2 Sermons Down

I am exhausted. Why is it that when a Pastor leaves, the youth pastor has to do his own work plus the pastors - but when the youth pastor leaves, the Pastor doesn't do his work?

Working on sermons is taxing - especially on the spiritual end - the trusting God end. I was challenged by Piper (book) to get up a couple hours early on Sunday morning to pray over every part of teh sermon (and more) in prep. I enjoyed it. I'm very tired.

I'm ready for a break - but there isn't one in site. I'm excited to be doing stuff for the public school again. I get to spend 2 hours plus with a bunch of them - just doing fun stuff. What a neat opportunity. This is the second year to do this. It's a wonderful opportunity. Some of the students coming to youth group now first got to know me there.

no real questions

Tuesday - Graduation - hmmm - and Preaching

It's been a week. I let things get in the way of this - which isn't a big deal - unless someone out there is just dying to read this.

Praise the Lord for his grace. Preaching went well (no progressive dialogue) - and even if it hadn't, he would still be the good God, worthy of all praise. I know God used the sermon in my heart - which is an amazing thing by itself. I believe He spoke to others as well.

I'm preaching again this week. My pastor told me to preach to the graduates. I plan to do exegetical proof texting along with some basic, a-biblical stuff (nothing that important happens after midnight as a general rule). I may use Ps 103 as a passage with great stuff for them - maybe my special verses for them.

What do you think graduating seniors need to hear? Please respond.

Monday & Preaching

I'm always excited to preach. It's a joy to study. I like the logic. I'm not always pleased with my presentation. I'm more and more convinced that logic is a passing way of life. I try to be very logical and it's clear that people don't follow that - even with the outline right in front of them. We live in a soundbite culture - and people pick out the soundbites they want. It's scary.

I was very excited about this upcoming sermon - on Mark 6 - and the feeding of the 5000. I'm still excited, but as I work on it, it seems to lose its punch. I don't know why. Prayer. I need to really pray. Maybe it's tough cause it's Monday. I don't know.

Next week I'm preaching again - and my Pastor said I should do a sermon for the seniors. I'm thinking about that. Any advice? Any deep thoughts? What do you wish you would have known? What do you tell seniors heading off to college?