As many of you know, I travel on a weekly basis as an evangelist all over the country. I love sharing the Word of God and making it relevant and practical for people to grasp. For me, there's nothing greater than seeing students and adults get it when it comes to understanding the will of the Lord.

Those who have heard me or any other evangelist for that matter fail to realize the incredible struggle it is to hear from the Lord on such a consistent basis. For example, between this week and next week I have to speak some 14 times! Wow!

So how in the world can one individual hear from the Lord that much to satisfy the demand of requested ministry? Well for me, it has now become an enjoyable task. Here's what I do when preparing for ministry opportunities:

(1)  I train myself to see God through and in all things. Yep, I can develop a sermon from almost anything!

(2)  I read the Word of God and try to interpret it through the lenses of our culture. In other words, I ask myself, "How would this look today?"

(3)  I ask the Lord to give me an illustration, metaphor, or story that brings the truth of God's Word to life. Early in my ministry, I had the pleasure of hearing a chaplain for the New York Yankees speak. The way he handled the scriptures and brought the them alive amazed me. From that point forward I wanted to do the same to those the Lord put in my path.

(4)  I work really hard on the packaging! For me, the packaging of a message is critically important. Packaging is not only what I preach, but how I preach it.  Different groups may require a different approach. The same can be said for the various age groups I encounter. Presentation is also huge. What graphics, props, or illustrations will be used. All of this is essential to delivering an effective message to God's people.

(5)  I try to make it practical. I think most people know the "what" of God, faith, and life. Yet, few grasp and master the "how" of God, faith, and life. I want to present solutions and not simply regurgitate all the problems.

With this said, I challenge you to look and listen beyond the surface of the messages and sermons you hear. Take a step back and examine how they are presented...dare I say try to see the packaging. A great sermon doesn't necessarily have to be one that makes you run to the altar. On the contrary, I believe the best sermons are those that are well structured, thought-provoking, and practical. What do you think? What sermon or sermons do you still remember and why?