Small Expectations

November 27, 2013 by admin

I’m impressed by the way Jesus set high expectations for those who chose to follow Him closely. Humanly speaking, His disciples weren’t all that impressive a group. But their relationship to the Lord resulted in them achieving true greatness.

When preparing sermons, I make it a practice to ask myself whether I’m being small-minded or big-minded in terms of my expectations. Do I still feel that people’s close relationship with the Lord will make them truly exceptional people, spiritually speaking, or do I presume my listeners can be expected to fail to meet His expectations of Kingdom significance?

Most of the sermons I hear are small challenges compared to our Lord’s, “Leave your nets, come follow me, and I’ll make you fishers of men!”

“I really don’t like listening to you preach,” a fellow minister once said to me. “In fact, if I know you’re going to be preaching somewhere, I make it a point to stay away!”

I guess it was an insult. Anyway, his further point was that he felt I had expectations that were consistently beyond what he felt were reasonable.

I agree that to set too high a standard would be unfair and un-Christlike. And this pastor’s words have been a caution for me against doing that.

But I believe ministers need to avoid the other extreme as well—preaching as a representative of Jesus, and issuing challenges that are far below the minimum He would ask of His followers.

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Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

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Let Me Tell You A Story

November 20, 2013 by admin

Preachers are always on the lookout for good stories. That’s because, when they are told well, stories are great at grabbing people’s attention.

Stories don’t usually prove a point, but they can be dynamite when it comes to illustrating or emphasizing what’s being said.

What’s awkward is when a story is told, especially a long one, that doesn’t really connect with the rest of the sermon.

Some people don’t follow sermons all that closely. But those who are serious listeners are frustrated when a long story doesn’t fit what’s being said. It’s more like the minister knew this was a good story, or a really funny one, and he/she was dying to include it in a message as soon as possible and just couldn’t put it off any longer.

Recently, my wife and I heard a man preach, someone both of us consider a good communicator. As we drove home from the banquet, we both commented on his presentation. We agreed that his message had a key thrust, but both of us wondered what his key illustration had to do with the basic point he was making. We concluded that he had used this story before and knew it to be effective, so he decided to include it in his remarks.

Did this strategy work? Probably for most of the people in attendance it did.

Did this strategy work for us? Not really!

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Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

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The Death of a Son

November 13, 2013 by admin

Last Friday, my family celebrated the life of my 41-year-old son, Jeremy. He was our youngest son. We laid him to rest in a cemetery not far from his home and near a park where he loved to play with his three children—all under the age of six.

As you can imagine, Jeremy’s wife and her extended family, my wife and I, our three other children, their spouses and children, are all still dealing with the aftermath of my son’s death and of the last five months of sitting at his bedside as he battled an extremely aggressive form of lymphoma. I expect it will take a long time before we fully regain our strength and sense of stability. We’re all just exhausted.

I would appreciate your continued prayers for our extended family. We give testimony to the goodness of God throughout this time
of trial. Through the lips and hands of so many, He has reached out to us and blessed us. He who knows the heartache of watching His own son die on the cruel cross of Calvary, knows the depth of our sorrow. And, He will be the One who will now surround us with The Last Thing We Talk About His unfailing love and grace. He will be the One who will bring equilibrium back into our lives.

Many years ago, Joseph Bayly wrote a book, originally entitled The View from the Hearse and later re-titled The Last Thing We Talk About: Help and Hope for Those Who Grieve. In this book, Joe Bayly deals with the death of his son. He offers sharply focused insight into the grieving process and the way God can work in the lives of those who have lost a loved one.

I commend this book to you. Unfortunately, it is now only available from used book sellers. But, you can explore various sources by clicking here.

A very special “thank you” to those who have reached out to my wife and I during this time of sorrow. Your cards, letters, and phone calls have meant so very much. We do, indeed, celebrate the life of our son, Jeremy. He was a devoted servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, a loving and supportive husband, and a wonderful father to his three children. While our hearts will always bear the sense of his loss, we cling to the reality that we will be reunited with him in heaven at the feet of our Great King, Jesus.

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Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.

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Please Pray for the Mains Family

November 6, 2013 by admin

I would appreciate prayer this week for our family. Our youngest son, Jeremy (age 41), died on Tuesday after a five-month battle with aggressive lymphoma. He was a joy in every way. He leaves a wife and three young children, ages six, four and one. We are heartbroken.

Here’s a photo of Jeremy and his children taken earlier this year.

[Photo of Jeremy Mains and his children]

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Please click here to visit David Mains’ Sermon-Coach.com website.

You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Please click here.