by Bret Capranica | Sep 10, 2013 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
For the past three summers, I have preached overview sermons through the Old Testament. Three years ago I spent the summer preaching through the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible). Last year I taught Joshua through the Kings. This summer I just completed a series through the Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel). To be honest, these are some of the most difficult sermons for me to prepare and to preach. The difficulty in study lies in the challenge of covering the entirety of large books in such a short time. Teaching these books is equally daunting in trying to cover large sections of very rich material in a short amount of time and often in what seems such a cursory manner. And yet, every summer, I receive a host of positive feedback from many in our congregation as to the benefit they derive in these overview series. Some have expressed their lack of exposure to preaching through the Old Testament. Others have indicated that they have never seen how a particular book was put together. Still others have mentioned how refreshing it has been to see the central theme of each book and how these books relate to one another. We have found much benefit from the past 3 years of studying the Old Testament together. Why should a preacher/teacher spend time preaching/teaching overviews of biblical books? What steps are most helpful in studying for these sorts of messages? What principles govern how you teach them? Let me see if I can help you with a few pointers from what I have been learning over the...
by Bret Capranica | Jun 23, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching
Carefully Think We didn”™t finish our tour of Genesis last week, so try and read through Genesis 32-50 and see if you can summarize each chapter”™s theme. As you read, look for and perhaps underline the activity you see God doing directly. Read again Genesis 50. Who was behind all of the negative events of Joseph”™s life? Think through this one carefully. What was Joseph”™s response to these circumstances and those involved? Prayerfully Meditate What lessons would you write down from what you have read in the latter part of Genesis (32-50)? How have you been responding to the events in your own life? How much like Joseph have your responses been ““ or unlike? Why? What is it that keeps you from responding like Joseph? What has helped your responses to resemble his that you could capitalize on even more? What lesson what God teaching the original writers of the book of Genesis? How should we apply that lesson today? Intentionally Act List unique events that have occurred in you or your family”™s life over the past year. Spend a moment meditating on how God has been involved and what you have learned about Him (and about yourself) through them. Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for His providence, confessing any sin for failed responses, seeking wisdom on how to respond to current issues unique to you. Pray for those in our gathering this week who do not know Christ. Pray that God will awaken their hearts through His word and bring them to the knowledge of Christ. Pray that the entire body will be strengthened in...
by Bret Capranica | Mar 17, 2011 | Featured Articles, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Carefully Think Write down terms that come to your mind when you think about worship in the Old Testament. What terms come to mind when you think of worship in the New Testament? When you think about our church”™s worship gatherings, what words immediately come to mind? If the worship services at church were exactly as you would want them, what would they consist? Prayerfully Meditate Consider the answers to your questions above in light of what we have been learning together in Revelation 4 & 5. How many of your expectations match the emphases of worship we discussed in last week”™s sermon? What do you find that helps you to be fully prepared to worship God on each Lord”™s Day? What do you find that tends to hinder you from your own preparation for worship each week? How do you prepare yourself to come and worship with God”™s people each week? Read through John 4:20-26. What did the Woman at the well want to emphasize about worship? What did Jesus emphasize about worship? What are the key differences? Actively Respond Pray for those who will be leading the church in worship this week. Pray that they will have focused hearts and minds to lead us. Pray for yourself to have a sharp mind to see who you can serve as you come to worship. Spend specific time reading John 4:20-26 and preparing your heart to receive from God”™s Word. Meditate on the lyrics to this week”™s songs. What are they saying about God? What do they reveal about us? How do these songs reflect the major themes of...
