big lessons from a long sermon

INTERNATIONAL ISSUE FRIDAY JULY 23 2010


all night church service - long winded preacher sends man to his death; then revives him


The passage in Acts 20:7-12 (CLICK HERE TO READ THE PASSAGE) amused me in a peculiar sort of way, before I was a preacher. Not so much after. Many years ago, as a child and then into my earlier teen years, I would use this passage to support my weekly complaint that preachers were blind when it came to reading the clock or their audience. How tragic that Paul's boring and long sermons would cause a young man to snooze and tumble out an open window to his death. I thought it was even more tragic that the Apostle would bring him back to life to endure more teaching until midnight!

But now as a preacher myself, I understand the principle: of course one maximizes a teaching opportunity to expand so as to take up all that the space/time continuum makes available! It is simply good stewardship!

Seriously, here is what impresses me even more than the long sermon or the amazing miracle:

1.) The Christians did not need a magnificent, ornate cathedral for worship. A crowded, warm upstairs room would suffice. Many lamps made for a hot, oily oxygen depleted atmosphere and hypnotic flickering of burning lamps could easily put people to sleep. I have seen great church buildings in North America and Europe, with steeples and windows and organs and carvings that take your breath away. But I have also seen firsthand open air, rough hewn, shanty town style worship centres that fill to overflowing with faithful, joyful and eager worshipers, attentive to the preaching of the word, receptive to the Holy Spirit breath of God. Any physical space can become holy. Any place can become church.

2.) Does this passage not tell us something about the hunger of these Christians? Their eagerness to learn is amazing! My cultural background betrays my desire for quick religious services. Do westerners have short attention spans? Is our hunger for physical food and Sunday recreation greater than our hunger for spiritual food? This is not an attempt to make all who live by their hero Eutychus feel guilty. I am just curious. I read in Acts 20 of people who gave up a whole night to hear a preacher/evangelist talk on and on - and they chose this! Perhaps that is the real miracle here.

miracle CPR during sermon

International Issue Saturday July 24 2010

miracle CPR does not slow preacher down

We all know the unofficial motto/reputation of the Post Office: we deliver your mail through rain, sleet, snow and ice; we deliver through hurricanes, earthquakes, and vicious dogs growling.

Similarly, for Ministers, we deliver our sermons through all kinds of distractions. We will not be slowed down by bats, cats, heat, cold, crying, coughing, snoring, eating. We will not be distracted by knitting, fighting, sneezing, laughing, and yes, even gas leaks!

I have seen it all through 30+ years of preaching, survived it all, and conquered it all! But never have I had an Acts 20:7-12 incident! (You can read about the Apostle Paul & Eutychus here).

Yes I have preached late at night. Yes I have preached by lamp light and candle light. Yes I have preached in a crowded room. And, yes, I have preached very long sermons. I have had people escape out windows but never fall out windows to their death! And I have not hugged someone and brought them back to life, not physically anyway. But I have seen the spiritually dead breathe new life! Ephesians 5:14 "Wake up from your sleep. Climb out of your coffins, Christ will show you the light.” The Message)

Some sermons may put you to sleep & some sermons may wake you up! Sermons, by divine design, are to wake people not kill people!

I know the tragic fall and the amazing resurrection miracle 'steal the show' in this story, but here is another not so obvious lesson I learn from the story: Paul is not distracted from his purpose. He is there to make the most of a short 7 day stay in Troas. He has so much to teach & tell. He rushes downstairs, does the miracle CPR, then has a snack, and gets back to work. A preacher who notices the need, addresses it quickly, and then returns to task.

Paul would write to Timothy: "Devote yourself to preaching and to teaching. do not neglect your gift ... be diligent in these matters ... persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers". (1 Timothy 4:11-16) Paul knew these things to be true.

Some will argue, and rightfully so, that I take a preacher’s point of view on this passage. What about the poor unfortunate audience, enduring such a lengthy presentation? And without the high-tech of video and power point! But here is my point: these people knew that God’s word spoken through Paul’s words brought hope and life. It was spiritual food they sought, and spiritual life they got. We are told in verse 12 that the people left “greatly comforted”. Wherever you attend church tomorrow, whoever is your preacher/teacher, watch not the watch but rather watch for God’s encouragement.

have you read THE SHACK?

International Issue July 16 2010

Questioning The Tough Stuff or, Finding God in the Shack
a ‘connect’ small group study in August

• Does God forgive everyone? Will there be child abusers and other ‘bad people’ in heaven? I’m not God, so how am I supposed to forgive like God? August 4

• Is God really a family of three? How can we ‘get our heads around’ the complex mystery of the Trinity? August 11

• Where is God in senseless, innocent suffering? Does God even care? Doesn’t he have any power to prevent tragedy? August 18

• How do we resolve the age-long tension in the ongoing battle between good and evil? How am I supposed to respond? Where is the church in all of this? August 25

A ‘preview’ pot-luck supper meeting at the home of Verna & Jim Brown will be held Wednesday July 28 at 6:00 pm, 19 Union Street, Brockville (613-342-9583)

Meetings will be at the First Presbyterian Manse, 12 Church Street, Brockville, (Doug & Yvonne Johns 613-345-7105) Wednesdays at 7 pm August 4,11,18,25.

Each meeting will ‘stand on its own’ and the study/discussion will not presuppose a prior reading of THE SHACK. However if you did read the book you will have a specific framework to assist you in thinking through these tough questions.

If you cannot attend, you are invited to follow the discussion on the blog http://shacktoughstuff.blogspot.com/

The Shack, William P. Young, Wind Blown Media, 2007
Finding God in the Shack, Roger E. Olson, Inter Varsity Press, 2009

hot enough for you?

International Issue July 8, 2010







Proverbs 11:25
A generous person will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.

John 4:14
Jesus said, “whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”.

Psalm 23:2
He leads me beside still waters.

Proverbs 36:5-9
Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. You give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life.

2 Peter 3:11-13
You ought to live holy and godly lives as you anticipate the day of God. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But with his promises we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 7:14-17
God’s people who have come out of the great tribulation are now before the throne of God and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger or thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; and he will lead them to springs of living water.






Well, as you may have heard, Ontario, along with much of the North East United States, is enduring a very steamy hot and humid heat wave. It is physically draining and can make some people irritable, tired and even ill. It really slows the pace of life down. It is difficult to concentrate and productivity suffers.

So I thought a few verses and photos might help.

Unpacking the Revelation 7 passage:
Take a moment to open your Bible to Revelation 7:13-17 … It is in Jesus that there is the picture of ultimate care – provision and protection – distress relief, suffering assuaged. The burning thirst that comes with tribulation is replaced by the refreshing waters of life. No stagnation, no poisoned or putrid waters to endure. BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE! (I sound like one of those TV super sales guys) It’s not just the gift of good times. The memory of pain and suffering will be mercifully removed as well. How many people suffer in the present, and cannot face the future, because of the past? Too many! Eternal consolation results from “God wiping every tear from their eyes” (7:17, 21:4) Bad memories, bad dreams, haunting head images – these will never make you cry again. Refreshed and washed, constantly being refreshed and washed. Kind of a cool thought on a hot day.

Be careful, be blessed

Doug

International Issue Saturday July 3, 2010

I just wrote biblical summary of “A 30 second primer on prayer: when, what, how” - find it on our church website quickly: click here




“CAN THE CHURCH REALLY HELP US?”

Many today are seeking a rich spiritual life. Unfortunately, many of these will never consider looking to church to find it. There is an intentional aversion to all things “churchy”. So it seems logical to ask this question: “Can church really help us?”


Some Helpful Quotes:
“It is a theological impossibility to not be part of the church if you are a follower of Jesus”. – Dan Kimball, author of They Like Jesus But Not The Church

“Church is not a place to go, simply another meeting, but the way God has chosen to make himself known in our world.” – Ed Stetzer, President of Life Way Research

“All aspects of a church worship service act as team exercises that get Christians ready for the real game of living in the world.” – The Most Rev’d Robert Duncan, Anglican Archbishop in North America




Click here to move to the series site.

I would love to hear your brief comments on how your church has helped you, still helps you …. What in a worship service means the most to you? …. Could you live without your church? …

Leave a comment on the series site or email me at revdj@ripnet.com


Free books: June’s winner has been announced. Three books to be given away in July. See the details at the bottom of our church website home page. Click here.

International Issue Monday June 28 2010

Hi everyone!

• Just 48 hours until free book giveaway …. Click here http://www.brockvillefirst.com/ and scroll down to bottom of page for details. So far most of the entries for the draw have come from India and the USA. C’mon Brockville.

• Hope you had a great weekend! Ours was absolutely terrific. On Saturday we held a daylong event with Patrick Voo, PCC Minister from Barrie, as speaker, and Bob Cates as entertainer (see http://www.comedyinmotion.com/ ). They brought excellence to an A+ amazing seminar titled “U R the Message”, a theme based on The Message translation of 1 Thessalonians 1:8.

The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master's Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore—you're the message!

The Howard family youth praise band was exceptional as well. Kathleen Howard led a great mass choir. (And the MC was pretty good too. :-) )

• Yesterday we were blessed to celebrate a “Children’s Sunday” in our worship. The children led us in prayer, Scripture reading, Bible stories and assisted with Communion. It was so cool to have them participate, feel at home, show their love for the Lord – and then we crossed the road to the Court house Green for a picnic and games. Sunday was terrific!

did you feel the mtns tremble?

International Edition Thursday June 24 2010



So we get a real earthquake yesterday afternoon and I feel nothing; I must be absolutely alert-challenged, insensitive, and totally unaware. Hmm - probably not the first time some of you will say. My loving daughter Amanda responded to this reflection by saying “Is this a "no comment" moment???? LOL. Sorry u missed it!”

I thought immediately of the song going through my head ever since we started a Monday small group on “The power, people and practice of prayer”. Part of the study is to view George Otis Jr.’s ‘Transformations’: accounts of city transformation because churches prayed together in unity. Quite powerful. I love this song! Here are the lyrics:

Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?

Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

Did you feel the people tremble?
Did you hear the singers roar?
When the lost began to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

And we can see that God you're moving
A mighty river through the nations
And young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring your hope
Songs that bring your joy
Dancers who dance upon injustice

Did you feel the darkness tremble?
When all the saints join in one song
And all the streams flow as one river
To wash away our brokeness

And here we see that God you're moving
A time of Jubilee is coming
When young and old return to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord




Today I want to give you some ‘bite-sized’ pieces of wisdom, reflection. Might be something here that resonates with you. If not, just press delete. I won’t tell the authors.


What's the difference between someone who thinks money grows on trees & someone who thinks the universe created itself? - Jim Gustafson


Some people are naturally bent towards stealing your joy. Don't base your life or ministry around those people. Don't do it! - Ron Edmondson


The important thing is this: To be able to sacrifice what we are for what we could become. - Charles DuBois


“How can you worship a homeless Man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday?” ... Sign outside St. Edward's Cathedral Philadelphia
- @Liturgy


Hope you are having a great day!

Doug