Ainsworth Keith Morris is the sixth of seven children and a native of the beautiful parish of St. Andrew, Jamaica. He highly values the social and educational enhancement of the youth and the nurture and stability of the aged. His motto is: When you can't realize the ideal, idealize the real. His greatest desire is to see those to whom he has preached and ministered in Heaven when Jesus comes because he determines to be in that number when the saints go marching in.
"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

Many individuals downplay preaching as an archaic, outdated method of communicating the gospel. They suggest that it should be replaced with dialogue, dramatizations, and other productions that will compete with the so-called advances of society. However, I contend that preaching is significant in pastoral practice to keep the congregation growing and healthy.

The bible is replete with examples of preachers and the injunction to preach. In the Old Testament, prophets were called upon to warn "the people" and give them messages from God. Isaiah’s counsel to the bearer of God's message is: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet." (Isaiah 58:1) Ezekiel affirms that the message should be presented "whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." (Ezekiel 2:5). He continues to describe the preacher’s solemn responsibility in Ezekiel 3:17-19.

During his earthly ministry, Jesus emphasized the significance of preaching by word and action. The synoptic gospels describe him as constantly engaged in preaching. He said of himself: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the good news" (Luke 4:18). He also spoke of its significance as a precursor to his second coming. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt. 24:14)
Preaching the "good news" was evident in the ministry of the apostles. It was apparent at Pentecost and integral in the establishment of the early church. Paul, arguably the most dominant of all the Apostles in the New Testament era, also emphasized the importance of preaching. He constantly preached during his travels as he raised and nurtured churches.

In the text of focus, Paul shared with his protégé, Timothy, one of the most critical pastoral injunctions concerning preaching. He called upon Timothy to do the type of preaching I classify as “Passionate Pastoral Preaching.” To be sure, passionate pastoral preaching must not be reduced, limited, or seen as synonymous with loud, emotional unrestrained utterances. It is not about the suavely charming smooth inflections of the voice or the roaring up-to-date exciting expression and well-coordinated choreographed gestures. Instead, Paul is counseling the preacher then and every preacher today to model the greatest preacher of history - Jesus Christ. In the words of Ellen White (1988): "The lessons of Christ should be carefully studied, and the subjects, manner, and form of discourses should be modeled after the divine Pattern. Oratorical display, flashy rhetoric, and fine gestures do not constitute a fine discourse . . . He did not sermonize as men do today. Instead, in intensely earnest tones, He assured them of the truths of the life to come, of the way of salvation."
Passionate pastoral preaching, such as Jesus demonstrated, and Paul admonished Timothy, can be viewed as revolving around some important P's and Q's.

P's and Q's of Passionate Pastoral Preaching?

Purpose
The apostle is so concerned about the church that he braces his counsel with the disturbing outlook that the people will resist sound doctrine. Therefore, Paul implores Timothy to preach the Word with purpose. The purpose for which Jesus preached was to announce the arrival of the kingdom and offer divine citizenship to believers. This was evident in every discourse.
Paul declares that we need to "Preach the word." "The Word" (logos) can be understood to be the Divine expression in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1 & 14) or the Divine expression of God's will through the Scriptures. (Heb. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:13) Paul is very clear about the parameters of our preaching. He consistently spoke about what he was called to preach: "the boundless riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8); "him" (Gal. 1:16); "the Gospel" (Rom. 1:1, 1 Cor 1:17, Col. 1:23); Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23); "the mystery of Christ" (Col. 4:3). It is clear then that the word he speaks of is the "good news of salvation."
The example of Jesus commissions us to preach "this gospel of the kingdom." (Matt. 24:14) Therefore, As Seventh-day Adventist preachers, we are called upon to preach the clarity of the unique understanding of biblical prophecy focusing on Jesus. It is incumbent upon the preacher to share that understanding, announce with urgency the imminence of Christ's second coming and the inescapable reality that we are living in the judgment hour.

Preparation
The passage appropriately shows that Timothy is called upon to be "ready in season and out of season." The word epistēthi indicates that he must always be prepared. Preaching is not an occasion, but it is a process. And preaching with passion in this post-modern society demands diligent discipline in preparation.

Personality
One definition of preaching is: communicating through personality. And Paul’s admonition was that Timothy's preaching needed to convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. In a real sense, Paul was suggesting that the Preacher must not be a "turnoff" by an arrogant and overbearing attitude. People are often turned off, not because of the piercing truth but because of the bombastic condescension seen in the preacher. Therefore, at times, it is not the sermon that needs modifying; it is the attitude or personality of the preacher that needs adjusting.

Prayer
It may seem strange to mention that prayer is essential for the preparation and presentation of the word. But it must never be overlooked because many individuals are talented speakers and orators who are able, simply on those abilities, to make powerful presentations. However, for the preacher who desires to communicate the message from God, he or she must continuously listen to what God is saying. I read this from Arrais (2011) some time ago, and it bears noting:
The pastor who depends on his own strength, who preaches and serves from his own resources, will soon find himself weak, discouraged, and ready to quit. No one has the wisdom for all of life's decisions. No one has the patience to overcome all the problems encountered. No one has the time for all the tasks, energy for all the meetings, inspiration for all the messages, and enough compassion for all the people who need him. Being a pastor doesn't change these truths. Pray or quit. That is the choice." p.43)

Qualification
When Paul Admonishes Timothy to Preach the word, he is calling on him to stand with holy boldness and declare the word of God. However, to do so, the preacher must have credibility. The listener has the right to question the authority from which the preacher speaks. People are more comfortable listening when the preacher is credible. Credibility is affected by: 1. Ability – Can they trust your skills? 2. Reliability – Do they have confidence through previous experiences with you? How did you do the last time you preached? 3. Spirituality – Do they see you as a spiritual person?

Quality
The preacher is responsible for being disciplined in preparing messages of the highest quality. The Seventh-day Adventist preacher cannot assume the posture of doctrinal superiority, believing that prophetic insights and eschatological understanding alone will force people to listen. The obstacles faced, plus the fact that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood," must be compelling motivators for the preacher to seek the Lord's strength and wisdom to come forth with messages of the highest quality.
In a busy ministry, it can be challenging to maintain quality consistently. But we must challenge ourselves by learning new methods and new themes. Personal development calls for discipline. Resist the temptation to stay within your comfort zone.

Question
For the passionate preacher to capture the attention of distracted and self-absorbed listeners, he or she must raise questions of eternal significance. Therefore, both in preparation and presentation, asking questions is necessary. Raise questions that the listener may be asking. Raise questions that the listener is forced to confront. Raise questions that elicit the answers for felt needs. Asking questions can be vital in securing the possibilities of challenges and thoughts in the minds of your congregants.
The primary or starting exegetical questions are: Why? What? When? Who? How? Nevertheless, the preacher must dig deeper by asking questions like Why now? Why here? What next? These and many other questions can help to unearth gems overlooked or missed. The depth and scope of the sermon may be determined by the type of questions mined from the text or asked by the preacher to bring the hearts and lives of the congregation in transition and decide for a change.


As I conclude, let me share what Ellen White (1948) says regarding the sacred responsibility that rests upon every minister of the sacred word. "A man (woman) may preach in a spirited manner and please the ear but convey no new idea or real intelligence to the mind. The impressions received through such preaching last no longer than while the speaker's voice is heard. When search is made for the fruit of such labor, there is little to be found." p. 447
Since preachers are often described as men and women who minister between the living and the dead, great is their responsibility to transform lives and secure destinies while probation lingers. Therefore, the heart is the preacher's target for every moment of the sermonic period. Passionate pastoral preaching that is Spirit-empowered is an essential pathway to the heart. By following the Ps and Qs of purpose, presentation, preparation, prayer, qualification, quality, and question, the gateway to a higher level of preaching may be discovered, and the pathway to the listener's heart may be secured.

REFERENCE LIST

Arrais, J. (2011). Wanted, a good pastor: The characteristics, skills, and attitudes every effective church leader needs. Silver Spring, Md., General Conference Ministerial Association.

White, E. G. H. (1948). Testimonies for the church, vol.1. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Pub. Association.

White, E. G. H. (1988). The voice in speech and song: as outlined in the writings of Ellen G. White. Boise, ID: Pacific Press Pub. Association. p.111



Additional Reading Resources

Adams, J. E. (1986). Preaching with purpose: the urgent task of homiletics. Grand Rapids, MI: Presbyterian and Reformed Pub. Co.

Bailey, E. K. and W. W. Wiersbe (2003). Preaching in Black and White: What We Can Learn from Each Other. Zondervan.

Chapell, B. (2005). Christ-centered preaching: redeeming the expository sermon. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

Jones, R. C. (2005). Preaching with Power: Black Preachers Share Secrets for Effective Preaching. General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Ministerial Association.

Jones, R. C. (2012). Preaching with Power II: More Black Preachers Share Secrets for Effective Preaching. Spirit Reign Publishing.

Loveless, W. (1998, May) Preaching: The endeavor itself. Ministry Magazine, 10-11

Robinson, H. W. and C. B. Larson (2005). The art and craft of biblical preaching: A comprehensive resource for today's communicators. Grand Rapids, Mich., Zondervan.

Robinson, H. W. (2014). Biblical preaching: the development and delivery of expository messages. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group.

Warren, M. A. and E. G. H. White (2010). Ellen White on Preaching: Insights for Sharing God's Word. Review and Herald.

White, E.C. and E.G.H. White (1988). The Voice in Speech and Song: As outlined in the Writings of Ellen G. White. Pacific Press Pub. Association.

Ken Curtis started out in SECC in 1979 as the youth pastor at the Westminister Church, he is currently at the Calimesa where he has served for the last 35 years. He is married to Lael and has two grown children, Brianne and Jordan. Over the course of his Calimesa years he has done a little contract teaching for Andrews, Loma Linda and La Sierra Universities, currently helps with editing for the Growing Together Sabbath School materials and helps direct the Journey in SECC.
“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim . . .”[1]

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations . . .”[2]

“Therefore go . . . teaching them to obey everything I have command you.”[3]

There certainly does seem to be a lot of talking going on in those passages! Proclaiming, preaching, teaching, and a sense of mission are coded deeply in our Adventist DNA. What higher sense of calling is there than to get to proclaim, preach and teach the good news? Our sense of calling, however, arises out of a context, and context matters.

Context, of course, includes a lot. Certainly, there are lots of dimensions to the context (historical, cultural, religious, political, etc.) which helped to shape our church in the early 19th century, and all the proclaiming, preaching, and that teaching that we’ve been doing ever since! But as significant as those bits of context are (and they are), what I am more and more impressed with lately is another kind of context out of which our mission to proclaim, preach and teach might, or might not, be arising, which Adam McHugh invites us to think about in his book, The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction.

He starts in the introduction with this three-word sentence, “LISTENING COMES FIRST.” He then goes on in the remainder of the book to unpack the significance of that short but profound three-word sentence. Here are a few excerpts from the introduction that give us some glimpses of what is to follow. Beginning with the experience of a newborn baby, he writes:

After her birth, she will spend the next months hearing the words [her parents] speak, whisper, and sing to her, until one day she will start echoing those words, one imperfect syllable at a time . . . [the primeval universe] has an ear, because its first action is to listen to the Voice that pierces the darkness. God commands light and the cosmos hears and obeys . . . The centerpiece of Israel’s prayer life, the Shema, begins with the word hear: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4 (NIV). . . You become a disciple by hearing. Listening is the first act of discipleship . . . The apostle James famously counsels his hearers to be quick to listen, slow to speak (James 1:19) . . . This is the pattern that life commands.”[4]

This got me to wondering about what would it be like if, this being the natural order of things, we thought about what primarily defines us, as being less about our ability to proclaim well, and more about our ability to listen well? He then goes on to say this:

But somewhere along the way, we start to violate the natural order of things. Speaking our minds and asserting ourselves take priority over listening. We interrupt someone else because we are convinced we already know what he or she is going to say. . . We consider ourselves experts on topics without anything more to learn. . . We participate by speaking and sharing, and we assert our identities by taking verbal stands. . . We view others as projects rather than people with unique stories to be heard. We consider our great Christian task to be preaching, rather than assuming the listening posture of a servant. We speak in volumes, but we listen in snippets. [5]

There is much more to reflect on here. In the pages that follow, he does a masterful job of offering some glimpses of what it might look like, personally and as a community if we were to take seriously the primacy of listening. He begins by describing the overall contours of a listening life, particularly in contrast to a way of being that uses words to acquire power, rather than assuming a stance that seeks to serve by being attentive. He then follows by describing how this is lived out in the picture of God that is revealed to us in scripture, and most clearly in the life of Jesus - that of a God who listens. How we live in response to that God by assuming the stance of a listener when engaging in prayer, reading scripture, and being attentive to the created world and those others we share it with, are what you find in the next several chapters. What it means to genuinely listen to those in pain, and how we can listen well to ourselves and perhaps better discern the work that God is doing in us, is where he turns his focus as he moves toward the end of the book. Then, in the last chapter, he invites us to reflect on what a community that takes all this seriously might be like. Finally, in the Epilogue, he reminds us that “Listening is the first thing we do in life, and it is the last thing we do in death. We don’t have a choice then, but we do have a choice for all the points in between.”[6]

One might say that one of the characteristics of a good book, is not only the way it makes us wonder how this author was able to get inside our heads and say things that we hadn’t quite been able to find the words for yet, but also in the way it can provide a vision of how things can be different if we are willing to embrace what it says. This is one of those books. It is a book that left me with questions to ponder.

What might it be like to be part of a community that found its primary sense of identity and calling, less in its ability to speak well, and more in its ability to hear well?

What we have to say matters, but what if it is only really heard well, in ways that are genuinely transformative rather than merely informative, when it comes out of a context that takes listening first seriously?

What if the first things that came to people’s minds when they thought about us, was not how passionately we spoke, but how amazingly well we listened and responded to what we heard?

What if we were less concerned about finding ourselves at a loss for words, and more about placing ourselves in a posture where others felt they could be heard?

What if who we are when we are with people spoke as loudly as what we say to people?

Could this be some of what Jesus was getting at when He said, “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,”[7]?

What if the amazing message we have to proclaim, preach and teach always arose out of a context of careful and genuine listening?

I wonder why Jesus so often says, “Whoever has ears, let them hear”[8]



[1]Revelation 14:6 (NIV)
[2]Matthew 24:14 (NIV)
[3]Matt 28:19-20 (NIV)
[4]Adam McHugh, The Listening Life: Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction. (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2015) [Kindle Edition] Locations 28-46.
[5]Ibid.
[6]Ibid., Location 2847
[7]Matthew 10:19
​[8]Matthew 11:15

​Jonathan Osorio, Young Adult and Family Ministry Pastor at the Yucaipa SDA Church. Married to my beautiful wife Vanessa and gifted with 2 beautiful boys Joziah, 4 y/o and Izaiah, 2 y/o & expecting a 3rd boy. Love going to the park with my family. I enjoy connecting with new people , tasting new foods and traveling to new places. A lover of chocolate. Die hard Laker Fan. My why is To be an Inspiration to the Next Generation.
Teams, from sports teams to work teams to church teams to even Jesus when he came down to this earth, He chose a team. Teams are a part of our lives and as Pastors teams are vital to the overall mission of the church in building God’s Kingdom. Yet, at times you might feel like me, that nothing is running smoothly so we tend to want to just do it ourselves. I want to share with you something that can help you assess the team you have and begin to build Team Chemistry.

Throughout the past years in Pastoral ministry, there is something that has helped me and given me a better understanding of building teams and being able for the team to move forward towards a common goal. I hope this helps you look at the teams God has entrusted you to lead and may we lean first to God and his Holy Spirit as he guides and directs us with the teams he has entrusted us over.

Here are the 5 C’s of a Team.

1. Clarity

Where there is no VISION people perish - Proverbs 29:18

Clarity gives a team purpose. Knowing where we are going is so important to the overall function of a team. As a Pastor, I believe it is important for you to give clarity and help the team to know the direction where together you are sensing God's leading. One major reason I believe leaders become discouraged in teams is, just like the verse says, without a clear direction, people become discouraged and they start to run in circles rather than look and move forward in faith.

An exercise that has been helped me bring clarity is: Using post-it notes. Give one post-it note to every leader and start by asking this question: Where do we sense God moving in our church, youth group, ministry, and/or community? Then proceed to ask other questions such as: What excites you about your church, youth group, ministry, and/or community? These conversations will then lead the teams to gain better clarity and help you create a VISION (Our Why), MISSION (What?), and CORE VALUES.

One more key component to this activity is to make it FUN! Take a day to go out with your team and or go on a retreat. Not only will this help to bring more clarity but it will help fuel your team and bring vitality and bring closeness to your team.

2. Commitment

COMMIT your work to the Lord and your plans will succeed - Proverbs 16:3

Commitment says we are “ALL IN”. We will all be dedicated to the overall vision, mission, and team. Committing to the team and the plans gives the team a strong focus on succeeding and highlighting the steps necessary to succeed. When team leaders understand their work in the context of the team's plan, they become more committed to the team’s success and less troubled by any short-term difficulties. Commitment is crucial to the health of the team.

3. Communication

So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. - 1 Corinthians 12-25-26

Communication is key in a team. It unlocks the potential of a team. Effective communication will be a great launching to the overall success of your team. Understand how and where to communicate. Use platforms and systems that will aid every leader to know their responsibilities and be able to communicate effectively. There are great applications that you can use to communicate with your teams such as Slack or Microsoft Teams. Just like the body is formed of many parts, so it is with your Team Leaders. Allow communication to be the joint that connects all the parts of the team.


4. Consistency

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. - 1 Corinthians 15:58

Consistency says: “Keep going”. Consistency is the oil that will keep the team running. Consistency is what gives the team life. It is the oxygen that keeps the team going and moving forward. Whether it is by meeting together, planning together, and/or assessing the ministry(ies). Consistency is what will drive the team to achieve success. I love this quote by Michael Hyatt: “Consistency is more important than perfection.” The fact that we continue to meet, continue to evaluate, and continue to work together, gives the whole team momentum.

5. Community

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. -Acts 2:44

God did not intend for us to live in isolation, God intended for us to live together. God created us all for community. Community allows us to foster love, to be encouraging, and to make a Kingdom difference. As a team, we are called to go out to our communities. To create moments where community happens.

A gathering that has created by our Family Ministry Team to create community within our Church this past year was: Picnic at the Park. This gathering not only brought us closer as a team, but it brought our church community closer as well. Life was not meant to be lived alone but rather to be lived together. I encourage you to create experiences where you and your team can commune.

Thank you for taking the time to check out this blog post and I hope this can inspire you as you start this New Year 2022 with your Team.

I like what Mother Teresa says: “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”

Let us do great things together with our Teams for God’s Kingdom

Would love to hear from you. What is a C that you would include on this list?