Preaching From Biblical Journeys
Introduction:
My thoughts goes again to my childhood as I start this text. I keep in mind the primary time I rode the prepare by the gorgeous hill nation of Sri Lanka with my household – a journey thought of by many to be probably the most scenic prepare journeys on the earth. The photographs of completely manicured tea plantations, misty hills, cascading waterfalls, winding streams glistening within the solar, and the numerous enchanting tunnels we handed, are eternally etched in my reminiscence.
I additionally keep in mind our household of 5 being huddled round a small radio in 1969, listening to the ‘reside commentary’ of man’s first try to land on the moon. Regardless that we have been 1000’s of miles away, the thrill of this journey was so particular that we stayed up all night time following the story with hope in our hearts. The sense of aid in addition to pleasure as Astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped on to the floor of the moon and spoke his now legendary first phrases, nonetheless stay with me.
I’ve all the time been curious about following journeys. All through my lifetime, I’ve adopted many such journeys with a lot enthusiasm. In actual fact, my favourite caricature in my childhood was based mostly across the adventures of Tintin as he journeyed to many components of the world together with, of all locations, the moon. (I’m not ashamed to say that I nonetheless learn these books generally). Unsure nonetheless why Tintin by no means travelled to Sri Lanka!
One other set of journeys that I’ve discovered extraordinarily enthralling are these highlighted within the pages of the Bible. These journeys present glorious sermon materials to me as a preacher, and through the years, I’ve used them in a lot of my sermons. The journeys of the patriarchs, Joseph’s journey to Egypt, Moses’ journey to Midian and again to Egypt, Elijah’s flight from Jezebel’s threats, and the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem are some examples.
Someday in the past, I used to be scheduled to talk at our church companies and as I contemplated over what I ought to communicate on within the midst of many troublesome conditions my nation Sri Lanka was dealing with at the moment, I turned to a biblical journey as soon as once more. It was the story in Acts 27, based mostly round Paul’s journey to Rome to face trial earlier than Caesar – a nerve-wracking journey that finally led to shipwreck.
On this article, I wish to share some sensible steps which have helped me when preaching from biblical journeys. I pray one can find them helpful. (The private experiences I’ve added from my sermon on Acts 27 are primarily for illustrative functions.)
1) Learn the story greater than as soon as
Going by the story of the journey a couple of instances over is in itself a journey of discovery. Many are the essential truths and info we will glean when doing this. Many contemporary insights come alive as we learn and re-read in regards to the journey from the central passage of the story and different associated (parallel) scriptures.
2) Use Maps when preaching
A very good map brings a powerful visible actuality to the listener relating to the journey being preached from. It helps establish the start and the top of the journey, the locations of victory or defeat, and different essential happenings alongside the way in which. A map helps to hold the congregation by the completely different levels of the journey, main as much as its conclusion.
Our church, the Individuals’s Church in Sri Lanka, is blessed with a LED display which fortunately helps deliver larger readability to the visuals getting used. Nonetheless, even when such a display is just not out there, a map or a part of a map may nonetheless be used successfully.
3) Spotlight some essential places within the journey
Drawing consideration to some essential places within the journey by historic, modern-day, or biblical background info can present worthwhile classes to the listener. Including a couple of visuals will improve that have.
For instance, on Peter’s journey to Lydda, Joppa, and finally to Cornelius’ home in Caesarea, (present in Acts chapters 9/10), he skilled a life-transforming imaginative and prescient in Joppa (Acts 10:9-23). The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testomony by Craig S. Keener, tells us in its notes on Acts 9:36, that, “Joppa, now a part of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, was a worthwhile port metropolis” (web page 349). Maybe this info, with a visible of modern-day Jaffa, could assist individuals establish extra meaningfully with the story.
I additionally love the way in which The New Worldwide Bible Commentary describes Peter’s emotions of starvation on the identical event as he was enjoyable throughout what I wish to name ‘a trip at a seaside location’ – simply earlier than receiving the imaginative and prescient (Acts 10:9-10). It says, “Peter’s starvation was a component of revelation, and one could think about that he was gazing on the elongated lateen sail of a ship getting into the harbor as he waited for his meals” (web page 1286).
After sharing such info, who is aware of, some listeners may very well take into account reserving a tour of modern-day Joppa sometime!
When preaching from Paul’s sea voyage to Rome, I drew consideration to St Paul’s Bay in Malta, which many commentators imagine was the place the place Paul and the others finally landed after the shipwreck (Acts 27:39-28:1). Possibly it inspired some to establish with and even learn up about St. Paul’s Bay in as we speak’s context.
4) Spotlight distances within the journey whereas preaching
Highlighting distances (both by mileage or the variety of hours or days taken), between key places within the journey, additionally helps individuals grasp the story with larger readability.
For instance, if our sermon is predicated across the journey of the Magi to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12), we may possibly take into account highlighting the approximate variety of miles they coated on the final a part of their journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The NIV Examine Bible in its footnote on Matthew 2:1, describes Bethlehem in Judea as “a village about 5 miles south of Jerusalem.” I for one may very simply establish with that distance because it’s pretty near the gap I journey usually from my dwelling to the church I minister in!
As a lot as we’re cautious to verify on distances once we undertake a journey as we speak, (many even accomplish that on air flights), I imagine it will be useful to do the identical for biblical journeys – no less than for a couple of of the primary places within the story.
5) Sound results/props
Using sound results or easy props to focus on an essential a part of the journey will assist individuals to focus extra intently on what’s being shared. Easy props like a employees for a shepherd’s story, a rod to focus on Moses’ journey, or a cool bottle of water to focus on a desert expertise, will assist maintain the eye of the congregation.
When preaching from Acts 27 not too long ago, on the level within the sermon the place the storm overtook Paul’s ship (Acts 27:14-15), the media group at our church performed a soundtrack that included rain and powerful winds. It turned out to be a shock second I imagine, and some thought {that a} storm had gathered outdoors whereas the service was in progress!
(Observe: If you want to learn the complete sermon on Acts 27, referred to on this article, Click on right here.)
6) Getting an professional’s opinion
Getting an professional to explain a related a part of the journey shall be an important studying expertise for the congregation. For example, if the story includes a famine, an professional on meals safety can add his experience on the topic. If it includes a navy battle, an individual who has performed navy service may clarify the state of affairs manner higher than a preacher may ever do. (No preacher is an professional on each topic. Definitely not me!)
In my preaching, on one event, a former military commander shared his experience relating to a battle within the scriptures, whereas on one other event, a well-respected lawyer shared his insights on a authorized matter. Such experience clearly had a larger affect on the story..
Coming again to Paul’s sea journey in Acts 27, I sought the recommendation of a Grasp Mariner and a former ship’s captain, who occurred to be my elder brother. I defined to him in regards to the passage I used to be preaching from and requested him to share his insights on a number of the technical particulars of crusing by a storm.
To my absolute shock, he talked about {that a} ship he was as soon as crusing in had bought caught in a nasty storm within the actual space because the ship Paul was touring in. In actual fact, the ship had skilled damages because of the storm, and he was suggested by the brokers to take care of the repairs on the nearest out there port, which of all locations occurred to be Malta, the place Paul, and all on board landed safely!
This real-life expertise he shared in simply 5 minutes of the sermon time, introduced forth the truth of what Paul and his companions went by, much better than I may ever have performed by my preaching. Some within the congregation later informed me that it was one of many predominant highlights of the sermon! (A humbling second for the preacher).
7) Spotlight a personality within the journey in your preaching
A personality examine of the primary character within the journey could be a significant manner of bringing forth the bible truths entwined within the story and of highlighting the event of the individual involved.
Instance: In his life’s journey, Joseph went from being favourite son to favurite slave to favourite administrator to favourite prisoner to favourite Governor to favourite Diplomat to favourite brother.
Another choice that might be thought of could be to distinction the characters of two opposing personalities to point out the positives of honoring God and the negatives of not doing so – (Instance: The Magi and Herod or Moses and Pharaoh).
8) A memorable ending
This might be performed in many alternative methods as decided by the preacher, which might assist to conclude the sermon successfully.
When preaching from Acts 27, I inspired the congregation to deliver hope to the individuals of Sri Lanka throughout these making an attempt instances by letting their gentle shine brightly by demonstrating unshakeable religion and thru acts of kindness. The sermon ended with the hymn ‘Let the decrease Lights be Burning’ which was sung fantastically by one among our choristers. It blessed many hearts.
(Observe: If you want to learn the complete sermon on Acts 27, referred to on this article, Click on right here.)
9) Prayer and God’s anointing
The entire above options, whereas they’d assist enrich the sermon, ought to all the time be coated with a lot prayer and dependance on the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He alone could make the sermon come alive in individuals’s hearts and assist them apply it successfully of their Christian stroll.
Conclusion:
As a preacher, I nonetheless take into account myself a newbie. I actually wish to study extra in regards to the craft of preaching by listening to others. What I’ve shared on this article are some sensible classes I’ve discovered whereas preaching from journeys within the Bible. I hope you discover them useful.
For a useful article on Preaching efficient sermons in the course of the Christmas Season, click on right here.
Click on right here to buy an inspiring 21-day Christmas Devotional.
