Revealing Revelation

So yesterday we were continuing our study through the book of Revelation. I delivered the message entitled "Bittersweet", covering chapters 10 and 11. Since this blog is about what goes on during the week, I thought I would quickly comment on what it is like putting a message together. I spend quite a bit of my time teaching, but chemistry and not Sunday morning messages. The chemistry has given me a good grounding in presentation skills but presenting God's word has much higher stakes than teaching on topics such as the role of the Jahn-Teller effect on the arrangement of electrons in a d9 transition-metal complex.

Before I started teaching messages at Calvary, I thought that the preacher would spend a bit of time thinking about the text in the week leading up to Sunday and then deliver the message. However, I can attest to it being much more than this. God's spirit can really take control on a Sunday, aiding both in the delivery of the message and also in opening up the hearts of people listening (be that on a Sunday or through the podcast). However, a LOT of preparation goes into a message. This is especially the case when it comes to the book of Revelation, I have realized! I started some weeks back with reading the passage in many of the different Bible translations that there are. I then prayed, asking God what my focal point should be. I then spent time with Bill and the team discussing my raw ideas, followed by reading commentaries on the text written by a number of scholars. Then I pieced together the main themes and added some personal stories. I practiced the message a number of times, usually while walking around the local neighborhood (people must have wondered what was going on as I walked past their houses talking about the beast and eating a scroll). Finally, I delivered the message on Sunday. Another key component to a good message is that everyone is in a worshipful, receptive spirit.The worship team certainly did that. They were fantastic and Joel did a great job of leading while Dave was out of town. There is another area where practice practice practice is needed....but not for me.... for the sake of the church, you don't want me singing or strumming.