the Good Shepherd who cares for us as His sheep.

Christ saves the nations. The grace God extends to sinners is our ultimate source of deliverance. Lower taxes, better budgets, higher employment can never be enough to liberate this country. Our joy and fulfillment in the dark domain of this world is the transfer to Christ’s kingdom of light. Our sins have been forgiven. We are no longer slaves to sin. We have been redeemed.

Christ will one day judge the nations. Past, present, and future. Politicians, painters, and preachers will be called accountable for their actions, words, and who they represented. I wonder if the Judge will find us representing Him or debating about which sinful-flawed-man-president should represent us?

Let’s not make government what it’s not. One day, when Christ makes all things new, those who are in him will reign with their King: “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:11–12a, Rev. 5:9–10).

In Mission

The Biggest Mistake Made on Monday

October 15, 2012 — 1 Comment

The biggest mistake made on Monday is forgetting Sunday.

I don’t know how, but I do it. Call it amnesia. Call it short term memory loss. But whatever the diagnosis, we separate Sunday’s resurrection message from our waking alarm on Monday. We hit the snooze, and begin to separate gospel worship from the grind at work. Emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, we shut down “church mode” to rev up into “life mode.”

Doing this is shutting down the power of the Spirit to work throughout the rest of your week. It’s like cutting off the powerhouse rapids of the Niagra Falls and then trying to scoot in a barrel against its rocks. It won’t happen.

I wonder how many Mondays we roll out of bed without waking up in Christ. We get up, face the world, the workplace, our problems and projects. And somehow forget the gospel hope of restoration and revival. We blank out on our forgiveness, salvation, hope, and victory over the grave. Separating life/work on Monday from worship on Sunday is like driving the car without fuel. We won’t get far. So…

Before you face Monday’s problems, remember Sunday’s preaching.
Before you face Monday’s doubts, remember Sunday’s deliverance.
Before you face Monday’s tasks, remember Sunday’s truths.

Dont forget that Monday’s gain flows from Sunday’s grace.

Without Christ, Monday is a big vacuum that sucks life from our bodies. With Christ, Monday becomes a vehicle to fuel, carry, and declare the glory of God in our bodies. Today’s sunrise is blessed because God’s Son did raise. Because of Sunday, Monday is filled with meaning and mission.

Don’t make Monday’s biggest mistake. Connect the message of Sunday to the mission of Monday.

In Message, Mission

Christ Over Cancer

October 10, 2012 — 1 Comment

Recently, cancer has hit the heart of our church family. Two sweet little girls, Gabbi (2 years old), and Caroline (11 years old), were diagnosed with cancerous tumors. They both have been through surgeries and are under extensive treatment. Through radiation and chemotherapy, the doctors plan to attack and eliminate the abnormal growth of cancer cells invading the different parts of their little bodies.

Photo Credit: JPS webcon

Needless to say, Gabbi and Caroline have been in the front of our minds and bottom of our hearts as we bombard heaven with prayer. Even my own 3 year-old girl knows to pray for “little Gabbi” and “sweet Caroline” daily. Having lost members of my own family to this disease, it’s hard to know why things like this happen. But since one of the purposes of this blog is to magnify Christ, let’s do that today in light of cancer.

Here are a few reasons to remember why Christ rules over cancer.

People with cancer were created by Jesus. Scripture tells us all things were created by and for Jesus. Everything in heaven and on earth, including our own bodies, were made by the intelligent design and wisdom of Christ. We tasted life from Him, through Him, and for His glory. He formed each of our very unique figures and frames. If something attacks our bodies (especially cancer), it is an attack on the vessel of God’s glory. And God promises to uses even bodily weaknesses to make the name of Jesus more powerful. [Nehemiah 9:6, Col 1:16, Romans 11:36]

People with cancer can cope with Jesus. When Christ saw the crowds of people, he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless. We can be sure today that Jesus looks on us the same way, with love. As a shepherd with sheep, he knows when we’re tired and and sick. And I can’t help but think about Jesus holding us on his shoulders after the wolf of cancer has attacked the smallest sheep in his flock. [Matthew 9:36, Psalm 23:1-4]

People with cancer will be healed by Jesus. As Jesus preached the good news of his kingdom, he was healing every disease and sickness among the people. We can be sure cancer was among those illnesses he cured. By the power of His spirit, He commands the division of every cell and molecule. Jesus, the source of eternal life, has the power to heal the nations. Every doctor is a shadow of the Great Physcian. Every medicine a shadow of His cure. Every treatment a shadow of His care. [Rev 22:2, Matthew 4:23]

People with cancer who die can die with Jesus. Though cancer lives in their body, faith can reign in their heart. Christ felt the full extent of sin and death in the world by the crucifixion He endured. When he suffered death, he fully experienced the pain, suffering, aching, weakness, sorrow and heartbreak. Our family members lost to cancer are not lost alone. They have a friend, a brother who knows the darkness of that dying day. [Romans 6:10]

People with cancer can be raised back to life with Jesus. The story of Jesus’ resurrection is hope for even those who lose the battle to cancer. As humans die like Adam because of sin, we can also rise like Christ because of His righteousness. This means that even life’s greatest enemy, death, can not stop life. The body cancer kills is perishable, weak, and dishonored. The body raised by the Spirit is imperishable, powerful, and glorified. [1 Cor 15:42-44, Romans 8:21]

People with cancer can be given new bodies like Jesus. This makes the hope of heaven so much sweeter. To see our family suffer with such an agressive attack upon their fragile bodies is painful. But the transformation happening everyday by faith is inwardly beautiful and promising. Renewal of our broken bodies will reflect God’s glory, as we undergo a change to perfect, cancer-free, eternally protected by Christ. What a thought.

God, make evident the power of your Spirit to break us free from the pain of cancer and death in this world. Heal, protect, renew “little Gabbi” and “sweet Caroline” and every individual affected by this disease. Cover them in the love, care, and glory you displayed by raising Your Son, even through death. May our weakness demonstrate Your power.

In the creating, compassionate, healing, delivering, renewing name of Christ, Amen.

In Ministry cancer

The Red Ribbon in My Bible

October 9, 2012 — 3 Comments

This past Sunday I got the opportunity to preach. For the past 10 years as a Youth Minister, on occasion, I fill in preaching when the preacher is absent (usually sick or out-of-town). And over those years, preaching has been one of my favorite parts of youth ministry. But it’s always been a challenge to stay focused (insert youth minister A.D.D joke here). So here’s what I’ve begun to stick in my Bible when I stand up in the pulpit.

As a young guy and youth minister, so many different thoughts can cloud the sermon preparation and delivery process. Conversations throughout the week. Visits to the hospital. Knowledge of members’ life situations. Deaths in the family. Shows on television. Criticism. Personal doubts, sin, and struggles.

Even standing in the pulpit, I have my own set of distractions to fight while I speak. It’s a struggle to stay concentrated. Thankfully, there is one great burden moves me to speak, to lead, and to get fired up. The red ribbon I stick in my Bible reminds me of that burden: to preach Jesus. Here’s a few of the ways it reminds me to stay on track…

The red ribbon reminds me about WHO we should preach. Paul said he would forget everything else to preach Christ [1 Cor 2:2]. Above all, Paul preached about one man, God’s Son, Jesus Christ. In other words, my preaching should be personal. People need to see Jesus as a real person. His friendship, his attributes, his attitude, his character, his relationships, and my relationship with Him. My preaching should flow from the intimacy I enjoy with Him on a daily basis. Of all the preachers, kings, shepherds, prophets, priests, and kings in the Bible, they all prefigure and point us to the hero of the Bible, Jesus Christ. My preaching should do the same.

The red ribbon reminds me about WHAT we should preach. Paul also said he would not forget the most important points of his message: That Christ died to take away our sins as the Scriptures predicted. The whole theme of the Bible is God’s plan to save man from sin, through Christ, for His glory. The sacrificial death. The dark burial. The power of resurrection. My sermon should echo with the prediction, fulfillment, worship, and reflection of that gospel.

The red ribbon reminds me about WHERE we should preach. Some of the last words Jesus spoke on earth were telling us where to preach: to the ends of the earth [Mark 16:15]. We don’t have to be in a church building, behind a pulpit, wearing a tie to preach. Our gospel is good news set to be delivered to all the world. Wherever we go, we need to be sharing the gospel to baptize and make disciples.

The red ribbon reminds me about HOW to preach. The blood-sealed promise of salvation is hope for our souls. Because of Jesus, we have hope. Because of hope, we have confidence. Because of confidence, we preach boldly. My delivery ought to humbly reflect the courage, guts, and authority of the gospel. Preaching is the powerhouse of the church. It’s where we boast and flex in the great strength, energy, and might of our Savior.

The red ribbon reminds me WHY we preach. Each sermon is an emergency rescue effort. We are searching for individuals drowning in ways of the world, people who need a Savior. As Jesus came to seek and to save, our preaching is an extension of that mission.

The Old Testament prostitute, Rahab, was known for hanging a scarlet line out her window for God’s people to escape. By her action of faith, she saved herself and those in her house. I’m praying that God can use my scarlet-ribbon-preaching for God’s people to escape. And that in the process, God might save those in my house, and even a prostitute like me.