John Dekker's Day

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

3:57PM - How to write a sermon #1

Circumstances have directed me to start a new series, though I still haven't finished the previous on on Christians & Cars. I'm preaching this Sunday morning at Scots', and I haven't written my sermon yet. So, in order to get the creative juices flowing, I thought I'd post my sermon outline as I go. I'll be looking at John 6:41-58, and talking about the Lord's Supper. So far, all I have is...

1.Introduction
2.Other stuff
3.Conclusion

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4:28PM - How to write a sermon #2

OK, now I just get my ideas down, jumbled though they be. I'll print this outline, and then re-work it by hand, paying particular attention to how these points fit in to the text. I should point out that I have already been studying the passage in some depth, and have given considerable thought to the theology. Hence, producing the actual sermon manuscript is basically the final step in the process. So those of you who are preachers, make sure you don't skip the hard exegetical work. Otherwise you might as well go to sermons.com...

1.Introduction
(a)Bread samples at a supermarket
(b)How is it different to the bread we have at Communion?

2.Ordinary bread
(a)Chemical composition – 50% carbohydrates, 8% protein, 3% dietary fibre
(b)symbolism / the way in which it is used
(c)the act of giving / receiving / eating, and what that means.
(d)necessity of faith

3.A Sign and Seal
(a)University degrees (see Calvin)
(b)Not just God's PowerPoint presentation to help you understand the gospel better
(c)Christ confirms his promise to us that he is the Bread of life – assurance and proclamation

4.Jesus as the Bread of Life
(a)The Communion bread isn't the bread of life!
(b)Food nourishes and gives life
(c)The bread come down from heaven – the Incarnation – we feed on his flesh and blood remembering that he became flesh and blood

5.Feeding on Christ
(a)Means believing him!
(b)If it sounds strange, be assured that it would have done so to Jesus' hearers!

6.Conclusion
(a)Feed on him!

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11:09PM - A Christmas Carol

Posted by request...

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, Whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, Whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

– Christina Rossetti, 1872.

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