I love to preach. I think it’s the core of my calling as a pastor. I often say that I don’t get paid to preach. I get paid for all the other stuff. But I preach for free!

As I was driving home from the National Preaching Conference after speaking last night I had such a feeling of peaceful joy or joyful peace. I can’t believe I get to do what I do. Few things compare to the joy of knowing that somehow the Spirit of God took your words and used them to change minds and touch hearts and inspire dreams.

In the AM, I did a three-hour seminar focusing on cultural exegesis. I spent some time unpacking Acts 17. I think American is a modern-day Athens. We are surrounded by altars to unknown gods. And we’ve got to follow Paul’s example by walking into the Areopagus (the marketplace of ideas) and competing for the truth! I also talked some about new mediums and new methods. And then I wrapped it up talking about sermon branding.