by Bret Capranica | Apr 7, 2011 | Preaching
The Westminster Confession Larger Catechism states: ‘It is required of those that hear the Word preached that they attend upon it with diligence, preparation and prayer; examine: What they hear by the Scriptures; receive the truth wiht faith, love, meekness, and readiness of mind, as the Word of God; meditate, and confer of it; hide it in their hearts, and bring forth the fruit of it in their lives. quoted in Ken Ramey, Expository Listening,...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 7, 2011 | Preaching
[Timothy Turner] explains how TV watching and preaching are diameterically opposed to one another – one is visual, the other is rational; one invovles the yes, the other invovles the ears; one creates passive watchers, the othr requires active hearers. Thurner explains how TV fosters idelness and passivity by providing information that requires no response, whereas preaching seeks to generate some kind of change. If you are not careful, watching TV will turn you into a lazy listener who just sits there on the couch and takes in information and doesn’t have to do anything with it. Typically people tune in to TV to tune out. They disengage their brain and expect to be entertained and amused. The fast-paced images and sound bites have shortened people’s attention spans and created a passive spectator mentality where people are viewers rather than hearers and doers. After watching TV and going to the movies an surfing the Internet all week long, you come to church and have to sit and listen to a lengthy sermon that requires a great deal of concentration and exertion you aren’t used to. You’re expected to go from being a passive viewer to an aggressive listener literally overnight. Ken Ramey, Expository Listening, 42 (speaking of Timothy Turner’s book Preaching to Programmed People: Effective Communication in a Media-Saturated...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 6, 2011 | Preaching
Even when preaching the Word of God does not soften and save and heal, it is not necessarily ineffective. This preaching of the Word may be doing God’s terrible work of judgment. It may be hardening people, and making their ears so dull that they will never want to hear again. . . . Don’t be cavalier in the hearing of God’s Word week after week. If it is not softening and saving and healing and bearing fruit, it is probably hardening and blinding and dulling. John Piper, “Take Care How You Listen,” Part 1, Part 2 – quoted in Expository Listening, Ken...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 6, 2011 | Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Worship
Mid-Week Minutes 4-6-11 from Summit Woods on...
by Bret Capranica | Feb 25, 2011 | Biblical Studies, Featured Articles, Preaching, Worship
Carefully Think what is the main idea of Revelation 5:6-10? make a list of what you learn about Jesus that makes him distinct from everything else in the passage list what you find to be expression of unique attributes (characteristics) of Jesus What does the passage suggest about the centrality of redemption? In what ways? How/why is Jesus uniquely worthy to take the scroll and open the seals? Prayerfully Meditate how should these attributes and positions of Jesus affect your prayers? meditate on the lyrics to this Sunday”™s songs and consider what we are saying about the worthiness of Jesus What aspects of our redemption are we singing about this Sunday? How have you expressed your gratitude for God”™s saving grace to redeem you? How have you taken it for granted? Lyrics for Sunday's Songs Morning service february 27, 2011 View more presentations from Summit Woods Baptist Church Actively Respond Read the passage with your family either Saturday evening or Sunday morning before coming to church. Talk with your family, wife, or a friend about the various elements you see in the passage that make Jesus uniquely worthy Pray for our gathering this Sunday morning. How should this passage affect how you engage in praying, singing, listening, and fellowshipping? Ask God to make you sensitive to those around you who have needs and who need to see how worthy Jesus is. Ask God to make you sensitive in how you could contribute in conversation, prayer, and helping others through the...
