Let It Flow!
Oct 22, 2020.
Public speaking is a fearful thing for many people. In truth, many ministers are not as comfortable with it as they appear. This becomes especially true when we are called to break away from prepared teachings and speak extemporaneously. And yet, there are times when the gospel will ask that very thing from us.
#JesusStories: In Mark 13, Jesus revealed a time when such great turmoil and persecution would come upon Christians that leaders would find themselves having to defend the Church before courts and governmental leaders. Of course, this happened initially in the book of Acts and later some forty years after the death and resurrection of Christ with the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem. However, some of the words of Jesus in this chapter seem to point to a future event – perhaps what is unfolding in our lifetime. Wars, famines, earthquakes, families turning against each other, and hatred of the Christ-followers are among Jesus’ descriptions of a time to come. These things are occurring with greater regularity now than they did in A.D. 70, to be sure. But true to divine form, Jesus made it clear that these seasons of turmoil were also times for the inbreaking Kingdom to advance largely. In verses 9-10 he stated, “But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.” This is a huge insight into the God Family; they charge forward at the exact moment earthly enemies of the Church look invincible. And they direct us, the representatives of Jesus upon the earth, to be the sharp point of the spear by standing up with authoritative speaking and empowered preaching during these seasons. But, this kind of speaking is different than our training – it is more about the ‘unction of the Spirit’ and less about the ‘preparation of the pastor’. Some preachers during the Great Awakening used to talk about their sermons like this, “Read yourself full, pray yourself hot, and let yourself blow.” That always makes me laugh, but it was their way of ‘flowing with the Spirit’. And there must be something important here, because Jesus Himself said in verse 11, “Don’t worry in advance about what to say, Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Wow! We all could probably grow in our ability to ‘let it flow’. After all, when we speak – we are supposed to be speaking for God. And all the more as we see the day approaching.
#DinnerChurchQuotes: Every faith community we have opened includes some form of a table. -Ray O’ Leary (Pastor of a church in Dallas TX with 7 monastic gatherings)
#PracticalStuff: In these days of Covid when most Dinner Churches are meeting outside on the sidewalks, there is a potent silver lining – the public gets to see the Church doing church. While it was more comfortable to be indoors, we were also less visible. Setting up canopy tents side-by-side: with buffet tables filled with great food in hot chaffing dishes in one, worship musicians and pastors doing their work from another, and guests gathered and eating in yet other pop-ups. With winter weather approaching, these tents not only shields the rain, but they are cheap, quick to set up, and provide a great picture of Jesus’ Church for all passer-by’s. Oh the power of a canopy tent!
Blessings & Boldness,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 97-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
10.24.20
By: Carl Bauchspiess
Good word. The problem I see though today is that the Church is too often aligned to the government and depending on its favor that the prophetic voice is lost. we have to have our tax exemptions and deductions. I sometimes wonder how people would give if it weren’t deductible. And we look out for what is good for us rather than what’s good for our neighbor. it may take persecution and loss of status for the church to regain her voice. And then maybe we’ll be able to let it flow.
10.26.20
By: Josh Gering
When we started our first dinner church 4 years ago, I would prepare a message with notes every week. I would stand up with my notes, 25 minutes into the dinner and preach the notes, looking down and up. It felt so rehearsed and it was as bad as I felt as it really lacked connection with our guests. After several weeks I decided to ditch the notes. I studied a Jesus story, came up with a short intro, read or paraphrased the story, made a quick point and wrapped it up with a personal connection and prayer of response and healing. I felt the Holy Spirit really use this new way of communicating and I really liked it as well. Now, that’s what I do and it’s amazing how the Holy Spirit flows. I definitely say no notes, let the gospel and the Holy Spirit use you!
10.27.20
By: JoAnn Bastien
I find it challenging at times to speak extemporaneously. I am an introvert and it takes me time to process my thoughts. Even on days when I am “prayed up”, I still need time to consider my words. However, I do find that once I begin to listen to the Spirit, He allows the conversation to flow more easily. But I also have learned to lean into listening more. I don’t always have to have something to say. The ministry of presence is a powerful thing. The community would benefit from us simply holding space for them.
10.28.20
By: Roger Bird
This is a road that I have been intermittently treading for the last few years. I think that I may have been one of those undiagnosed ADD kids and can tend to get sidetracked and rabbit trail, so in my preaching, I tend to write out everything to help keep me on track. Back in 2016, I felt God telling me that He wanted me to move into a season of preaching more out of an overflow of my time with Him, rather than just out of a carefully pre-planned sermon series.
Since then there have been many times that literally minutes (actually sometimes only seconds) before I get up to preach, I feel the Holy Spirit stop me and say, “Nope, I want you to talk about something different today.” So, I have had to get up with no notes, no real prep time, no “net”, and just talk off the cuff about something that He has been talking to me about that week. It is terrifying and humbling, but it’s also exhilarating. Never have I been lost for words and have sometimes been told that those messages were particularly moving to some of our folks because it was addressing issues that they were going through right then. Granted this preaching has been directed to a friendly crowd and not a hostile tribunal, but it’s given me more confidence to trust that the Holy Spirit will guide me as I speak, even without my preferred preparation.
10.28.20
By: Rodney Martin
I have been preaching without notes for over ten years. It’s freeing and feels more natural. The congregation likes that I’m engaging them instead of just speaking to them. Last year I started asking questions throughout the sermon so that the congregation was more directly involved. I often go over my message several times on Saturday and Sunday, preaching to an empty room, so that I have it in me to say.
I think this can be taken a step further. Roger Bird, your thoughts on changing the message moments before you get up to speak are precious. The Great Awakening mantra that you quoted Verlon, “Read yourself full, pray yourself hot, and let yourself blow”, has a good point even though I wouldn’t say it quite like they do. To speak extemporaneously means we must be dwelling in God’s Word and being in the spirit so that the words flow as the Spirit leads.
11.3.20
By: Shawn Rutan
For me the challenge is often knowing when to shut up! I often since the spirit moving and flowing though me when I share the Jesus story or give Godly advice around the table. I tend to just keep talking even when the divine download is complete. May we learn to hear the “stop talking” just as loud as the “start talking”!
11.4.20
By: Marion Sortore
“Read yourself full, pray yourself hot, and let yourself blow.” That always makes me laugh, but it was their way of ‘flowing with the Spirit’. And there must be something important here, because Jesus Himself said in verse 11, “Don’t worry in advance about what to say, Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” Wow! We all could probably grow in our ability to ‘let it flow’. After all, when we speak – we are supposed to be speaking for God. And all the more as we see the day approaching.”
How I shudder thinking about the poor souls who suffered my preaching in my early years – Shawn Rutan – you hit the nail on the head – I didn’t know when to shut up! I had a mentor tell me that once the plane was landed – shut off the engine! I would land the sermon plane several times and then take off again! Sharing Jesus stories has really freed me from the tyrrany of the script!
11.4.20
By: Nicole Fike
This definitely hit home for me. I am not a pastor and have not had any seminary training. One of my weaknesses is public speaking. I am getting better as I get older but still get nervous. When I first started my dinner church journey I was concerned that I may have to deliver a message. I started praying for God to help me out in this area. Now, when I am reading scripture and it speaks to me I journal about it. I try to relate it to my life and how I would share this with someone that knows very little about Jesus. I don’t feel quite as nervous now. Mark 13:11 is a good reminder that we need to rely on the Holy Spirit more.