Self Awareness in the Life of a Preacher (Mike Neglia + Riley Taylor)
Dec 12, 2023
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Mike Neglia, a preacher from Seattle, Washington, is interviewed by Riley Taylor in this entertaining podcast. They discuss how preaching is an act of love towards God and people, the importance of being a 'normal' pastor with hospitable practices, attentiveness towards the congregation and cities, self-awareness, and even speculate about John Calvin's enneagram number! The podcast also promotes the Expositors Collective and emphasizes the value of studying God's word for developing wisdom.
Preaching is an act of love towards God and the congregation, bringing out the relevance of God's word for the listeners.
Effective preaching requires both knowing the Bible and understanding the context of the people being preached to.
Deep dives
Preaching as an Act of Love
Preaching is seen as an act of love towards God and the congregation, faithfully communicating God's word. It is not about imposing one's will, but rather a humble service that brings out the relevance of the passage for the listeners. Preachers aim to show the connection between biblical truth and the experiences and needs of the people they serve. They strive to bring clarity, encouragement, and truth, pointing out flaws in thinking or unbelief in a loving manner. Preaching is not just about giving information, but about caring for the listeners and helping them understand and apply God's word to their lives.
Knowing What You're Talking About
Effective preaching requires not only knowing the Bible but also having experiential knowledge. Preachers need to take time to understand the biblical text and its relevance to contemporary challenges. They also need to be familiar with the context of the people they are preaching to, engaging with local news, culture, and the lives of their congregation. By having both a deep knowledge of the Word and a genuine understanding of the people they serve, preachers can bring out the meaning of the text in a way that connects with the hearts and lives of the listeners.
Discovering Your Voice
Finding one's unique voice as a preacher is a journey that takes time and self-reflection. It involves being true to oneself and not trying to copy others. Preachers need to develop a deep understanding of who they are and how God has uniquely designed them. This process of self-discovery allows them to communicate with authenticity and genuinely connect with their audience. It is a continual process of growth and maturing in one's preaching, gaining wisdom and experience, and confidently sharing the truths of Scripture with love and care.
Expositing Scripture and People
Expository teaching not only involves bringing out the meaning of the biblical text but also exegeting the people in the congregation. Preachers need to understand the needs, struggles, and experiences of their listeners to effectively apply the truth of Scripture to their lives. Preaching is not just dissecting the text, but also revealing God's heart of love and care through His Word. It requires shepherding the congregation, speaking to them as Paul did in his letters, with love, concern, and a deep desire to guide them toward a vibrant relationship with God.
In the most downloaded episode of 2023, Riley Taylor interviews Mike Neglia in Seattle, Washington about how preaching is a bidirectional act of love, love towards God and love towards people, why pastors should aspire to be “normal people” full of hospitable practices, attentiveness towards their cities and congregations and self-awareness, and they speculate about John Calvin's enneagram number!
“Without knowledge of self, there is no knowledge of God. Our wisdom, insofar as it ought to be deemed true and solid wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other.” - John Calvin
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Riley Taylor's groundbreaking and exemplary message on homiletics:
The Expositors Collective podcast is part of the CGNMedia, Working together to proclaim the Gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. For more content like this, visit https://cgnmedia.org/