More War, Less Cry - Part 2 - Goliath's Stand

Photo credit: kconnors from morguefile.com

Going through the motions.  That gets tiring doesn't it?  Do you ever ask, "When are we ever going to stop practicing and to start doing?"

Don't get me wrong.  I believe in preparation and practice.  I am a musician and have taught musicians.  I know the value of rehearsal and practice. 

But there is a time to stop going through the motions and to start doing.

Unfortunately, King Saul's army was stuck in a rut.  Now bear with me as I jump around 1 Samuel 17.  It's a famous story.  Every child who has gone to Sunday School know the end.  But I want to dwell on some of the preliminary details, and especially as they relate to the difference between being prepared for battle and actually going into battle.

The whole idea was an economy of lives.  If a battle could be decided by pitting the best soldier from each of the two armies, a lot of lives and blood could be spared.  Sounds like a good idea, but the Philistines had a secret weapon.  His name was Goliath, which literally means "the giant from Gath."  With Goliath taking his stand, no one from the Israelite army dared meet him on the field of battle alone.

And yet hope and determination (and preparation) reigned supreme.  Verse 20 says that the Israelite army responded to Goliath's challenge by "going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry."  But verse 16 tells us that "For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand." 

If my math is right, that means that the Israelites ran their drills eighty times without actually engaging the enemy.  In fact, verse 24 says, "When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear." 

I don't mean to be critical, but I'm wondering what kind of value was gained in taking battle positions and shouting the War Cry only to give up each time.  I want to reach through history and like Dr. Phil, ask, "Well, how is that working for you?"

Another question - do you think the Israelites had more or less courage on their 80th drill than their first time shouting the War Cry? 

Many people who claim to follow Jesus are leading defeated lives.  We go through the motions, put on our uniforms, take our battle positions and even shout the War Cry.  But who is going to step forward and face the enemy?  Who is going to go into battle - not merely to march around, but to fight and defeat the challenging giant?

Please realize that I am asking myself the same questions - I have my fair share of "shaking in the boots" moments, and even "running in fear" moments.

All I am saying is that it's time to do more than just shouting the War Cry.  Maybe it's even time to dispense with the cry altogether.  After all, as I examine 1 Samuel 17, I don't hear David shouting at Goliath, only talking to him (vv 45-47), describing in detail what he was planning on doing to the one who defied God.

Something or someone is defying the God of your life today.  Will you just shout the War Cry, or run up to face your adversary in battle?

Then you can declare, just like David did in verse 47:

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands.

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You Forgot What?

OK, so I'm a forgetful person.  I will walk into a room, knowing I was going in search of something but can't remember what I was going in after.  Very frustrating to me and others.

My wife Beth was going through some journal entries I was making while I was a Cadet in training over 20 years ago.  One field training Sunday back then, I was scheduled to preach.  The way it worked back then was that I was assigned months in advance.  I was to submit, one at a time, a proposal for a Bible passage, a Bible Study, a short sermon outline, an extended (I used to day distended) outline, and a manuscript.  After several weeks expired and trees suffered from the paper usage, I was ready (or so I thought) to stand up in the pulpit with my manuscript.  To make matters worse, the field training officer (who was and is still a very nice person) was sitting in the back of the congregation with a grading sheet and the manuscript, giving a grade and constructive criticism on my sermon delivery.

I traveled with my brigade to the location, a two-hour drive away.  For whatever reason,I didn't have my manuscript with me.  No notes, no outline, no sermon.  The adrenaline was flowing as I tried to conceal my oversight from the training officer.  I had a few minutes alone before the meeting, and took a blank sheet of paper.  I folded it in half sideways so that it would fit in my Bible.  From what I remembered of my sermon, I wrote a bullet-point outline in two columns, one on each side of the fold.

When I got in the pulpit, I was nervous, but I felt strangely free.  I was able to step away from the pulpit, look people in the eye or take a small side trip that seemed appropriate at the moment. 

That Sunday morning began what for me has been a regular system for sermon delivery:

• I prepare my sermon in much the same way, except I don't create an extended outline or manuscript.
• I take a piece of graph paper (I like the horizontal and vertical lines for lining things up), fold it in half, and write on the open side of the paper.
• I write only a simple outline - bullet points and subpoints.  Any crucial points or quotes I will write out word for word.  I may also write the words to a prayer chorus on the page.  There are usually no mre than 200 words on the page.
• I write the notes by hand so that my memory can better recall my thoughts from a glance at the image of my own handwriting.  Printing it on the computer doesn't have the same effect.
• I fold the page and stick it in my Bible right where the preaching passage is.
• During the meeting, a thought might come up, or an illustration that ties into what someone else says.  I will open the sermon up and jot down that thought where I think it will best fit in.
• I open my Bible, put the notes next to the Scripture, and I am ready to go.

I am willing to admit that there have been several times since I was a cadet that I have lost my notes.  One time, I got up to the pulpit, ready to preach, thinking my notes were in my Bible, and they weren't.  Too late to do anything else.  I said, "Let's pray."  And God had His way among us.

So my encouraging advice to you is to wean yourself from the manuscript.  And I know you'll be a better preacher.

Like what you are reading? Consider the following: 1. Subscribe to my blog (there is a link for that on this page). 2. "Follow" me on twitter. It's a free account, and a great way to meet like-minded friends. My link is: http://twitter.com/tommccomb. 3. Leave a comment (I love your candid feedback and might use your ideas in future posts) 4. Tell someone else about this blog. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you soon.

What Did You Forget to Pack?

This is the 2nd installment in a series on how to enliven your Sunday School.

Going on a trip can be frustrating if you haven't prepared.

I can't tell you how many times I have forgotten to pack something. Like the band trip in high school when I forgot to pack black socks. Or the company conference when I forgot to pack my shaver. It creates an embarrassing situation, and has created new habits in me.

I make a list. I check with my wife. I recheck the luggage. I open a suitcase a couple of days early so that I can throw things in as I think of them.

Being properly prepared can also help you revitalize your Sunday School. Here are a few tips that Beth and I shared with the ReFuel conference a few weeks ago:

1. Know how to lead someone to Christ.  Sunday School teachers have a unique relationship with their students, and you have a larger amount of time with your class sharing spiritual truth and challenges than just about anyone else.  When the opportunity comes (and it will come) to lead someone to Christ, you will be ready.  Most quarterly Sunday School lesson guides have a page describing how to lead your students to Christ.  These instructions are also age-appropriate for your class.  Take time to become familiar with it - even to the point of memorizing it or making it your own.  This will certainly increase your joy as a teacher!
2. Arrive early.  Get to the classroom at least 15 minutes before Sunday School opening to get it ready. How many times have you entered your classroom only to find that someone "borrowed" your table for a potluck?  Or the Cub Scouts left their craft projects to dry on every available inch of counter space?  Or that someone made off with your markers?  Getting there early will ensure that your classroom will be ready for your class.  If the first time you walk into your Sunday School class is when the students arrive, you are getting there too late.
3. Read the lesson.  Do this early in the week.  If you only find out at 10:00 on Saturday night that you needed something unusual from the hardware store for tomorrow's class, you are in trouble.  Reading the lesson early will help you get the materials you need on time.  It will also make you more familiar with the lesson.  That way, you don't have to be tied to the lesson book and really interact with your students better.  Don't get me wrong - the lesson book will still be close at hand, but your nose isn't stuck in it.
4. Read the Bible passage.  Read it several times throughout the week.  Make it part of your daily devotional time or make it an extra time that you dedicate to Sunday School preparation daily.  If you make the Bible passage a part of your life during the week, it will seep out of your pores as you present it to your students. 
5. Be ready for visitors.  Few things are more discouraging to a visitor than to walk into a Sunday School room and there is nowhere to sit.  Make sure that your classroom has enough chairs, handouts, Bibles and craft supplies for extra people.  Build a vision among your "regulars" to invite others to the class (I will talk about this in a later installment).  Exercise your faith by praying over the empty chairs.  Maybe you will want to stretch your expectations by putting even more chairs in the room.  And then work to fill them.

It's Thursday, and Sunday is coming.  Are you prepared for your Sunday School class?  It's not too late to start now.

Like what you are reading? Consider the following: 1. Subscribe to my blog (there is a link for that on this page). 2. "Follow" me on twitter. It's a free account, and a great way to meet like-minded friends. My link is: http://twitter.com/tommccomb. 3. Leave a comment (I love your candid feedback and might use your ideas in future posts) 4. Tell someone else about this blog. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you soon.