I remember the first sermon I ever preached. I had no idea what to do so I tried to follow my Dad's model. Over time I continued searching for a model. To begin with I wanted to sound like Billy Graham. Then I heard the evangelist Tony Nolan. I wanted to preach just like him. Anytime I had the opportunity to preach I would pull out the tape and listen to it hoping I could develop something just like him. But nothing felt comfortable until I discovered I had to figure out my own style which included every aspect from preparation to speaking. But just like life it is a process in motion, I am continually learning.
The reason I needed my own style was God has not created two people alike. Imagine out of all the people who have been born and died and continue to be born, there has never been a repeat. Just take a look at your finger right now. What do you see? Something called fingerprints...these fingerprints are unique to you and you alone. No one in this world has had those fingerprints or ever will.
This is same for churches as well. Every church has it's own unique set of fingerprints. We have been called by a Specific Person (God), for specific reason, to be accomplished with a specific attitude. What does this mean? As a church ministers it must do so within it's God given uniqueness...a church must be intentional about getting our fingerprints all over the area we've been called to impact and it begins with LOVE...Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul. Love your neighbor as your self.
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