Pastor-teacher Study

Preacher-Teacher study habits

As I think about my study habits over the years. And there have been been places where I have studied

When I was at Madison Baptist in Minford, OH back in 1971 I had to made a place for an office. Then when in every place that I was on staff, I had to made a office.  

In Calvary Baptist Church in Connersville, IN as a Youth Pastor, I aad a wonderful office at the church, and several men at the church build be wall to wall bookcases.

When I was in First Baptist Church in Altoona KS, I was in two blocks of the church for all the time I was there and so I worked at the church, and my office was really great.  Kurt Nunnenkamp built  wonderful bookcase and the office was really great.

Having a place to study has always being important to me over the years. I have loved been at the church  property.

At Rivers of Joy I have a whole building for my office.  I have had to do my own work there. Where is Kurt when I need him. 

Well since the children have left the house I do have space to work at home, and I must say its a nice place for sure.  But I do like the church property a lot.            

Psalms 9 "I Will Prasie You, O LORD"

"I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart, I will show forth all thy marvelous works."

"I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High"

"When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fail and perish at thy presence."

"And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that see thee."




John Calvin on Psalms 9:2

• 2.I will rejoice and exult in thee.Observe how the faithful praise God sincerely and without hypocrisy, when they do not rest on themselves for happiness, and are not intoxicated with foolish and carnal presumption, but rejoice in God alone; which is nothing else than to seek the matter of their joy from the favor of God, and from no other source, since in it perfect happiness consists. I will rejoice in thee
• We ought to consider how great is the difference and opposition between the character of the joy which men endeavor to find in themselves, and the character of the joy which they seek in God. David, the more forcibly to express how he renounces every thing which may keep hold of or occupy him with vain delight, adds the word exult, by which he means that he finds in God a full and an overflowing abundance of joy, so that he is not under the necessity of seeking even the smallest drop in any other quarter. 
• Moreover, it is of importance to remember what I have previously observed, that David sets before himself the testimonies of the divine goodness which he had formerly experienced, in order to encourage himself with the more alacrity to lay open his heart to God, and to present his prayers before him. He who begins his prayer by affirming that God is the great source and object of his joy, fortifies himself before-hand with the strongest confidence, in presenting his supplications to the hearer of prayer.

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH IN MINFORD, OHIO

Pastor's Study and Library

The Blessings of The Lord

Oh my, we lived in Roanoke, Virginia

I was too far back to remember. Roanoke Virginia.

My first girl friend Francis Cooper (she was the same age as my

mother) had these pictures of me all theses years

and Darlene (Dolly) sent them to me

after her mother passed away in 2010.

Pastor Study Office

My surrounding at the house,

My study at the house,

When I was working in any position in a church, I had a nice office.

1. Wooster Baptist Temple: :Youth Pastor.: office
2. Madison Baptist Church, Psstor. Had a very nice office and study (fixed it myself ) The church did not have one before I got there.
3. Victory Baptist Church, Assoc. had a nice little office.
4. FBC of Fort Worth, Minister of Education: Did not have an office.-
5. Mansfield Baptist Temple, Youth Camp Director and Teacher. Did not have an office.
6. Calvary Baptist Church, Youth Pastor. A very nice office. And the men built me book cases.
7. First Baptist Church, Altoona Kansas Pastor/Teacher 1980-1996. Had a library room with some 2500 books. And a beautiful study office. Beautiful book cases built by Kurt Nunnenkmap. I spent nearly every day in the office. Love every minute of it.
8. The brief stay as Pastor in Lusby Mills, had no office.
9. The brief stay at Second Baptist, had a great office, in which I was there every day.
10. The time I was at Ashland Ave Baptist Church, five years. I had no office, Well one I used to set u some of my books.
11. In between being a pastor, I had set up an office at our house. Every book, every binder, every magazine, file cabinet, was at the house. It took up a lot of space at the church
12. Portsmouth Baptist, I had an office.
13. Rivers of Joy Baptist: Pastor/Teacher. The church has a church office in the church building. But I have turned the old church building into by own pastor's office and pastor's study. I really love being in the office and study.
    

Only until I moved to Portsmouth Ohio did I have and study office at the house. From 2003 to 2008 I worked nearly every day at the house working and studying the Bible. I believe I would spend about five to 10 hours a day studying.


And it was not until 2003 did I have a good Gateway computer and on the Internet.

I working in both places now, at the house and at the office at the church. I would love to be able to visit with people at the church more than I do. I like the idea of being at the office. Even when I am at the house, I still dress as if I were at the office at church.

'
I have only a few books at the house (less then ten). Most of the books that I had in FBC in Altoona, Kansas I left there.

I would love to have a staff of works, but I don't. So I work out of my house some times then go to the office at the church. I now like doing both.

View of the study at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

From the study room to the my office view

Books and research books

My Technique research books

My study room:\

By study notes

My office at the church annex building

The Services and Teaching and Singing at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church

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WHEN I FINISHED THE MESSAGE SUNDAY

YOU WILL NOTE FIND BY VIEWING THE VIDEO SERVICE ON VIMEO THAT MY TEACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD IS FROM A BOOK IN THE BIBLE.  

Currently I am teaching from  the book of Romans on Sunday Morning.  And on Sunday Night I am teaching from the book of Philippians.

This kind of teaching is called expository preaching/teaching.  The idea is to teach the Bible verse by verse.

Why do you continue to  preach in this preaching style?

Personally I believe the bible mandates it.  It doesn't fluctuate with culture.  

I believe every WORD in the Bible needs to be taught. I deal with every word in the New Testament at least.  And expository preaching is the only way you actually come to grips with every word in the scriptures 

There are 8674 different words in the Bible and  5624 different Greek words, and 12,143 different English words in the KJV 

The New Testament has 260 chapters and 7,957 verses and 180,000 words. 

Romans has 16 chapters and 433 verses:  I have not counted the words.

 

When Has a Preacher Crossed the Line into Plagiarism in His Sermon?

Carson on Pastoral Plagiarism

When Has a Preacher Crossed the Line into Plagiarism in His Sermon?

Well I should tell you then that that title came from this link

I was reading Google Reader here here and the issue of plagiarism came up.

Have you notice that every good thing is copied? When Coke comes up with an new drink so does Pepsi.

One good TV show will bring another two shows just like them.

So should a preacher uses another preachers sermon to help develop his own? Am I wicked when I use John MacArthur's messages? Am I wicked when I uses more than 20 references when studying a sermon or lesson?

To say every word that comes out of my mouth when I am preaching is totally original! Every thought was totally original and I was the first person to ever have that thought? I must admit that would be cool. But it is not true.

But I have to say as I have said for 40 years, I study a lot from others and I use what they say a lot. I only wish I could say it as good as those who I study say it.

Yes I was taught in Seminary that preaching is just allowing the Holy Spirit fill your mind on Sunday and just say it. Well you know there are a lot of preacher that do just that. They wouldn't think of studying.

After explaining his answer, Matt gives this encouraging takeaway:

Just be free about letting people know the sources of your ideas and where you have learned things. This doesn’t diminish your credibility at all, and in fact benefits your listeners and the church by letting people know about other helpful teachers and resources. And it gives them confidence that you are always learning from others, rather than a solo shop. Let your default be to tell your congregation what you are reading and where you have learned things.

The Chistian Servant

What a humbling journey it is to follow Christ. It’s so true that often the biggest obstacle to hearing the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit guiding and prompting us is our pride. The day we think we have nothing to learn, is the day we stop growing and maturing as a Christian. I feel a natural and highly effective way of maturing is being humbled by our Lord. It can even come through those are perceived as less gifted or spiritually mature. It can even come through those who are not Christian

PREACHING OR LECTURING? PART TWO

So should what we do be a “lecture” or a “sermon?”

• ·        A lecture being “an on-going commentary like address on the content of a passage.

• ·        A sermon being “a completed distinct message tailored to move the hearts of people.”

Do I want to move a person’s heart with emotions, or do I want to reach the mind to understand the word of God?

D.A. Carson’s book “For the Love of God.” He states:

• ·        "Preaching the Word means more than the mere conveying of information. There is information, of course, but it is so shaped and applied that it functions in one or more of these transforming ways. Thus the minister of the Gospel is necessarily a spiritual diagnostician, discerning the ailment and knowing what remedies to apply.  Pity the ministry of the Word who applies encouragement when rebuke is called for, or the reverse."

He points out “the importance of doing spiritual triage: (the process of prioritizing sick and injured people for treatment according to the seriousness of the condition or injury) before I preach.  To assess the real lives of the people I am preaching to you and to tailor the application accordingly.

“The preacher must be a spiritual cardiologist.” Really. How about a spiritual neurologist.

Anthony points out another point:  He directs us to the article by Joel Beeke and Ray Lanning. "The Transforming Power of Scripture" and it appeared in the book, Sola Scriptura: The Protestant Position on the Bible (Reformation Trust, 2009)

• ·        "The Word of God is often preached today in a way that will never transform anyone because it never discriminates or applies.  Preaching is then reduced to a lecture, a demonstration, a catering to the wishes and comforts of men, or a form of 'experientialism' that is cut loose from the foundation of Scripture.  Such preaching fails to expound from the Scripture what the Reformers called vital     religion: how a sinner is continually stripped of his own righteousness; how he is               driven to Christ alone for a full-orbed salvation; how he finds joy in simple reliance upon Christ and strives after obedience to Him; how he encounters the plague of indwelling sin, battles against backsliding, and gradually gains full             victory by faith in Christ." (127)·       

^{·             http://www.ligonier.org/blog/sola-scriptura-protestant-position-bible-new-reformation-trust/}

The point is then: Do I want to be more “experimental” or “experiential” in my preaching? Or do I want to teach  as I generally do “academic” and “high-minded” redemptive-historical approach?

Will it be the John Piper approach or the John MacArthur approach>? 

 While I note that I am  proclaiming God’s Word from a pulplit and not a lectern.  I should remember that God’s Word is a sharp two edged sword and not a dull pocket knife.   

Take the Advice Of Your Pastor's Preaching

TAKE THE ADVICE OF YOUR PASTOR'S SERMON

Method of Teaching the Bible

METHOD OF PREACHING/TEACHING THE SCRIPTURES

While reading from Google Reader today I read two articles on PREACHING. One was from Larry who was quoting from another, which I also read.

I have for the most part of my ministry of preaching used the method of book by book.

When I was a teenager in 1963 in the youth class I taught from Psalms and Revelation.

When I was pastor/teacher at Madison Missionary Baptist Church in Minford Ohio, 1971-73 I taught the book of Hebrews and Revelation.

When I went to First Baptist Church in Altoona, Kansas, 1980-1996 Most of the messages went about 40 to 50 minutes.

• Matthew, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, (some 80 messages) 1 Thessalonians (first two chapters), Philemon, Revelation, and 1 Timothy (first two chapters). Teaching on Sunday Morning and Sunday Night.
  

Currently pastor/teacher at Rivers of Joy Baptist Church, Minford, Ohio , 2008-currently

• 1 Thessalonians (chapter 1-2). Currently: Philippians (some 45 sermons) (chapter 1 -2) and Romans (chapters 1-2) over the last two years.
  

I learned from John MacArthur this method. John has preached 40 years at Grace, and 25 years he has taught Matthew, Luke and John. He is in Mark in his 40^th year of preaching.

SO WHY DO I PREACH/TEACH LIKE THIS?

Larry Rogier, pastor, gives three reasons which reflects my reasons from a personal perspective

1. It is how God gave the Bible – verse by verse. (Well, not really verse by verse.)
   
2. It forces a pastor to address things he might not otherwise address because, let's face it, it is easier to skip some verses than to preach them, whether because of difficulty (not sure what to say about it) or laziness (don't feel like studying it.)
   
3. It makes my week easier because I know what I am going to preach.
   

I will add to this list

1. It keeps me on a text of scripture and keeps me from getting on one of my pet peeves.
   
2. It keeps me teaching rather than preaching at the people. I am teaching God's word and not mine.
   

I have no problem in telling people to listen to other preachers: To name just a few.

• John MacArthur
  
• John Piper
  
• David Jeremiah
  
• Charles Stanley
  
• Chuck Swindoll
  
• R.C. Sproul
  
• Jay Adams
  

AND ON THE WEB YOU CAN READ OR EVEN HEAR OTHERS to name only a few.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Oliver B. Greene.

In others words I am not the fundamentalist who believes I am the only voice that our membership should ever hear. I would say there are many preachers who I would say are great to learn from. The ones I have mentioned are high profile and easy to find on the web and easy to read their books, and have tapes, or DVD's. Now the Podcast's are becoming a great tool to listen to as well.

But the whole point of preaching the word is to teach God's Word and not my words.

The method is good for me. The method is not as important as the content of the Bible.

While I do not generally preach or teach an Old Testament book, I reference many verses that are in the Old Testament.

Of course I have taught Bible lessons from the whole Bible. Since I do teach Sunday School, or Bible Study. Currently I am teaching from the book of Proverbs.

I do teach subjects as well. Example on Wednesday Night;

1. Spiritual Gifts
   
2. Creation
   

Bible Study Methods

SEVEN THINGS A PASTOR NEEDS TO REMEMBER

Seven Great Lessons of a Faithful Pastor

1. Dead orthodoxy is deadly.

2. Tradition is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.

3. God blesses preaching that is scriptural, personal, and evangelical.

4. Do not neglect the Lord's Supper.

5. Fear God, not people.

6. Doctrinal fidelity and evangelistic fervor do not have to be at odds.

7. Passion and courage are no excuses for a harsh spirit.

The Wonderful Fall Trees

We liked the sun rays coming through the trees

What a view as we went to Rivers of Joy Baptist Church Sunday Morning

My study at the house: Was working on
Romans 1 and Philippians 2

On the screen is a photo

of Mom and me and Dad

Rivers Of Joy Baptist Church Pastor's Office 2009

Today, rather this afternoon, I am in my office at the church. As of last Friday, I officially left Mex Itali. While the hours were only 10 hours per week, they seemed to me more. I feel like a new man for sure.

So I am going to spend some time in the Pastor's Office and Study. This is the joy of my life to be able to be available for counsel and visiting and study at the church. Now while I have my office at the house, and much of my study is done at the house, I will work from the office here at Rivers of Joy as much as I can.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study was great. Good fellowship and a good study on the Doctrine of Sin. The video will be upload as we speak. Notes will be posted soon.

So until next time I will sign out, as the Reds lose to St Louis 13-0. The game ended at 3:45 p.m.