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  • philsanders 12:41 pm on April 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: evangelism Bible Study campaign preaching gospel   

    Randal, you asked if I had something on my heart that I am praying about. Your question made me stop and remember a vow that I made last Saturday with 150 others. I am praying fervently, daily, about the Christ Is the Answer Campaign in Parkersburg, WV on July 26-29. I am the speaker for this campaign.

    Several hundred workers from many states will join together to knock the 40,000 doors of homes throughout Woods Count, WV. Brethren in Belpre, OH across the Ohio River will knock several thousand more. We will be advertizing the campaign and setting up Bible studies.

    In 1967 Jimmy Allen held a campaign in Parkersburg with 2400 people in attendance each evening at the Parkersburg High School Memorial Field House. Nearly 100 people were baptized into Christ. We are hoping after 43 years to do the same. About twenty churches are committed to participate in this Mid-Ohio Valley event.

    Joe Wells of Kaio magazine will be working with youth. Chris Walker will lead the singing. Neil Anderson of the Gospel Advocate will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

    We have been working and praying for this campaign for nearly three years. We are now in the last 90 days before it happens. Please join me in praying for this effort. We hope to light a fire to sweep across the nation. If you would like materials for what we say at the door or the Bible studies we will use, I will be happy to send you copies that you may reproduce.

    God is good.
    Phil

     

    • Sandra Moore 12:55 pm on April 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Phil, That sounds like a wonderful work and I will be praying also. My father is from Central West Virginia, so the people of West Virginia are close to my heart.

      Sandra Moore

    • Weylan Deaver 1:50 pm on April 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      God speed, Phil!

    • Mike Riley 2:26 pm on April 29, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      We pray that many will be led to Christ because of this united effort.

  • philsanders 1:40 pm on April 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , fusses,   

    I always regret a fight that started with anger, whether on my part or in my reaction. Some folks can’t seem to make it through life without some kind of fuss going on. I don’t need fusses. They don’t help. I keep reminding myself of 2 Timothy 2:24-26 and my need to be gentle and reasonable.

    In some of my online debates in the 1990s, I learned that if I ever get ugly or angry, I always lose. Even if I am right, I am wrong for the attitude and lose the respect of the lurkers. I vowed to let my opponents say anything ugly they wanted; I wasn’t going to act that way. I was going to be nice and respectful. I could win respect, even when I could not convince others of the truth, by my attitude. My deepest regret was when I fell to treating my opponents the way they often treated me.

     

    • Richard Mansel 2:49 pm on April 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      I’ve learned a lot through the years on discussion groups. Now, I just let things go, rather than keeping up the attack. I now see that it is often pointless and I have better things to do.

    • Alonge Emmanuel 7:26 am on December 8, 2011 Permalink | Reply

      brother Phil,
      your line of reasoning is right and scriptural. I pray God to help me to do same always

  • philsanders 1:13 pm on April 9, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    When Jesus turned to the apostles and asked, “But who do you say that I the Son of Man am?” The most important question of my life is whether I acknowledge Jesus as the Christ the Son of the Living God. This is not a small question or easily answered. Each day by what I say and how I live I give affirmation or denial or apathy to the question.
    Similar to the question was what Jesus asked Peter after the resurrection at the Sea of Galilee, “Do you love me more than these?”
    When I am distracted by hypothetical questions, I think of a question on the same occasion, “What is that to you? You follow me.”

    Relationship is most important.
    phil

     

  • philsanders 3:43 pm on March 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    I’d be more grateful for what God has done for me in forgiving me and for brethren who helped me to grow in my faith. I owe so much to the Lord and to His servants who have blessed my life. I would cultivate in my heart a greater gratitude for God’s goodness.

    I’d forget Phil more and think of Christ more (John 3:30). I’d be more sensitive to others and especially to the lost who need the Lord. I would speak the truth in love more often and more effectively. I would learn everything I could about the Bible so that I might share more effectively with others. I would forget ambition and pursue service. I would fight the temptation to be proud, which is the scourge of preaching.

    I’d take more time to think of brotherhood. I would learn how to love better, how to forgive more quickly, how to encourage more often, how to warn when needed, how to be a peacemaker, and how to be gentle.

    I would pay more attention to reading the Old Testament.

    I would take a long, long look at the cross and at the empty tomb.

    phil

     

    • Mike Riley 4:34 pm on March 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Thanks for your good insight, Phil. I believe I’d strive to do the same.

    • Daniel Haynes 4:58 pm on March 15, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Excellent word, brother. Thank you for sharing.

    • Richard Hill 12:31 am on March 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Well said! The skills of listening, peacemaking, and gentleness are high on my spiritual improvement agenda. You’ve presented us with a lot to think about. Thanks!

  • philsanders 10:48 pm on February 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: broadcast, , , ,   

    What SEARCH is doing for the Lord! 

    Each week we at In Search of the Lord’s Way produce an evangelistic television program. Our program goes out to 80 broadcast stations, 300 cable systems, five satellites, and 50 radio stations. You can download the last two years of broadcasts on our website http://www.searchtv.org in audio, video, and transcript formats.

    SEARCH fills almost 5,000 requests for information per program. We send out CDs, DVDs, transcripts, and audio cassettes. We have about 200 Bible Correspondence Course students at any one time. We offer the Upon the Rock Bible Studies. We also offer Study Sheets before each program that helps a student get the most out of each.

    SEARCH goes out to a number of foreign countries, including broadcasts in Iceland, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Guam, Guyana, and Korea. Over the Pacific Radio Broadcast, we go out to 30,000 islands in the South Pacific (from French Polynesia to New Zealand).

    We are also on a couple of satellites with a base in Norway. One satellite covers Europe, the Middle East, and Northern Africa. The other twin satellite covers all of North America.

    We can count a potential audience of 230 million, but we cannot count much of what we are doing. We think that we go out to more than 300 million.

    Please pray for us in this ministry. We speak to more people by television than any other ministry among churches of Christ and are among the top three religious programs of any kind in America. We often get a larger audience than denominational broadcasts that appear at the same time slot.

    Keep SEARCH in your prayers, please. I feel a very keen sense of responsibility to do my best on the program. God’s Word will reach souls (Isa. 55:10-11), but I know I must be faithful, loving, kind, and uncompromising in my preaching (Eph. 4:15). I often think of Col. 4:2-4. Pray that God will open a door for the Word!

    God bless,
    phil

     

    • Mike Riley 12:05 am on February 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Phil, It looks like you are doing a great job at SearchTV.org! I have your site as a link on my blog. We will definitely keep the Search ministry in our prayers!

    • Glenda Williams 1:53 am on February 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      We will certainly have the program in our prayers. God bless you all.

    • Jim 5:26 pm on February 25, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Phil…I tried to reply earlier but it doesn’t look like it went through. Keep up the good work. Give Chris L. my love, he’s a really good guy!

    • Daniel Haynes 5:04 am on February 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Phil, do you know if Search is available in Utah?

  • philsanders 5:25 pm on February 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: evangelize, , ,   

    But if I say, “I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name,” then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it (Jeremiah 20:9).

    A preaching brother recently asked me how to light a fire of faith in ourselves and in our brethren to evangelize and to have a love for souls. He observed that the how is harder than the what, and he is certainly correct.

    Our marching orders are in the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16). For several years I taught the church growth class at the Nashville School of Preaching. I learned that many churches have no strategy for taking the gospel to their community. Many haven’t even kept records of baptisms, restorations, their growth, or their loss. They worship regularly but have had little thought about winning souls for Jesus. Many sermons are crafted for the saved with little thought of the lost and dying souls or exhorting us to evangelize.

    Before Paul wrote to Timothy to fan the flame of his gift from God (2 Tim. 1:6-7), he reminded Timothy of the “sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well” (1:5). If we believe in the cross and in the resurrection, we believe in a hereafter and a judgment. Our faith will not allow us to remain silent about sin and salvation. Peter and John said, “we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20; cf. Jer. 20:9). Fire in our bones arises from faith!

    We need to revive our sincere faith, to have a deep conviction of what we believe and why. The Lord has called us to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses daily, and to follow Him. Let us put away a spirit of timidity and renew a spirit of “power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7). Let us not be afraid to preach with love the distinctive nature of the one gospel, one faith, one body, or one baptism. When we preach the truth in love, we will win souls!

    The Lord be with you,
    Phil Sanders

     

    • Randal Matheny 10:15 pm on February 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Phil, did you edit this text? Because I was sure I read something here about sponsoring the Search TV program, and was going to insert it elsewhere. So am I going bonkers or what?

    • Phil Sanders 10:22 pm on February 24, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      I did. I was a bit apprehensive at a self-serving promotion of our work. I would love an opportunity to tell all the great work we are doing, but I did not want to do so without your approval.

  • philsanders 3:16 pm on February 19, 2010 Permalink | Reply  

    For whom was I named? My parents named me with the Bible name “Philip.” I don’t know whether it was the apostle or the evangelist, but that matters little. I am happy to be named after a servant of the Lord.

     

  • philsanders 3:21 pm on February 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: equip, , , , , ,   

    When Do I Grow? 

    I was once made very angry and I had to grow to learn patience and forgiveness.

    I was once slandered and I had to grow to learn that living right and doing right is the best answer to the lies of others.

    I occasionally find myself ignored or forgotten and I have to grow in my humility.

    From time to time I fail, and I have to grow beyond my failures to try again. As often as I sin, I am reminded I still need to repent. I still marvel at the grace of God.

    Like Paul I have times of abundance and times of suffering need, and I am learning to depend upon the mercy of One greater than myself to provide what I cannot do for myself. I grow most when I lean upon the Lord’s strength. He strengthens me. What a treasure to have the power of God available for the asking!

    I am often so ignorant, but the Word informs me and enlightens me to see what I have never seen before.

    God molds and shapes us positively in wonderful ways through friends, through the Word, and through prayer. God also uses the events of our lives, both positive and negative, to help us understand the practical messages of the Word. He grows us from the inside and from without. He shapes and molds us, equips us, and prepares us for great things. God is so good to us, even when our growth comes with pain.

     

    • Richard Mansel 4:22 pm on February 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      This is beautiful, Phil. Thanks!

    • John Henson 4:39 pm on February 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Fantastic thoughts, brother. Thank you.

    • Mike Riley 9:18 pm on February 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply

      Phil, Great thoughts on having the right attitude (humility) toward trials and tribulations that come our way.

  • philsanders 4:29 pm on January 28, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    The State of the Brotherhood 

    There is much that is good, much that needs repentance, and much that needs help.

    I am well aware of the progressives who are fast moving to evangelical fluff. And I am well aware of the neo-antis who seem stuck in traditions of their own making and trying to enforce them on everyone else. These groups are failing and losing their children in large numbers to the world. The progressives are losing 60 percent of their children to the religious world, and the neo-antis are losing 60 percent to non-participation.

    The mainstream is, however, producing well. They evangelize with love, care for the hurting, reach out to the lost, and train their children. They keep most of their kids faithful to the Lord.

    We have numerous neighborhood churches and small town churches graying and dying. We will lose some congregations in the coming decades.

    I’ve seen many churches with lots of older folks and lots of young families, but the middle aged folks seem to have jumped ship.

    I’m seeing schools of preaching pop up in many locations. If you haven’t checked out what they are doing, I think you’d be surprised. They are producing more pulpit preachers than our universities at this point. A school in Marietta, GA, now has several branches and 400 students! This school is only about ten years old!!!

    I know of five or six new schools of preaching popping up–there is a new one in Oklahoma City this fall.

    I have traveled much in the last 18 months, and the churches that are growing–without exception–are among the mainstream. They are healthy, loving, working, and devoted to the truth. God will bless such congregations with increase.

    A few progressive churches are swelling but most have seriously declined in the last five years. I know of several that are only a fraction of they had been.

    I believe we are winning this war of ideology. Once progressives reveal what they actually believe and want to do, they cease to attract as they once did. Exposing Satan is the most effective first step in defeating him.

    God prunes his vine from time to time so that it may grow. I think we are growing through just such a time. We hate the loss and love all our brotherhood, but separation from those who will not do what is right is not evil (1 Cor. 11:18-19). God prunes so that the vine may remain healthy and produce more fruit.

    Let us hold fast to that which we have been taught and not be fooled by the philosophies of men (Col. 2:6-8). Let us grow in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). And let us abound in the work of the Lord, filled with love for the Father and for the lost (1 Cor. 15:58).

     

  • philsanders 5:26 pm on January 16, 2010 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    God’s Providence 

    When God wants to make an impact on people’s lives, he usually sends another person. My parents, preachers, and other family influenced me profoundly in my developing years to become a Christian and to pursue ministry as a life. I was baptized by Carl Wills after hearing the preaching of a blind man, Tom Silva. Steve Bracken influenced me to preach the gospel. Many men mentored and blessed my life in those early days, giving me opportunities and showing me methods and techniques.

    In all of this I realize that it is God who makes us adequate as His ministers (2 Cor. 3:5). Preachers have always been my heroes, and God uses men to shape other men in this undertaking for eternity. God blessed me with wonderful, godly, and faithful teachers in my university experiences. I am so thankful to them.

    At 58 years of age and 40+ years of experience I am still learning and developing in my new ministry. God is opening up great opportunities to grow in His grace and knowledge. And I am thankful for the opportunity to serve.

    I so deeply appreciate all the posts I see in TFR. I am learning from you all how to think more like Christ and how to grow in faith. Thank you for being my brethren.

    Christ is all and in you all. I can see Him when I read your posts (Eph. 3:17).

     

  • philsanders 5:16 pm on December 23, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , Bethlehem, birth of Christ, Magi, ,   

    The Birth of Christ 

    Let me first of all say: I do not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday. I think of this time of year as a family celebration and reunion.

    But I do want to stir up your mind about the birth of Christ. Think of it! Other than the crucifixion and resurrection, no single past event is so important.

    Isaiah prophesied it in 7:14 as a unique “virgin” birth. Daniel told the time of the coming of the Messiah in 2:44. Micah prophesied the exact location (Bethlehem Ephrathah) in Micah 5:2.

    An angel announced the birth to both Joseph and Mary (Matthew 1:18-25; also Luke 1:26-38).
    Maji spent months following a special star and traveling to observe the child and present gifts (Mt. 2:1-12). Who else in all of history had a star to proclaim his birth?

    Herod was so envious and angry about it he destroyed many children to stop it (2:16-18).

    Elizabeth called Mary the “mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43). In response Mary sang what has come to be called the Magnificat (1:46-55).

    Though Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, a special census called for them to return to Bethlehem, even though Mary was large with child (Luke 2:1-7).

    An angel of the Lord announced the birth to shepherds in the field with the sign of a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Luke 2:8-20).

    The Scriptures tell much about this birth. No other birth in ancient history has so much prophesied and recorded about it. This is an amazing miracle and blessing of God.

    This is a marvelous event! And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

    Say as little about the human tradition of Christmas as you wish, but do not neglect to tell what the Bible says about the birth of Jesus Christ–God’s great gift to the world!!!

     

    • mtmcvb 6:29 pm on December 23, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Not sure how many are aware of the following.
      Herod had precedence for the killing of children in such an instance. Years before there were prophecies that a universal Roman ruler would be born. He would have more power than any man in their history. Law was passed to kill all male children born that year but the Senate was excluded. A child was born who became that prophesied leader — Augustus. Herod was well aware of this as well as being crazy. This is why he wanted the exact place of the prophecy. He would not be brought up on any charges to the Roman Senate for his actions since that body had done the same thing years earlier. Mark McWhorter

      • philsanders 7:30 pm on December 23, 2009 Permalink | Reply

        Thanks, Mark, for this insight into Herod.

        Bethlehem Ephathrah (or Judah) is distinguished from another Bethlehem in the northern part of Israel. Interestingly, Bethlehem is distinguished from Jerusalem (the other city of David). There is a large unoccupied valley to this day between Jerusalem and Bethlehem (some six miles away).

        Those who would have Jesus born in Jerusalem and contend Bethlehem is in the Jerusalem area are greatly mistaken. If Jesus had been born in Jerusalem, Micah’s prophecy would have failed. It was Bethlehem’s small size that is significant in the production of this GREAT KING of all time.

        Phil

  • philsanders 7:51 pm on December 22, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , , ,   

    Barabbas. This man had to live everyday with the understanding he was guilty but freed, while the innocent Jesus was innocent but crucified. Barabbas knew the extreme penalty associated with scourging and crucifixion. Barabbas never felt the nails in his flesh, but he must of felt the weight of an innocent man taking his place. Do you?

    phil

     

  • philsanders 7:46 pm on December 22, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: cybercriminal, passwords, scam   

    Cybercriminal attack on Facebook 

    I was recently the victim of a cyberscam by criminals in London who hacked into my Facebook account (perhaps using my yahoo email account) to pretend I was in London in financial straits and needing money from friends to get home.

    Well, I have never been in London; but I did learn some valuable lessons about passwords–change them periodically.

    I’m back up and hopefully some smarter. BTW, this is the second time someone has attempted to steal my identity–beware.

    Kindly,
    Phil

     

    • B.Esudas 1:18 am on December 23, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Dear Bro.Phil Sanders
      Some hackers changed my yaho id pass word and delited all of my contacts list. So that i missed many of my friends.I did not understand how it is possible to them. But they enter in to my yahoo groups. They tried to fix there email there. That is the problem with hackers.

    • Ron 1:48 pm on December 23, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      It is interesting that this happened to you. Locally, this happened to a heating/air condition fellow. I called the office and learned it was a scam. Hopefully, no one was taken in by it.

      Ron

  • philsanders 8:14 pm on December 14, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , relevant,   

    Keeping Kids 

    Believe it or not we are still getting multiple requests daily for the booklet we offered on Keeping Children Faithful. They are free.

    Since I have been speaking on this and researching (since early in the year), I have tried to find out everything I could on keeping kids faithful to the Lord. Many kids leave the church and do not come back after the age of 18.

    On the other hand, mainstream churches of Christ do a great job of keeping our children. The progressive left lose theirs (60%) to community churches and the extreme right usually lose theirs (60%) to the world. In the middle, we are keeping 62% and seeing the return of many (12%) after college. The notion that we must change our theology to keep our kids is absurd. (Statistics from Flavil Yeakley Jr., “Where Are the Children?” in 2009 ETSOP Lectureship Book, “Life’s Greatest Questions, p. 162).

    Ken Ham’s book, “Already Gone,” notes a quite interesting observation about music:

    “I have visited hundreds and hundreds of churches. Everywhere I go, music seems to be the central issue…We think if we can make it dynamic, energetic, and fit the style of the generation we’re trying to reach, the epidemic (loss of children to world) will be stopped and young people will start flooding back into the Church. That’s simply not the case. Our research showed that music is NOT a fundamental factor in young adults choosing to leave or stay at church–but the preaching of God’s Word is.” (p. 110)

    “Yes, people love music, but they want good teaching!”

    “Cultural forms (guitars and drums) do not make you relevant, they just make you cool. Truth makes you relevant.”

    What do kids need most: teaching and training. Cosmetics don’t help; they merely cover up and sometimes make everything look phony.

     

    • Laura 12:02 am on December 15, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Glad to see someone is really looking into this. I have long thought the reason we lose our children is because we have not properly taught them the word of God. How many that we lose start down that path because they do not understand why they believe what they believe and ultimately come to the conclusion that the church is just one of many denominations?

      It all starts at home, but I don’t think that’s where it stops. Many sound congregations are using Bible materials that were written by and for denominations and edited for use in the church, without realizing what they have. While false teaching is mostly edited out, none of the distinctive doctrines of the church are inserted. So children getting a constant dose of this material never learn about Biblical worship, church organization, and God’s plan of salvation, among other things in Bible class settings where they can have a discussion with the teacher and ask questions. Ultimately our children begin to view us as no different than the denomination next door. If we are no different, then why not go somewhere more to your liking?

      • philsanders 2:56 pm on December 15, 2009 Permalink | Reply

        The key to keeping kids faithful is teaching and training. Nothing else is even in the ball park. Parents must take the primary role. We have often overlooked the role of Bible Classes, but you are right, Laura. We have jettisoned our responsibility to published literature, which may not give the whole truth to our children. We must look very closely at our distinctives. A couple of generations have grown up that do not have a clue who we are, what we believe, or why we are different. We must do our best to teach that along with all the other important things.

        I am convinced that entertaining our kids will not lead them to take up the cross of Christ and bear up to the end. We must convert them to the Lord and His truth. We must set the example. We must help them along the way to work through their struggles.

        God bless you Laura,
        phil

  • philsanders 7:05 pm on December 14, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: award, , , , , , Well Done   

    Hope 

    Yesterday I spoke on hope in troubled times, focusing on passages that give me hope.

    The words I long to hear more than any other: “Well done.” Christianity for the two-talent and the five-talent people was a blessing. Christianity is a livable religion with a bearable yoke. You can go to heaven. 2 Tim. 4:6-8 tells of an awards day. The Day of Judgment is not all negative; there are judgments of life too.

    When things were at their worst, Jeremiah sang in his Lament the beautiful passage from 3:21-24… The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercy never comes to an end…

    phil

     

  • philsanders 2:53 pm on December 11, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , synoptics,   

    Which gospel account? 

    Weylan, I have four lovely and wonderful daughters, of whom I am immensely proud. To choose between the accounts is like having to choose between my daughters.

    Matthew is like a wonderful bouquet of roses, grouped in fives, showing the marvelous fulfillment of God’s plan from the beginning.

    Mark is the gospel of action. Though brief, he often gives the fullest information about an event. Mark is pointed and speaks to the heart.

    Luke is inclusive and reminds us that every person is loved by God. He speaks so well to the forgotten.

    John is the spiritual gospel, simple yet profound, filled with controversy but pointed as to the Son’s place in our salvation.

    All four are God’s word. I love every bit of them. They are a great source of nourishment to the soul, giving hope, instruction, and assurance. I not only love them. I need them. Apparently God wanted each of them for their own service to us all.

    Phil

     

    • jimnewy 4:14 pm on December 11, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Amen Phil. I thought about choosing one of them as I have studied Matt. and John a lot, Mark some and Luke only once. But like you wrote the choice was hard to separate them to a single favorite.

  • philsanders 6:18 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply
    Tags: , , public speaking, skill, tone of voice   

    Listening to Myself 

    I admit it. I do not like listening to the sound of my voice. I also do not like looking at myself. My work on television requires I do both.

    For several years now I have had to take a critical look and listen at myself with the intent of improving my feeble efforts. I don’t like it, but I need to do it.

    Recently I heard a preacher give a very fine lesson in content, but his tone of voice gave a mixed message. His message of consolation to the troubled sounded more like a scolding. I know he did not intend that; he is a good friend and brother in the Lord.

    I want to suggest to all my preaching brothers to listen to your sermons, not so much for content as for the emotional message in the tone of voice. Does it match the content?

    I would ask farther that each preaching brother listen to the cadence, pitch, and melody of the voice. Is it constant or is there variety?

    Of course, the content of the message must be foremost–I fully hold that!

    But to maturing preachers who have settled faith, I ask if they have thought of the skill of preaching lately?

    Raymond Kelcy asked me in 1984 if I could be the kind of preacher he would want to listen to for the next ten years. Brother Kelcy revealed to me that he read a new book or re-read an old one on preaching every year. I began that practice 25 years ago. I think it has helped.

    Early in ministry we must build primarily our Biblical base and understanding, but as we mature we should work at building skills. The more skills we acquire, the more doors will open to us.

    Would you want to listen to you for the next ten years? Even if you present Biblically-based and rich sermons in content, would you want to remain at your present skill level?

    Preachers who grow continue to preach. Preachers who fail to grow find disappointment.

    With great appreciation and respect for all preachers of the one true gospel,
    Phil Sanders

     

    • Daniel Haynes 6:53 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Thank you for this post. I needed to read this. God bless.

    • Mike Riley 8:34 pm on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Phil,

      What you stated here, should be a part of the criteria for effective preaching: “I want to suggest to all my preaching brothers to listen to your sermons, not so much for content as for the emotional message in the tone of voice. Does it match the content?”

      Most, if not all of the great and effective preachers of the past, would agree with you in your above statement.

      I like to think of effective preaching in this manner:

      We are salesmen for Christ. In fact, I once knew a preacher that often said, “I’m in sales – not management!” Our product is the saving gospel of Christ. We must totally believe in our product in order to effectively sell it to our customers (those living in sin). In order to sell the gospel, we must be sincere and enthusiastic about the gospel, otherwise, folks won’t buy the product. And our listeners can immediately tell whether or not we really believe in our product by the tonality and the sincerity they hear in our voice.

      The bottom line is this: If we don’t totally believe in our product (the saving gospel of Christ), neither will our listeners believe in our product and all of our efforts will be in vain.

    • Ole Olsen 10:53 pm on December 16, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Phil,
      We love you voice, because of your words professing our Lord…We notice your appearance, because of your constant….. Smile! Keep up the good work…… Your friend in Christ…..

  • philsanders 4:18 pm on December 8, 2009 Permalink | Reply
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    Books I’m Reading 

    Already Gone by Ken Ham & Britt Beemer

    I’m also reading Deceiving Winds by Bruce Morton, just published by 21st Century Christian. An excellent read about culture and Christianity.

     

    • Richard Mansel 4:20 pm on December 8, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      I forgot to mention that I am also reading Morton’s book. Thanks for the suggestion that you made to me recently.

      • mark mcwhorter 3:38 am on December 9, 2009 Permalink | Reply

        I am also reading Morton’s book. I agree with Woodson’s review, you may not agree with everything he says, but it does incite deeper thought.

  • philsanders 3:11 pm on December 2, 2009 Permalink | Reply
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    Rise Up O Men of God 

    Rise up, O men of God! Have done with lesser things. Give heart and mind and soul and strength to serve the King of kings.

    In the days of uncertainty, let us not fall back in fear but rise up to do more and more for the Lord. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

    Do your best today to touch a soul. Don’t give up. Try again with someone who didn’t respond before. Keep praying (Col. 4:2-4).

     

  • philsanders 11:01 pm on November 24, 2009 Permalink | Reply
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    Sunday, November 22, I called for America to think about the first Thanksgiving proclamation passed by Congress and signed by President Washington. It called for a day of thanksgiving and fasting on Dec. 18, 1777. It also called for a day of humiliation and repentance. Do we not have a need for repentance? Perhaps we should call for such today, knowing that the existence of our nation is dependent upon our relationship with the Lord (Jer. 18:7-10). They understood it. Our powers today do not. We must remind them.

     

    • Randal Matheny 11:05 pm on November 24, 2009 Permalink | Reply

      Phil, glad to see your comment and post. Hope you will contribute often. (Goes for Weylan and Mike and Richard and all the rest, too.) Absolutely, our deep, deep need is for repentance.

      BTW, on the tags, please separate the tags with commas. Will send you some guidelines on how best to use the FellowshipRoom. Thanks.

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