Apprentice » Preaching http://apprenticeblog.org "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher." - Luke 6:40 Wed, 26 May 2010 15:43:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Does It Get Easier? http://apprenticeblog.org/2010/03/15/does-it-get-easier/ http://apprenticeblog.org/2010/03/15/does-it-get-easier/#comments Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:03:43 +0000 John http://apprenticeblog.org/2010/03/15/does-it-get-easier/ I preached yesterday at Greystones Presbyterian Church and afterwards we had tea and coffee in the hall. A friend asked me over a cup of tea if it (preaching) gets any easier. I had to answer no. I don’t think it ever gets any easier. If anything it gets harder for some sermons. Hopefully more experience means I get better at preaching. I become more comfortable with public speaking. I become better at research, and interpretation. I develop systems and patterns that I can follow to help me develop and manage my thoughts. I build up a series of stories or illustrations to communicate those thoughts better. I learn to project my voice and become more confident. But preaching never gets easier. Each sermon demands that I stretch myself, and if my skills increase then I must increase the level I stretched to. A love for God and His word demands that I stretch myself. On top of that I really enjoy and am still fascinated by the Bible, so to take it easy would only spoil my fun.

]]> http://apprenticeblog.org/2010/03/15/does-it-get-easier/feed/ 0 Peter and Christine (and James) http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/25/peter-and-christine-and-james/ http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/25/peter-and-christine-and-james/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:09:10 +0000 John http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/25/peter-and-christine-and-james/

Peter and Christine (and James), originally uploaded by Apprentice Blog.

This is Peter and Christine (and me in the middle), Peter was the Board of Mission in Ireland worker at Cahir Presbyterian Church, my old church. Peter is retiring for health reasons and him and Christine are moving back home. They are dear friends of mine as well as leaders and mentors and I will miss them, Cahir will miss them. I had the honour of preaching the sermon at a special farewell service for them on Sunday. The church was full of people and when you’re used to having less than ten people try to fill a church with song on a Sunday having the place packed with people singing worship to God can be quite moving. There was a bit of a croak in my voice as I began to preach. The smiling man in the background is James, who faithfully picked me up on Sundays to give me a lift to church.

]]> http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/25/peter-and-christine-and-james/feed/ 2 Aspire One http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/20/aspire-one/ http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/20/aspire-one/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 04:45:40 +0000 John http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/20/aspire-one/

Aspire One, originally uploaded by Apprentice Blog.

My aspire one. I read from this when I preach. It’s small enough to be hidden on the lectern or pulpit and the screen is bright enough for me to read clearly from. I have a special page format that allows me to convert my sermons to PDF and read them full-screen, kind of like an teleprompter. Do you have any little tools you use to preach?

]]> http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/02/20/aspire-one/feed/ 1 Preaching at a Special Occassion http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/01/22/preaching-at-a-special-occassion/ http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/01/22/preaching-at-a-special-occassion/#comments Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:10:00 +0000 John http://apprenticeblog.org/2009/01/22/preaching-at-a-special-occassion/ I’ve been asked to preach at my old church in Cahir for a rather sad occasion. Because of health issues the Board of Mission worker, Peter, and his wife Christine will be leaving Cahir and going back to the North. Peter and Christine are a vital part of the church in Cahir and they will be sorely missed. They were like parents to me. Peter took me to a coffee shop for a chat when we first met, before I came to Cahir Presbyterian Church. I first attended CPC when I was about two months old in my faith and I left to go on this mission to Greystones when I was about 3 years old. Peter and Christine helped me to learn how to walk as Christian, always encouraging and supporting me in ministry. It’ll be tough to choose the Scripture to preach on (if anyone has any suggestions I’d be grateful), never mind actually preaching.

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