6/7/2011

CHRISTIANITY TODAY

A Cup Running Over | Preaching Today

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A Cup Running Over

Learning to preac h from the overflow of your deeply satisfying relationship with the Savior
Dallas Willard posted 05/01/04 Average Rating:
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In my early days of ministry I spent huge amounts of time Related Topics: absorbed in Scripture and great spiritual writers. The Lord made it possible for me to spend whole dayswithout any issue of preparing for something or taking an examination soaking up the Sc ripture. I literally wore out the books of great spiritual writers. This focus was foundational to my spiritual journey, to finding satisfac tion in Christ. There is no substitute for simple satisfaction in the Word of God, in the presence of God. That affects all your actions.

Characteristics of dissatisfaction
Preachers who are not finding satisfaction in Christ are likely to demonstrate that with overexertion and overpreparation for speaking, and with no peac e about what they do after they do it. If we have not c ome to the place of resting in God, we will go back and think, Oh, if I'd done this, or Oh, I didn't do that. When you come to the place where you are drinking deeply from God and trusting him to act with you, there is peace about what you have c ommunicated. One of my great joys came when I got up from a chair to walk to the podium and the Lord said to me, "Now remember, it's what I do with the Word between your lips and their hearts that matters." That is a tremendous lesson. If you do not trust God to do that, then he will let you do what you're going to do, and it's not going to come to much. But once you turn it loose and recognize we are always inadequate but our inadequac y is not the issue, you are able to lay that burden down. Then the satisfaction you have in Christ spills over into everything you do. The preacher who does not minister in that satisfaction is on dangerous ground. Those who experience moral failure are those who failed to live a deeply satisfied life in Christ, almost without exc eption. I know my temptations come out of situations where I am dissatisfied, not content. I am worried about something or not feeling the sufficiency I know is there. If I have a strong temptation, it will be out of my dissatisfaction. The moral failures of ministers usually are over one of three things: sex, money, or power. That always comes out of dissatisfaction. Ministers are reaching for something, and they begin to feel, I deserve something better. I sacrifice so muc h and get so little. And so I'll do this. The surest guarantee against failure is to be so at peace and satisfied with God that when wrongdoing presents itself it isn't even interesting. That is how we stay out of temptation.

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Characteristics of a satisfied soul

We are long on devices and programs. We have too many of them, and they get in the way. What we really need are preac hers who can stand in simplicity and manifest and

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A Cup Running Over | Preaching Today

dec lare the ric hness of Christ in life. There isn't anything on earth that begins to compete with that for human benefit and human interest.
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Displaying 15 of 19 comments P.Crowell

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June 06, 2011

2:02pm

Dallas has hit the heart of the gospel. It is when we come to the place of nothing less than a pure divine love in C hrist minus our attempts of self will to become overachievers.

alfred smalls

March 11, 2011

2:20pm

thamks for reminding!.

Tina

March 10, 2011

10:00am

I really appreciate this article because it made me see me and understand me. I really want the people to receive the message God has prepared through me so I would constantly critique myself afterwards saying I could have or should have. Now I know that if I just trust God and not try so hard, all is well. Thank you for your part in this divine revelation!

Stagg

March 08, 2011

10:23am

Great article! Pastors and preachers sometimes forget about themselves and the importance of finding that quality time to spend in the Lord's presence. It seems simplistic, but with so many things going on, sometimes you need a reminder that you should steal away and be refreshed. Thanks for the reminder and insight!

Betty Nola

March 07, 2011

2:55pm

The most wonderful pastor I ever met was an elderly man who, after 5 minutes spent with him, left no doubt that his life was God-centered. He stayed at my parents' house once while preaching at a revival in our church. He was in another room preparing his sermon and I heard him start to sing. When he came into the living room he told mom he hoped his singing hadn't disturbed anyone. "Sometimes I can hardly help myself. When I'm praying, I run out of words." His eyes were wet with tears. He has been gone for many years but I will never forget what it looks like to be consumed with passion for what you do.

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CHRISTIANITY TODAY

A Cup Running Over | Preaching Today

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A Cup Running Over

Learning to preac h from the overflow of your deeply satisfying relationship with the Savior
Dallas Willard posted 05/01/04 Average Rating:
[see ratings/re views] See the m e

PreachingToday.com Leadership Weekly Building Church Leaders

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When people hear a preacher who is satisfied in this way, Related Topics: they sense that much more is coming from him than what he is saying. When I hear a preacher like this, I sense something flowing from him. Preachers like that are at peace. They are not struggling to make something One mark of preachers happen. who have attained deep

satisfaction is they are at peace and they love what they are doing.

That is one of the biggest issues for ministers today because of the model of suc cess that c omes to us. We get this idea we are supposed to make something happen, and so we need servic es to go just right. The concluding benediction has hardly ceased before those in c harge are saying to one another, "How did it go?" or "It went really well." The truth is we don't know how it went. From God's point of view it will be eternity before we know how it went. These folks are not at peace if they are trying to manage outc omes in that way. One mark of preachers who have attained deep satisfaction is they are at peace and they love what they are doing. Peace comes from them. From such preachers I sense something coming to me that is deeper than the words. Hearers sense the message opening up possibilities for them to live. In the presence of this kind of preac her, people find ways of doing the good that is before their hearts. That is the living water. Jesus brought people that opening up of possibilities. In John 8, when he said to the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more," I don't think she felt, I've got to do that. She experienc ed Jesus' words as That's really possible. I can do that. That is one characteristic of preaching that c omes from a satisfied life. Another mark of satisfied preachers is they c an listen. They can be silent in the presence of others because they are not always trying to make something happen. Such a person has the capacity to listen to people and come to an awareness of the needs that underlie the felt needs. We should be attentive to the felt needs of people, but we should know that the game is at a muc h deeper level of the soul. A large part of what the pastor does in preaching and life is to listen and help people feel their real needs, not just superficial needs. The satisfied preacher speaks from a listening heart. Since people often do not know what they really need, suc h preaching c an help them find out. This requires a spac iousness that only comes if your cup is running over bec ause you are well-c ared for by God.

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Steps toward finding satisfaction

We can take steps to find this deep satisfaction and to preach from the well within us. I encourage pastors to have substantial times every week when they do nothing but enjoy God. That may mean walking by a stream, looking at a flower, listening to music, or

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6/7/2011

A Cup Running Over | Preaching Today

watc hing your children or grandc hildren play without your constantly trying to control them. Experience the fullness of God, think about the good things God has done for you, and realize he has done well by you. If there is a problem doing that, then work through the problem, because we cannot really serve him if we do not genuinely love him.
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Dallas Willard:

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rating & reviews

Average User Rating:

Displaying 15 of 19 comments P.Crowell

See all comments

June 06, 2011

2:02pm

Dallas has hit the heart of the gospel. It is when we come to the place of nothing less than a pure divine love in C hrist minus our attempts of self will to become overachievers.

alfred smalls

March 11, 2011

2:20pm

thamks for reminding!.

Tina

March 10, 2011

10:00am

I really appreciate this article because it made me see me and understand me. I really want the people to receive the message God has prepared through me so I would constantly critique myself afterwards saying I could have or should have. Now I know that if I just trust God and not try so hard, all is well. Thank you for your part in this divine revelation!

Stagg

March 08, 2011

10:23am

Great article! Pastors and preachers sometimes forget about themselves and the importance of finding that quality time to spend in the Lord's presence. It seems simplistic, but with so many things going on, sometimes you need a reminder that you should steal away and be refreshed. Thanks for the reminder and insight!

Betty Nola

March 07, 2011

2:55pm

The most wonderful pastor I ever met was an elderly man who, after 5 minutes spent with him, left no doubt that his life was God-centered. He stayed at my parents' house once while preaching at a revival in our church. He was in another room preparing his sermon and I heard him start to sing. When he came into the living room he told mom he hoped his singing hadn't disturbed anyone. "Sometimes I can hardly help myself. When I'm praying, I run out of words." His eyes were wet with tears. He has been gone for many years but I will never forget what it looks like to be consumed with passion for what you do.

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related articles
The Patented Preacher | Every preacher is a limited edition of one
Warren W. Wiersbe

Preaching Through Personal Pain | If you have a crisis, should your sermons discuss it?
Daniel T. Hans

Backdraft Preaching | You've got to reignite the flames Sunday after Sunday
Mark Buchanan

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6/7/2011
CHRISTIANITY TODAY

A Cup Running Over | Preaching Today

PASTORAL LEADERSHIP CHURCH MANAGEMENT LEADER TRAINING DISCIPLESHIP MAGAZINES SHOPPING FREE!

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FIND SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS C ONNEC T WITH C ULTURE FIND SERMONS

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PREAC HING SKILL

home > sharpen your skills > a cup running over

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A Cup Running Over

Learning to preac h from the overflow of your deeply satisfying relationship with the Savior
Dallas Willard posted 05/01/04 Average Rating:
[see ratings/re views] See the m e

PreachingToday.com Leadership Weekly Building Church Leaders

E-mail Address Full Name first page | 3 of 3 Zip/Postal Code

more newsletters | create preaching today alerts

Henri Nouwen said the main obstacle to love for God is Related Topics: service for God. Service must c ome out of his strength and life flowing through us into receptive lives. Take an hour, sit in a comfortable place in silence, and do nothing but rest. If you go to sleep, that's okay. We have to stop trying too hard. There may be a few pastors for whom that is not the problem, but for most it is. We need to do that not only for ourselves but to set an example for those we speak to. There is a place for effort, but it never earns anything and must never take the place of God with us. Our efforts are to make room for him in our lives.
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Dallas Willard is a former professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, and author of numerous books, including Renovation of the Heart (NavPress).
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Sponsored by Ty ndale

more from Leadership

Displaying 15 of 19 comments P.Crowell See all comments
Getting Volunteers on Track Surprised by Addiction Bi-Polar Priest
Dallas has hit the heart of the gospel. It is when we come to the place of nothing less than a pure divine love in C hrist minus our attempts of self will to become overachievers.

June 06, 2011

2:02pm

Download: Telling the Whole Story

alfred smalls

March 11, 2011

2:20pm

Download: Children's Bulletins, Third Quarter July, August, September 2011 Download: Cultivating a Culture of Service in Your Church more ...

thamks for reminding!.

Tina

March 10, 2011

10:00am

I really appreciate this article because it made me see me and understand me. I really want the people to receive the message God has prepared through me so I would constantly critique myself afterwards saying I could have or should have. Now I know that if I just trust God and not try so hard, all is well.

preachingtoday.com//200403.24.html?

1/3

6/7/2011
Thank you for your part in this divine revelation!

A Cup Running Over | Preaching Today

Stagg

March 08, 2011

10:23am

Great article! Pastors and preachers sometimes forget about themselves and the importance of finding that quality time to spend in the Lord's presence. It seems simplistic, but with so many things going on, sometimes you need a reminder that you should steal away and be refreshed. Thanks for the reminder and insight!

Betty Nola

March 07, 2011

2:55pm

The most wonderful pastor I ever met was an elderly man who, after 5 minutes spent with him, left no doubt that his life was God-centered. He stayed at my parents' house once while preaching at a revival in our church. He was in another room preparing his sermon and I heard him start to sing. When he came into the living room he told mom he hoped his singing hadn't disturbed anyone. "Sometimes I can hardly help myself. When I'm praying, I run out of words." His eyes were wet with tears. He has been gone for many years but I will never forget what it looks like to be consumed with passion for what you do.

Review and Rate this Article: *

Choose star rating: Name: Your Comment:

1000 character limit

Type these two words:

I can't read these words | Use an audio clip instead Service provided by reCAPTCHA *Comments may be edited for tone and clarity.

related articles
The Patented Preacher | Every preacher is a limited edition of one
Warren W. Wiersbe

Preaching Through Personal Pain | If you have a crisis, should your sermons discuss it?
Daniel T. Hans

Backdraft Preaching | You've got to reignite the flames Sunday after Sunday
Mark Buchanan

more articles ...

preachingtoday.com//200403.24.html?

2/3

6/7/2011

A Cup Running Over | Preaching Today

Home | About Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | My Account | Contact Us | Advertise with Us Help & Info | Site Map 2011 Preac hingToday.c om & Christianity Today International

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