Johnny Ortberg is our mega-hero! John Ortberg, Jr. '79 is an evangelical Christian author, speaker, and senior pastor of the upscale Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Silicon Valley, California, an evangelical church with over 4,000 mostly lukewarm members. Ortberg has published many books including the 2008 ECPA Christian Book Award winner When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box, and the 2002 Christianity Today Book Award winner If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat. Another of his publications, The Life You've Always Wanted, has sold more than 500,000 copies as of 2008.
From 1985 to 1990 he served as senior pastor at Simi Valley Community Church, and then from 1990 to 1994 at Horizons Community Church. He then moved from California to Illinois to serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Giga-Church until 2003, when he assumed his current role at Menlo Park. In each church, Ortberg has made it a point to learn the name of each and every member.
(There is a myth that John Ortberg climbed into the Blanchard bell tower for 40 days and when he emerged he had been given the 10 suggestions of preaching, written out on 2 cafeteria trays which were immediately lost, but have been passed down orally, this is the first time they have been translated, first from Greek, then Hebrew, then Heartland. Debate the inerrancy amongst yourselves.)
From 1985 to 1990 he served as senior pastor at Simi Valley Community Church, and then from 1990 to 1994 at Horizons Community Church. He then moved from California to Illinois to serve as a teaching pastor at Willow Creek Giga-Church until 2003, when he assumed his current role at Menlo Park. In each church, Ortberg has made it a point to learn the name of each and every member.
(There is a myth that John Ortberg climbed into the Blanchard bell tower for 40 days and when he emerged he had been given the 10 suggestions of preaching, written out on 2 cafeteria trays which were immediately lost, but have been passed down orally, this is the first time they have been translated, first from Greek, then Hebrew, then Heartland. Debate the inerrancy amongst yourselves.)
ORTBERG'S 10 SUGGESTIONS OF PREACHING
The Peter Popoff Suggestion
1. Though shall not be inauthentic and try to appear more holy, intelligent, or godly than we actually are. This includes using thesaurus.com to find five-dollar words.
The Rick Warren Suggestion
2. Though shall not live for recognition and learn not to root our identity in something other than applause. This includes the use of twitter and invitations from world leaders.
The Aimee Semple McPherson Suggestion
3. Though shall not live in fear and not worry about failing, our identity must been hidden in Christ and not our accomplishments.
The Creflo Dollar & Eddie L. Long Suggestion
4. Though shall not compare ourselves to celebrity pastors, this does nothing good for the soul. Once you have 2 private jets, you probably don't need a third.
The Mike Warnke Suggestion
5. Though shall not exaggerate, which includes passing someone else’s story, sermon, or idea off as our own to win approval.
The Ted Haggard Suggestion
6. Though shall not live 2 lives, one in public and one in private. Nuff said.
The Paul & Jan Crouch Suggestion
7. Though shall not be tempted by the pride, having people listen to you give a monologue every week. This goes for bloggers too.
The Bill Hybels Suggestion
8. Though shall not use our position to manipulate people into doing what we want them to do. Do this one or else!
The Todd Bentley Suggestion
9. Though shall not envy what other preachers have or have achieved. Such selfish motivations will undermine our spiritual health.
The Victoria Olsteen Suggestion
10. Though shall not be angry at those who do not come to church for not coming and angry at those who do come for coming without enthusiasm, and at their leaders for not leading and at their followers for not following, and at their families, who make them feel guilty, and angry at themselves for not being who they want to be, and at any first-class airline stewardess.
The Peter Popoff Suggestion
1. Though shall not be inauthentic and try to appear more holy, intelligent, or godly than we actually are. This includes using thesaurus.com to find five-dollar words.
The Rick Warren Suggestion
2. Though shall not live for recognition and learn not to root our identity in something other than applause. This includes the use of twitter and invitations from world leaders.
The Aimee Semple McPherson Suggestion
3. Though shall not live in fear and not worry about failing, our identity must been hidden in Christ and not our accomplishments.
The Creflo Dollar & Eddie L. Long Suggestion
4. Though shall not compare ourselves to celebrity pastors, this does nothing good for the soul. Once you have 2 private jets, you probably don't need a third.
The Mike Warnke Suggestion
5. Though shall not exaggerate, which includes passing someone else’s story, sermon, or idea off as our own to win approval.
The Ted Haggard Suggestion
6. Though shall not live 2 lives, one in public and one in private. Nuff said.
The Paul & Jan Crouch Suggestion
7. Though shall not be tempted by the pride, having people listen to you give a monologue every week. This goes for bloggers too.
The Bill Hybels Suggestion
8. Though shall not use our position to manipulate people into doing what we want them to do. Do this one or else!
The Todd Bentley Suggestion
9. Though shall not envy what other preachers have or have achieved. Such selfish motivations will undermine our spiritual health.
The Victoria Olsteen Suggestion
10. Though shall not be angry at those who do not come to church for not coming and angry at those who do come for coming without enthusiasm, and at their leaders for not leading and at their followers for not following, and at their families, who make them feel guilty, and angry at themselves for not being who they want to be, and at any first-class airline stewardess.
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