All About: BETTER
Six years, 16 conferences, 8 states and over 1,000 participants ago BETTER was just a simple dream. The dream was born out of this question: “How Can I Preach BETTER?”
Driving up I-65 near Nashville, Rusty Pettus and Barry Throneberry called and asked: “who delivers the invitation better than any body else in our brotherhood?” That question, coupled with my own feelings of inadequacy chased me. How can I get better? If I was going to get better where would I go? I’d attended lectureships and learned a lot but little about THIS. I’d gone to seminars by other presenters about presenting but they were not in a setting in any way similar to mine. And, I wrote this: “You preach! But I bet you wish you could be better. Better - Better? How many Sunday nights have you just sat and wished you were better? How often on Friday afternoon have you wished you could be better? You know you’ll never be the best preacher in the brotherhood, but you sure wish you could be better. You attend lectureships, seminars, you read books and listen to others yet, it seems, no one ever says - Here is how you do it! How many times have you heard that other guy and wondered, how’d he do that? Well, we did too. The BETTER conference is a seminar limited to 150 preachers who want to be better at the skill of preaching. This is not a seminar to discuss positions on issues. Better! has a singular focus - to provide the tools and information to help you better present the Gospel...to preach better.”
And then this pledge: “I am a preacher. I am nothing but a preacher. I am thankful to be a preacher. I preach for God not for man, but I preach to men and I want to be the best preacher I can be. I want to be BETTER.”
Jeff jumped in and this all took off to a whole new level. We started sending out invites to “the guys” and we have been amazed at how many of our best have been willing to be a part of this good event. We want to bring in the best presenters we can and to format the program in a strongly engaging and highly equipping manner.
So, are you in? We don't want this to be 1,000 guys getting together to talk about programs and ministry - we want it to be about preaching better and we are purposely keeping it small. We have room for 50 more at BETTER: ALABAMA. It is not too late for you to sign up. The cost is $25, that includes a free book, all meals, and lodging. This is not a money making event in any way. If you have any questions or we can make it easier for you to come contact us and we will do what we can.
BETTER: ALABAMA, September 18-19, Florence, AL, 1pm Monday till noon Tuesday. Register HERE: https://www.universe.com/betteralabama
BETTER: SOUTHWEST, October 23-24, Madill, OK, 1pm Monday, till noon Tuesday. Register HERE: https://www.universe.com/southwest
Help us spread the word so we can help you spread the Word.
BETTER: ALABAMA SCHEDULE
MONDAY
1-2 Intro's and Becoming BETTER (Jeff and Dale)
2-2:45Keith Parker: Preaching for Response
3-3:45Ralph Gilmore: Sermon structures: beyond three points and a poem
4-4:45 Lonnie Jones: Secrets from storytellers: how to use narrative
5-6 Dinner (Provided on-site)
6-6:45 Jeff Jenkins What Do I preach? Planning your Preaching
7-7:45 Gary Bradley, Encouragement to Preachers
8-8:45 Overhearing the Guys - a guided discussion between the speakers (Dan, Gary, Ralph, Lonnie, Jeff)
TUESDAY:
8-8:45 Chuck Monan: Spiritual disciplines for preaching (reading, personal development)
8:45-9:30 Dan Winkler: Five biggest sermon mistakes
9:30-10 Dale Jenkins: PowerPoints that don't suck for nontechies; prezi's and alternatives
10-10:45 David Shannon: Introducing a Sermon
11:-11:45 Bill Watkins: Reading a Crowd - How to Connect With Your Audience
Close - Being Better THIS Sunday! Jeff and Dale: Ten Things.