Speaking

How do you teach the Bible to people who don’t believe the Bible and may not be very interested in what the Bible has to say?  The last couple weeks I’ve shared a few ideas, and most are especially for teaching pessimistic people. This strategy works for cynical people, and everyone else too. Stories. Stories…

One December I was writing a message on the doubts Joseph must have experienced going into the original Christmas. And I had some application about doubts we might experience. I had something about praying over and over for something, but with no answer. And how that might lead doubt to creep in. Then I realized:…

There are things in the Bible that are weird. Sometimes they’re weird because it’s written from and to a culture 2,000+ years ago and the practices of the day are foreign to us. Other times it’s weird because it’s truth that is no longer accepted, no longer believed, and that truth has become foreign to…

Most preaching answers the question, “Say what?” (What is the Bible saying?) But great preaching answers the questions, “So what?” (Why does this matter to my life?) and “Now what?” (What do I do about this tomorrow?) Why? Because most people are not intrinsically motivated to learn just for the sake of learning. To keep…

Salespeople are trained to anticipate and be able to overcome objections. If you don’t you won’t get the sale. The same is true in preaching to a cynical audience. Most pastors speak to a agreeable bible-believing audience every week, and so this isn’t a concern. But if you want your church to be filled with…