Sermon Structure
Be Kind: 42 Seconds Sermon Notes 1 of 4
Editor’s Note: This resource supports preachers and congregations in the use of the book 42 Seconds: The Jesus Model for Everyday Interactions by Carl Medearis. You can visit the 42 Seconds Resource page at justinrossow.com to see more. The Big Idea “It’s basically impossible to introduce people to Jesus if we’re not kind to them” (page […]
6 Tips for Preaching a New Structure
I forgot how uncomfortable it can be to test-drive a sermon structure you’ve never used before. Before you buckle up and take a new design out for a spin, here are some tips to get you–and your hearers–home safely. 1. Keep Your Goal in Mind I find the best way to use sermon structures effectively […]
Test-Driving a New Sermon Structure
Trying something new for the first time is always a little uncomfortable. Sermon structures are no different. The first time you test-drive a shiny new sermon structure, it’s easy to feel like you are slightly out of control. Your natural cadence, your expectations, your anticipation of what your hearers will do next, your flow–all of […]
That One Time I Accidentally Said, “Kiss My A**” Three Times During the Gospel Lesson
I plead ignorance on this one. But the situation still brings up legitimate questions of communication, cultural norms, and offense as a preaching technique that Jesus seemed to use, but maybe we shouldn’t … OK; here’s the situation. I’m preaching on Luke 14, the Parable of the Banquet where the rich guests who were invited […]
You ARE His Witnesses
I had a chance to sit down with a preacher after I listened to his sermon. I find the conversation about preaching can be fascinating, and really helpful for those who face the art, craft, and challenge of preaching on a regular basis. The text for the sermon came from the assigned readings for Ascension, […]
The Dead Sea and the River of Life
by Justin Rossow The following sermon is based on the vision recorded in Ezekiel 47:1-12. Revelation 22:1-7a and John 4 were also used in worship that day. We often think of metaphor as using something we know to help us understand something we don’t know. While that may often be the case, it’s hardly a […]
Heading in the Right Direction
Metaphors shape the way we think. Metaphors shape how we make decisions. Metaphors allow us to experience one thing in terms of something else. The following is a sermon produced by a student in a course I teach on metaphor theory. The assignment was to put the basic elements of metaphor theory to use in […]
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