These questions come from an evaluation form used in Gordon-Conwell preaching classes (circa 2004). They provided a helpful grid for assessing student sermons, but they also act as a helpful checklist for sermon preparation. Take a look! If you are ever working on a sermon, these questions may serve you well. Introduction Does it get attention?Does it touch some need … [Read more...] about Questions to Assess a Sermon
Sabbath Dimensions – Relevance
[This post is part of a series about observing a sabbath.] As we close out this series, this final post is kind of a postscript. This series has been written about observing a sabbath. By this, we have endeavored to consider the day as a beneficial practice or habit, but we have stopped short of talking about its more technical, theological shifts. So, here I want to … [Read more...] about Sabbath Dimensions – Relevance
Sabbath Dimensions – Preparation
[This post is part of a series about observing a sabbath.] I mentioned in the last post the need to consider a couple of meta dimensions of the sabbath. This is the second one: preparation. Modern advocates often forget this practical, necessary aspect of sabbath observance. People talk about the day itself, as we have, but fail to consider that one of the keys to sabbath … [Read more...] about Sabbath Dimensions – Preparation
Sabbath Dimensions – Denial
[This post is part of a series about observing a sabbath.] In this series, we have been talking about dimensions of the day itself: Rest, Remembrance, and Relationship. But in this post and the next, I want to mention two, kind of, meta dimensions, that contribute to the day but are outside of the day. The first meta dimension is denial. It is not easy to observe a … [Read more...] about Sabbath Dimensions – Denial
Sabbath Dimensions – Relationship
[This post is part of a series about observing a sabbath.] The final core dimension of a sabbath is relationship. Relationship does not mean simply having lunch with friends and family, though that is certainly a worthy expression of this dimension. Relationship refers to the communal nature of its observance. The Sabbath was to be for everyone. The Sabbath is something … [Read more...] about Sabbath Dimensions – Relationship