Nathan James Norman
  • Blog
  • Writer
  • Pastor
  • Bookshelf
  • Links
  • Contact

Nathan James Norman

Husband. Father. Pastor.
Storyteller. Reader. Comic Fan.
Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Orchard Church

Preaching Without Notes

11/22/2016

0 Comments

 
I have been doing personal research into The First Great Awakening over the last few months.

In my studies, a retired historian friend of mine - Hawkman - suggested I read The Great Awakening: Documents on the Revival of Religion, edited by Richard L. Bushman. I came across this sermon, Defects of Preachers Reproved by Solomon Stoddard.

It was written in 1723.

I was amazed to come across the following paragraph:
Picture
The reading of sermons is a dull way of preaching. Sermons when Read are not delivered with Authority and in an affecting way. It is prophesied of Christ, Mic. 5.4 He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the Majesty of the Name of the Lord his God. When Sermons are delivered without Notes, the looks and gesture of the Minister, is a great means to command Attention and stir up Affection. Men are apt to be Drowsy in hearing the Word, and the Liveliness of the Preacher is a means to stir up the Attention of the Hearers, and beget suitable Affection in them. Sermons that are Read are not delivered with Authority, they favour of the Sermons of the Scribes, Mat. 7.29. Experience shews that Sermons Read are not so Profitable as others. It may be Argued, that it is harder to remember Rhetorical Sermons, then meer Rational Discourses; but it may be Answered, that it is far more Profitable to Preach in the Demonstration of the Spirit, than with the enticing Words of mans wisdom.
I have been preaching without notes for almost seven years now. I thought I was being innovative! But Stoddard advocated for preaching without notes nearly three hundred years ago.

His argument is incredible. The pastor isn't arguing that preaching without notes merely gives the speaker better stage presence. Instead, he is arguing it gives the preacher greater authority as he is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

From firsthand experience I have seen this in my own personal ministry. When my sermons are rooted deeply in Scripture and study, something happens when I stand before the congregation with only a Bible in hand.

This is why we will be discussing how to preach without notes as one of our topics during the upcoming One Day Preaching Seminar at The Orchard Church and in partnership with North West Baptist Association.

(Hint: Preaching without notes has very little to do with memorization.)

Click on the picture below and register for this free seminar!
Picture
0 Comments

One Day Preaching Seminar

11/15/2016

0 Comments

 
I will be hosting a one day preaching seminar. It is open to anyone interested.
Check it out:
Picture
0 Comments

What Effect Will the 2016 Presidential Election Have on the Sovereignty of Christ?

11/2/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
What effect will the 2016 presidential election have on the sovereignty of Christ?

None.

The election, like many before it, has prophets working hard to convince the public we are in the midst of an apocalypse: "Vote for my candidate, otherwise the earth shall crack open and hell-fire will bubble over onto you and your children and your children's children."

It is true that elections have consequences. And these consequences are rather high. So the apocalyptic language feels true.

If I am being honest, I also feel the pull. My heart teeters on the edge of being completely convinced of the message.

But this is a confusion of the City of Man for the City of God, as Augustine put it. The City of Man is coming to an end, but there is an enduring City - an eternal Kingdom - which is here now, and is coming in power. The eternal City of God cannot be stopped nor its purposes thwarted.

The ultimate power is not in the U.S. presidency. The ultimate authority and direction for the course of human history does not depend on the outcome of the 2016 election.

I have found myself in the Scriptures even more in this season, because my mind needs to be renewed. I need to be reminded by the prophets of the One True God, over and against the prophets of the false political gods, that Christ is sovereign over all.

Below I have compiled a brief list of Scriptures I have found challenging and comforting during this season:

Psalms 20:7-9
Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of Yahweh our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand firm. Lord , give victory to the king! May He answer us on the day that we call.

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Isaiah 31:1-3
Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses!
They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen.
They do not look to the Holy One of Israel and they do not seek the Lord ’s help.
But He also is wise and brings disaster.
He does not go back on what He says;
He will rise up against the house of wicked men and against the allies of evildoers.
Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit.
When the Lord raises His hand to strike, the helper will stumble and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together.


Hebrews 13:14
For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come.

John 18:36
“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here."

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (Read the Whole Book)
Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
 yet I will triumph in Yahweh;
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!
Yahweh my Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!


Psalms 33:22
May Your faithful love rest on us, Yahweh, for we put our hope in You.

Revelation 22:20
He who testifies about these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Which Scriptures have you found comfort in during this season?


Scripture References from the Holman Christian Standard Bible.


0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Adoption
    Art
    Axiom
    Beowulf
    Christmas
    Comics
    Drabble
    Flash Fiction
    Foster Care
    Good Friday
    Humor
    Infertility
    Interviews
    Memes
    Music
    Politics
    Practical
    Preaching
    Reviews
    Speculative
    Theology
    Tragedy
    Trinity Watch
    Untold Podcast
    Video
    Writing

    Blog Roll

    Albert Mohler
    Breakpoint
    Christian Humanist
    Christian Geek Central
    Critical Press Media
    David N. Alderman
    Doug Geivett

    Good Book Blog
    Living With Cogan
    Open Biola
    Project Rooftop
    Reasonable Faith
    Running Slowly w/ Kids
    Spirit Blade Underground
    Strangers and Aliens
    The Table Podcast
    This Old Farmhouse

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012