Hope Preaching Guidelines

Dear Brother or Sister in Christ,

Thank you for being willing to be used by God to share His message with the members and guests at Hope Adventist Fellowship. We strive to have an uplifting, Christ-centered, Bible based, and well-organized worship service. This letter is sent to all guest speakers for some basic guidelines for your participation in the worship service. These guidelines, though detailed, do not represent any doubt in you as a preacher, but rather emphasize the high value we place on the preaching ministry.  

Message: Jesus Christ should be uplifted in every message, the everlasting gospel should be present in each sermon, and the way shown for the lost soul to find safety. This may seem obvious, but please make sure it is not overlooked. You may want to read your sermon over and ask yourself, “What does this say about Jesus? Can the sinner find hope in this message?”

All sermons must be clearly biblical. That means, that you not only teach biblical truth, you use the Bible to do it. We uplift the Bible as the only “supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of His will.” [i] make sure any use of Ellen White's writings are used to support your Biblical point not the other way around (and please don't use the cliché phrase Spirit of Prophecy to refer to Ellen White’s writings)[ii].

Do not mix works with salvation (Galatians 2:21). If you believe that a person can or should do anything, other than believe in faith, to gain or improve salvation, please contact Pastor Steve (205-470-3970) to cancel your preaching engagement. We are simply not a match for you. Salvation by grace through faith alone, not of works, is a core value of Hope Adventist Fellowship [iii]

Also, do not bash or talk negatively about the Seventh-day Adventist Church or our church in particular. The church is not perfect, but the pulpit is not the place to straighten it out. Our goal is to uplift Christ and let Him draw people to Himself (John 12:32), tearing down His church does not accomplish that goal.[iv]

Diversity: As you prepare your sermon, please keep in mind that we always have people in all parts of the spiritual spectrum, including many from other denominations and faiths in the audience. We will also post your sermon online, which makes an even broader audience. So please avoid Adventist lingo that could make visitors feel like outsiders who don't have the "inside knowledge." HOPE is blessed to experience part of what it means to proclaim the Everlasting Gospel "to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people" (Rev 14:6). Our members come from many different nations, cultures, and backgrounds, and have a very diverse perspective on life, culture, politics, and spirituality.  Please try to avoid racial/ethnic stereotypes or political statements, and please be respectful of other denominations and religions, even if you disagree with them.

Politics: The two most offensive topics are religion and politics. Obviously, we do not avoid talking about religion, but we can and should avoid political speeches as much as possible. The Gospel, itself, is offensive to many, and we are unapologetic about our proclamation of it (Romans 1:16), but if someone is going to be offended, let’s make sure it’s by the Gospel, not our political view, judgmental attitude, or stereotypes. Political speech tends to divide and distract people from the message you are presenting. You may feel that your political view is so obviously biblical that no one could disagree, but remember, everyone is biased, including you, and we often are not fully aware of our own biases. Having said that, the lines between politics and morality are often blurry; if you feel the need to mention something that is even remotely political in nature, please consult Pastor Steve (205-470-3970) for a second opinion before sharing with the church.

Technicalities: Please send Pastor Steve a general description of your sermon and sermon title by the Wednesday before you preach, so that we can choose complementary music. You may text Pastor Steve (205-470-3970) or email him (steve@hopeadventist.org). If you plan to promote any ministry not officially affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist church, you will need to seek prior approval.

If you have a PowerPoint, please email it to richard@mcmains.org (by Friday) or bring it to the sound booth on a flash drive by 10:30 AM. Presentation slides should be 16:9 format. Remember to use basic fonts or provide your font files to the AV department. If you plan to use a presentation program other than PowerPoint or Keynote, please communicate that ahead of time. If you have other AV or prop needs, please communicate ahead of time with the pastor or AV team and we will assist you to the best of our ability.

Times: Please arrive at the church by 10:30 AM (although we’d love for you to join Sabbath School at 10:00!) and ask the greeter to direct you to the AV room, where they will confirm your PowerPoint and fit you with a mic. In general, plan for about 30 to 40 minutes of preaching [v]. If the topic you have been asked to present requires more time than the typical amount, please contact Pastor Steve, and we will make accommodations in the rest of the service to provide you more time.

Again, we look forward to the blessing that God has laid on your heart to share with us. This letter is sent as a reminder to all speakers and does not indicate any lack of confidence in you as a preacher. It is simply a way of ensuring that all things are done "decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40). If you have any questions or special circumstances, please contact Pastor Steve Severance, 205-470-3970 or steve@okadventist.org.

In His service,

--Pastor Steve Severance