One would think that out of 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,101 verses that make up the Bible (KJV), getting sermon ideas would come easily, but it doesn’t. I often wonder if pastors and preachers have overload on the information contained in the sacred scriptures and go into vapor lock when trying to come up with next Sunday’s sermon. Even though the Bible can be read out loud in about 70 hours, understanding and getting your congregation to understand all that’s contained takes years and years.
A study by the Barna Research Group found that pastors spend an average of 3-5 hours per week preparing their sermons. It’s tough to become well equipped enough to teach a congregation the intricate precepts on different subjects in the Bible on 3 hours a week. Pastors get so busy with other pastoral duties such as counseling people, visiting the elderly and the sick that it makes it difficult to make time for sermon ideas.
Pastors have told me that they must rely upon their experiences throughout the week, or current news or something that God lays upon their heart for the subject of their sermons. Those are all fine and dandy, but can leave a preacher stressed out if nothing happens to stand out during the week. Or, it may not be until Friday night when an idea strikes them, leaving them no time for study. Getting sermon ideas shouldn’t be left up to chance.
2 Timothy 2:15 says that we are to study to show ourselves approved and to rightly divide the word of truth; the most important thing you do as a pastor is take care of His sheep by teaching them the written word of God. With this blog/website, I am committed to keeping those of you who follow it, up to date on current news topics and different tips learned from experienced pastors on how they do it week in and week out. There are many helpful products on the internet that can be bought to help with your quest; I will showcase those for you as well. If you have any tips for other pastors who may be struggling for sermon ideas, please leave your comments.
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How should a Christian react to leaders when their policies are contrary to what is taught in the Bible?
Being a political junkie, and a conservative Christian, I have done my fair share of spreading anti Barack Obama rhetoric. Every time the president spoke or his administration endeavored to pass some liberal agenda, I would voice my opinion. As a conservative in my beliefs it was only natural to want to speak out against the president’s policies because I believed they were destroying America as we know it.
But, is this how we should act as Christians? What does the Bible have to say about how to treat our leaders/kings/rulers? To be honest, I didn’t really like what I found! What I found in scripture really slapped me upside the head and put a huge dent in my ego.
I had read Romans chapter 13 hundreds of times throughout the years and I knew that it said that we are to be subject to higher powers. I knew that it said God has ordained the rulers and they are put in place to carry out justice to evil doers. I had no problem with that aspect. However, what about those rulers that aren’t godly? They can’t possibly be “ministers of God” too, can they?
Isn’t it up to the Christian to speak out against ungodly leaders? That’s what I always thought, until I heard a sermon called “Being a Good Citizen of America” by Pastor Jeff Arthur. That sermon opened my eyes to how I am suppose to conduct myself as an ambassador for Christ. In the sermon he leads you through 1 Timothy 2: 1-3 and how first of all we are to pray for our leaders. Then secondly he goes through 1 Peter 2: 13-14 and how we are to submit to their ordinances. We are to obey laws and follow rules!
The only time that we are to disobey laws is when they are contrary to God’s word.
So how do we go about changing leadership that we don’t agree with? I don’t think we use more government and more laws. I think we do what the apostle Paul did in Acts 19. He spread the gospel so much that it turned people’s hearts away from their sin.
You want to end abortion in our country? Spread the gospel! You want to destroy the homosexual agenda that is intertwined with the educational establishments in America? Spread the gospel!
Protesting with pictures of dead babies isn’t going to change the heart of the person getting the abortion. Getting laws changed making it illegal will probably never happen and it doesn’t change the heart of the person either. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes the heart and is the only answer to America’s problems.
I’ll end with this final thought: Proverbs 21: 1 says that the heart of the kings are in the hand of the Lord and the Lord turns them which ever way He chooses. So no more anti Barack Obama rants will be coming out of my mouth. I will pray for our country, and our leaders.
Listen to the sermon below if you too would like to hear a biblical presentation about how a Christian should conduct their self concerning our elected leaders.
