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BLOG POST
EPI-CENTER
PREACHING RESOURCES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

OCTOBER 31, 2019           

OUR FEAR OF FAILURE

We fear failure. No one wants to work without results, to serve to no end. We set goals, but we face many goal blockers in ministry, which can lead to the fear of failure. Paul, too, feared working in vain (κενός – Phil. 2:16; 1 Thess. 3:5; Gal. 2:2) or for nothing (εἰκῇ – Gal. 4:11). But what does failure look like?

EPI-Center is a collaborative effort to bring expository resources and training to New England pastors, church leaders and those who have a call to preach. The Cecil B. Day Foundation began the EPI-Center in 2015, and over 450 preachers have received training through the ministry. The EPI-Center merged with The Rephidim Project in September 2018. We train expository preachers by providing tools, resources, and teaching. We coordinate intensive preaching institutes and workshops for pastors in New England.
Expository preaching is the explanation of a biblical passage in its context that forms a complete unit of thought shaped by the intent of the original author and the structure of the passage which the Holy Spirit applies to the preacher and through the personality of the preacher makes the message relevant to people today.
 
Expository preaching ought to be the primary focus of the preaching ministry in the church. Why?

 
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The Rephidim Project exists to support those on the frontlines of spiritual battle with the resources to be refreshed through the study of Scripture to spread God’s Word in this world more effectively. Pastors and missionaries become weary in the work and may feel isolated and discouraged. We seek to “encourage the exhausted and strengthen the weak” (Isaiah 35:3) through developing and distributing resources for Bible exposition.
November 13, 2019
 
A Parabolic Paradigm for Disciple-Making Sermons
by David Christensen

Stories shape culture. The stories we hear influence the values we believe.

Jesus understood that truth, so he told stories, lots of stories. He used metaphors to teach spiritual truths. Parables were one of his favorite preaching tools. The gospel writers tell us that Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables and “did not speak to them without a parable!” (Mt. 13:34; Mark 4:34)
We thank you for your prayers and support for the Rephidim Project, as we seek to encourage and equip pastors around the world with tools to spread God’s Word more effectively through expository preaching. If you would like to support the Repihidim Project financially, please follow the link to our online giving page. Alternatively, you may mail a check directly to:
The Rephidim Project
P.O.Box 145
Gorham, Maine 04038 
 
Are you interested in joining a Preaching Cohort?
 
A preaching cohort is a brotherhood model of coaching preachers. It consists of a group of six to ten pastors who covenant together to develop and improve their skills in expository preaching through joint workshops, mutual encouragement, and personal accountability. Click to read more…
 

 

 

 
NEW ENGLAND MINISTRY PARTNERS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Gospel Alliance of Maine
Overseed
Small Town Summits
 
 
 
 
 
 
New England Center for Expository Preaching
The Charles Simeon Trust
RESOURCES

 

 
 
 
Expository Preaching
Resources
 
 
 
 
 
 
Digging
Deeper
 
 
 
 
Seminars
&
Workshops

 
 
 
 
Recursos
En
Espagnol
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preaching
Cohorts
SERMONS
These sermons are downloadable, can be listened to online, or subscribed to via an RSS feed (e.g. as a Podcast on your mobile device.) Our sermon podcast “Honey from the Rock” is available on iTunes.
Arrows of Victory – 2 Kings 13:14-19 by Pastor David Christensen

Oct 21, 2018
Arrows of Victory 2 Kings 13:14-19
By: David Christensen
Series: Retirement Sermons
WatchNotesDownloadDateTitle
  • Oct 21, 2018Arrows of Victory 2 Kings 13:14-19
    Oct 21, 2018
    Arrows of Victory 2 Kings 13:14-19
    By: David Christensen
    Series: Retirement Sermons
  • Oct 14, 2018A Great Commission Church Matthew 28:16-20
    Oct 14, 2018
    A Great Commission Church Matthew 28:16-20
    By: David Christensen
    Series: Retirement Sermons
View All
Additional Sermon Series
 
1 John:
Fellowship With God
1 Samuel:
Integrity, The Fulcrum
Hebrews:
The Supremacy of Christ
Titus:
Healthy Church Practice
Romans:
Sanctification
Judges:
Culture Wars
Philippians:
Living Fellowship
1 Peter: Living in a
Hostile World
Ecclesiastes: Meaningless! 
Life Without God
Acts: His Church and
Our Mission
Genesis:
The Book of Beginnings
Revelation:
Final Judgement

Luke:
To Seek and to Save
Micah:
Social Justice

 

Blogs by David Christensen
 
 
 
 
Bible Tips and Tidbits
 
 
 
 
PreacherTalk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Articles

 
Sermon Proclamation
by Garrett Soucy
 
 
Conspiracy in the Church
by Garrett Soucy

A PARABOLIC PARADIGM FOR DISCIPLE-MAKING SERMONS

by David Christensen
Extemporaneous Preaching: It’s Not Only What You Say,
It’s How You Say It
by Jack L. Daniel
Why A New England Protestant Needs A
Catholic Spirit
by Garrett Soucy
Preaching Through The Church Year
by Jack L. Daniel
Milk a Lot of Cows,
But Churn Your Own Butter:
Avoiding Plagiarism
by Jack L. Daniel
On Celebrating
A Loss Of Privacy
by Garrett Soucy
Seven Suggestions For Handling Controversial Topics In Small Group Studies
by Stephen Witmer
 
by David Christensen
 
by David Christensen
 
 
by David Christensen
 
 
by David Christensen
 
by David Christensen
 
by David Christensen
 
by Dave Deuel
 
by David Christensen
 
by David Christensen
 
by David Christensen
 
by Dave Deuel
 
PAUL AND PHILEMON
A Case Study In Pastoral Influence
by David Christensen

 

Books

Resources can be purchased online in physical or electronic formats.
Please find the following books below.
 
Transformed By Adoption
 
 
 
 

Our Heavenly Father has adopted us into His family and our adoption is the foundation for our transformation. Spiritual transformation is a gradual process of change as we learn the ways of our Father. Christians want to live a victorious life immediately. Talk of being radical or revolutionary Christians excites us but these descriptions imply that other Christians are lesser members of the family of God. Many consider the normal Christian life inferior to the higher Christian life. What is a normal Christian life? The Apostle Paul describes a normal Christian life in Romans 6-8. A normal Christian pursues holiness while wrestling with sin throughout life. The habits of sin must be replaced with the habits of holiness by the power of the Spirit. We grow to be like Christ as we walk in step with the Spirit. We are children of God by adoption so we must learn the ways of God by practice. When we fail we run into the arms of our Father and find our security in His love.

 
Friends With Jesus
 
 
 
 

Is your Christian life dull and dry, full of rituals and responsibilities without any passion or joy? Has your obedience become a duty and your faith turned into an obligation? Renew your relationship with Jesus through this study of John 13-16. Jesus invites you to be His friends not merely His servants. Kindle the passion of fresh friendship with Jesus as He opens His heart to you in these chapters. His self-disclosure encourages your transparency as you explore what it means to be friends with Jesus. Jesus wants you to experience the depths of spiritual intimacy with Him. He desires your friendship, not just your service. Enjoy the riches of His love as you explore Jesus most intimate teachings shared just before He died for you.

 
Expository Insights on John 13-17
 
 
 
 
 
Expository preaching exposes the ideas in the biblical unit of thought, so the sermon follows the flow of the passage. The hearers should be able to think their way through the passage after the sermon has been preached.  The preacher seeks to visualize the flow of thought – to picture the structure of the passage. The sermon should expose the hinges on which the passage swings by developing an outline based on the structure but written in contemporary language. This workbook provides a structural diagram based on the Greek text side by side with a format for the expositor to develop an outline from the passage. Short, practical insights add exegetical depth and sermon seed thoughts to help the preacher flesh out the message. The workbook encourages the preacher to mine the riches of John 13-17 for personal growth and sermon preparation.

The Faces of Forgiveness:

Healing for the Hurts We Feel
 
 
 

Forgiveness is not easy despite the pictures painted in many sermons. We all struggle to forgive the hurts we feel. Bitterness and resentment threaten our souls if we do not release the poison to God. Pastor David Christensen deals honestly with the pain we feel while pointing us to the wonderful release we can enjoy when we give and receive forgiveness. The book uses the metaphor of faces to teach about forgiveness. The faces of those who experience healing form the backdrop for a theology of forgiveness. There are vertical and horizontal faces of forgiveness as we look to God and others. There are judicial and relational faces of forgiveness as we deal with God and others to find the healing that forgiveness brings to our hearts. David lays out the practical steps we must take to experience the healing power of forgiveness. We must learn to accept the grace, name the blame and release the poison of unforgiveness to find healing for the hurts we feel.

 
Expository Insights on
2 Corinthians 2:14-7:4
 
 
 
 
Expository preaching exposes the ideas in the biblical unit of thought, so the sermon follows the flow of the passage. The hearers should be able to think through the passage after the sermon has been preached. The preacher seeks to visualize the flow of thought – to picture the structure of the passage. The sermon should expose the hinges on which the passage swings by developing an outline based on the structure but written in contemporary language. This workbook provides a structural diagram based on the Greek text side by side with a format for the expositor to develop an outline from the passage. Short, practical insights add exegetical depth and sermon seed thoughts to help the preacher flesh out the message. The workbook encourages the preacher to mine the riches of 2 Corinthians 2:14-7:4 for personal growth and sermon preparation.

About The Rephidim Project

The Rephidim Project exists to support those on the frontlines of spiritual battle with the resources to be refreshed through the study of Scripture to spread God’s Word in this world more effectively. Pastors and missionaries become weary in the work and may feel isolated and discouraged. We seek to “encourage the exhausted and strengthen the weak” (Isaiah 35:3) through developing and distributing resources for Bible exposition. Read More…

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David Christensen
Galilee Baptist Church
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