Hello all!
So I spent this past week in North Bay, taking an intesntive course - Homiletics - or the "science of preaching." It was very intense (which i suppose is to be expected seeing as how you are trying to finish a course in 4 days....) but it was VERY good. I actually enjoyed it much more than i thought i would. I really enjoyed the discussion and the practicality of how we talked about preaching and teaching. I learned a lot and i can't wait to put it into practice. I think i may...have discovered a new passion for preaching, i'm just exctied to keep working on my communication and teaching, so that people are truly challenged by the Bible and how God wants to transform our lives to make us more like Him. I think i probably enjoyed this course more thani thought i would because i realized that it wasn't anything like what my pre-concieved ideas were about it. So even though the timing of this course was kinda crazy, and it's making me CRAZY busy for the next few weeks (because i'm adding it to working full time at church, and another online course....) i'm really glad i took it.
It was very refreshing. Even just learning how to look at God's word in a new light. God is so good, and there is so much in the Bible for us! Everything we need. There will always be something new to learn, but also many times i learned the challenge is learning how to present something known or familar in a new and fresh way as to remind and encourage people. So basically i'm really looking forward to continuing to learn so i can be the best communicator of God's message i can be. - All the while - completely relying on him - cause without that - i know i have nothing.
I think one of the biggest things i learned is - BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. God's message will be filtered through YOU> your experiences, your personality - and that's a GOOD thing -don't fight it - don't try to be something you're not - because that will not communicate or connect with people. Authenticity is SO important. And preaching/teaching is more than just standing up and talking to a group of people, yelling a bit, you know the deal. Preaching is a way of life - a lifestyle, and it happens all the time, whether it's one on one or to a group of people, or to a church. Somestimes we put it in a box. But why on earth should we limit God and his message to man? God is bigger than our traditions. Let's get out of our comfort zone, and PREACH IT!
So what's your take on "preaching?" What are your pre-conceived ideas? Think about it. Learn. Change. Live it.
Until another day...
