PREACHING

Brent has had the privilege of preaching for over 30 years in a variety of Church settings.
His sermon titles include…

Chains that Bind

Consider the scene from the classic, “Christmas Carol” and poor Marley, bound in chains, definitely not a happy camper. We’re frightened by his predicament; our heart goes out to his condition, such a pathetic creature. But also consider poor Scrooge. Scrooge was aghast at Marley’s chains but Marley was burdened by Scrooge’s “chains”. Scrooge’s reply to Marley’s comments about Scrooge’s chains should haunt us. Did you hear Scrooge’s words: “I see no chains”. Is it possible that Marley’s portrayed chained status and Scrooge’s hidden chained status are no different than ours? Is it possible that we walked into this worship center burdened with chains, chains that bind. Part of the spiritual warfare we all engage in is found in the desire of our enemy, as Galatians 2:4 states, “to bring us into bondage”. Paul reminds believers in Romans 8:15, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery”. What might these chains look like?

Freedom in Christ

It is the best breed of dogs by far-The Labrador Retriever! For the Amatos, first there was Snickers, a chocolate lab who raised the Amato kids and now, Duke, the chocolate lab who is my son’s “child” and my wife’s “grand-dog”. As one writer puts it, “As American as apple pie, the Lab is a rambunctious, loving creature…beloved for their endless enthusiasm…” Labs teach us a little about freedom. You see, Duke was born to run free, in the fields of life, or at least in the ordained “dog parks” in the Chicagoland area, without collar, leash or any restraints. Jason has taught Duke well and one of Jason’s commands when they are together out in a field or dog park (a command which I’m sure is Duke’s favorite) is the word “Free”, at the sound of which Duke is permitted to run on ahead or to wherever; free, because his Master released him for that delight. “Duke’s Delight” It’s a picture of Christian freedom. What about you-Are you truly free?

Sing to the King

It’s my favorite Psalm because it is concise truth that always drives me back to the basics. It answers two very fundamental questions: “What should I do every day no matter what?” and “Why I should do it?” Singing is not what I do best or even well at all, but I am called to do it! “And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”(Psalm 40:3) What about your “song”? I have some questions for you. Will you learn or remember the “song”
God has given you? Will you sing the “song”? Will you sing the “song” joyfully? Will the “song” cause you to…praise God in a new way? know God in a new way? fear God in a new way? trust God in a new way?

What should I do every day? “Come before Him…enter His gates.” “Worship Him”
Why should I do it? Because of who God is and because of who we are in relationship to God.
Come sing to the King with me!

“A Time to be Silent”

“Shhhh!” Well, how was that? What did you do during that time? Some of you might have dozed off. Some of you might have become distracted, preoccupied with a particular thought, thinking about any of a number of things. Some of you felt uncomfortable, restless.

“Come and listen…” Did you come this morning to listen to God? But before you can listen, truly listen, you need to be silent. Did you come this morning to be silent before God? Listen to God’s words. Turn to Ecclesiastes 3; verse 1 and a part of 7: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven… A time to be silent”. What if you came to church this morning and the sermon was without words? In obedience to the Book of James, Chapter 1, verse 22, let’s be “doers of the Word” this morning and “Be silent; silent before God.”

Do you know what Scripture says about silence?
1. Silence is in part what God deserves from his people.
(Habakkuk 2:20) “‘But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.’”
(Zephaniah 1:7) “‘Be silent before the Lord God!’” Hush! Listen! (Zechariah 2:13) “‘Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord….’” Hush! Listen!
2. Silence is in part God’s desire for you.
(Psalm 23:2) “…..He leads me beside quiet waters.” Hush! Listen!
3. Silence is an appropriate response to God.
After Job’s rather vigorous vocal debate with God, he finally got it and his final response was one of shutting up. (Job 42:3, 5, 6) “I was talking about things I did not understand…I had heard about You before, but now I have seen You with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” I suspect this episode was without further word.
4. Silence is linked to God’s blessing.
(Lamentations 3:25-26) “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he wait silently…”
(Job 13:5) “‘O that you would be completely silent, and that it would become your wisdom!’”
(Proverbs 10:19b) “He who restrains his lips is wise.”
(Isaiah 41:1) “‘Listen to Me in silence, and let the people gain new strength….”

“A Time to Laugh”

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4a “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven…a time to weep and a time to laugh…”

Laughter is woven into the fabric of life. I suggest that it is an ordained part of life as it should be lived. Who here has not enjoyed a time to laugh?
Now I know what some of you are thinking…

Just great-I come to church to worship in song and giving and hear God’s Word preached. This is serious business! And Amato is going to preach on laughing? Or

Just great-That Amato, he’s Italian and Italians are always laughing. But I’m not Italian, so who does he think he’s preaching to? Or

Just great-That Amato, he’s sanguine and sanguine people are always laughing.. But I’m not sanguine, so who does he think he’s preaching to? Or

Just great-That Amato, he’s oblivious to reality. “When you become an adult, you need to be responsible…and we live in a world of reality which includes difficulties…and therefore, we have no business laughing and enjoying life.” (Swindoll) Everyone knows the old expression: “Life is no laughing matter.” What does Ecclesiastes also say? “There is a time to weep”, so who does he think he’s preaching to? Or

Just great-That Amato is going to preach on a topic that finds no place in the serious works of theology. Who here has ever heard a sermon on laughter? So why is he preaching on it?
Now before you force me to close in prayer, why don’t we start with Scripture? Do you know what Scripture says about laughter?

Last Words and The Last Word

“Rosebud”
“Citizen Kane”-Most movie critics list this 1941 movie as one of the best, if not the best film ever made. The story of a rich newspaper owner. Remember the start of the movie which depicted Kane’s deathbed scene and his last word: “Rosebud”, with a glass figurine with a snowy, winter scene, dropping from his hand to the floor. The rest of the movie is a depiction of his life story, but focused around attempting to decipher the meaning of his last word, “Rosebud”.

Last words are significant and many times by the conscious choice of a dying individual, last words reflect what was most important to the speaker, maybe even reflecting that person’s essence, the most intimate clue as to what made that person tick.

My birthday was yesterday-another of the annual milestones, that keep coming at me with what seems to be increasing speed. When I stop and think the number of years, months, days, hours, minutes I’ve logged…Well, I stop and think. More often, these days, I have been thinking about last words, or in a more general sense, finishing life and finishing it well.

One Thing

I’ve brought with me this morning six individuals: A rich young ruler, a healed blind man, David, Martha and Mary, and Paul. What do they all have in common? They all have come to preach a sermon to you this morning!

Consider my dilemma this morning. Unlike your Senior Pastor, I’ve only got one shot at you. What should be preached with only one opportunity? I can’t really talk about a lot of things. I probably should talk only about one thing.

And when you think about life, aren’t there too many things? Too many things with your family…too many things in your other relationships…too many things around the house…too many things at work…too many challenges…too many responsibilities…too many things to do…too many things to be. And in our spiritual lives, don’t you feel sometimes there are too many things…too many things to do…too many things to be. How many sermons have you heard in the last year with three points, exhorting us to all sorts of applications…no shortage of spiritual input…Too many things.

Did you know that the Bible talks about “one thing”? It’s what links together the six individuals I mentioned.

One of the challenges of life and the spiritual life is priorities. According to Webster’s dictionary, a priority is “something which we give precedence by assigning a degree of importance to it.” One person has observed, “Most people have not settled the issue of what their priorities should be. Among those who do know, too few live according to these priorities.” Someone has once said, “One of the most difficult things to get people to do is do things in the order of their importance.” Wrong or unwise priorities lead to failure and in some cases to moral failures. Priorities involve focus and concentration which unleashes great power.

Church Between Senior Pastors

In the past, it was said, “There are two things certain about life: death and taxes.” Can I suggest a third thing that you are certain to encounter in your life? Change.

Change is part of a church’s life as well. Possibly the biggest change a church can face is the departure of its senior pastor. And when the pastor has been around for 21 years, it is change with a capital “C”. Our church in its 50 years has had four senior pastors. Sherrie and I have been attending our church since the late 70’s and have experienced the departure of three senior pastors. Looking back, how have you responded to the departure of our senior pastor? We as humans react in a variety of ways (physically, mentally and emotionally) and are, with regard to a senior pastor’s departure, on a spectrum from “This is the end of our church life as we know it” to “No big deal”. Where are you on that spectrum? How are you reacting? What are you feeling? What are you thinking? What are you saying? What are you doing?

How do you react spiritually to change? How should you react from a spiritual perspective?

Let me change the perspective from reacting to preparing. Are you individually ready for our next Senior Pastor? Are we corporately ready for our next Senior Pastor? Are there any “clues” in Scripture about how we should be responding to our current “Senior Pastor-less” circumstances? Individually? Corporately? I believe there are “clues” and that’s where we’re headed.

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Brent brings a refreshing approach to our pulpit ministry. His delivery is lively and engaging. He emphasizes specific biblical principles. He is a master of application. Brent can make a bridge between the Christian worldview and the contemporary secular world. I personally enjoy his ministry. He is a frequent and favorite preacher at Medinah Baptist Church.
Rev. Dave Pederson, Ph.D.
Senior Pastor, Medinah Baptist Church

LEGAL COMMUNITY

Since his first year of law school, Brent has been active with the Christian Legal Society, a national, 501 (c) (3) membership organization established in 1961, consisting of Christian lawyers, law students and judges, committed to ministry to and through lawyers and law students.

Its vision statement is

“A growing nationwide fellowship of Christian lawyers and law students who act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.”

Its mission is

“To inspire, encourage and equip Christian lawyers and law students, both individually and in community; to proclaim, love and serve Jesus Christ through the study and practice of the law, the provision of legal assistance to the poor and needy; and the defense of religious freedom and the sanctity of human life.”

Brent has been an active member since his first year of law school and a part of its leadership for over 30 years. He served as its President from 1994-1996 and continues to serve on its Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board’s Law Student Ministries Committee. He has published articles for its Journal and been a speaker at its national, regional and local conferences. He is available to speak to your group of Christian lawyers or law students. Some of his speaking topics include:

    “Practice With the Perfect Partner”
Most lawyers aspire to be a partner in a Firm. But have you stopped to consider which Firm and with which partner? There is only one “Perfect Partner”, one “Senior Partner” that is worth seeking as a partner. Paul, an excellent lawyer of his day knew this after a while. He describes to the Corinthians his “practice” as “working together with Him.” He is Brent’s “Perfect Partner”. Come learn about Brent’s pilgrimage to that partnership and what it looks like.

    “The Pharisee in Me”
I suppose it is in all of us to one degree or another, but this “lawyer” is all too prevalent in Brent and his practice of law and life. Paul identifies this challenging “role model” (Philippians 3:4-8) and Brent identifies with it all to well. What does this “practice of law and life” look like and what are the antidotes?

    “The Legal Secretary – Slave or Sacred?”
To many lawyers, the legal secretary or paralegal is indispensable, but is there any consideration of ministry here? God has much to say about employment relationships, principles which apply to these relationships. Test yourself in this regard and see how you’re doing!

    “Pilgrim’s Progress Through Law School”
Notwithstanding his insights on Christian living in Pilgrim’s Progress, I bet the author never went through Law School. What did one “Pilgrim” experience and learn through his three years of the Socratic Method, his “Paper Chase” and the many challenges along the way? And most important: Did he, like Paul, “finish the course”?

    “How to Pass a Law School Final Exam and Grow Closer to God”
Is it possible? Aren’t these mutually exclusive exercises? How about a miraculous integration of the two, involving strategies before the exam, during the exam and after the exam?

Brent is also available to meet one-on-one to disciple, mentor or coach lawyers and law students.

See Brent’s article, “The Unknown Law Student” (The Christian Lawyer-Fall, 2009; published by Christian Legal Society”

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“When I first met Brent Amato almost 20 years ago he encouraged me with his jovial words and good example to believe that being a truly Christian lawyer is a noble and achievable calling with, in his words, “God’s help”. Since then, I suspect not a day has gone by without Brent encouraging, mentoring, and communicating with lawyers and law students in one way or another through his work with the Christian Legal Society and his service in various ministries.

So what do you get when you combine a talented and amiable father of two and husband to his beloved wife of his youth, with a passion for Christ and a transcendent vision for what is true, good and beautiful about law and life? You get Brent Amato. If I were you, I’d invite him to speak
with you or address your group or organization. You will be pleased that you did.”

Samuel B. Casey
Executive Director and CEO
Christian Legal Society

SEMINARS

Brent has been speaking to mens groups for over 30 years. His topics suitable for workshops to men’s retreats include…

“Growing From Boys to Men-Growth in Communication”
Normally men are never accused of being very communicative creatures. What is good about the way boys and men communicate? What is not so good about the way boys and men communicate? What is the goal for all of our communication?

“Your Heavenly Father”
A Father-Son dialogue about five attributes of our Heavenly Father
God is a generational God
God is a faithful God
God is an Abba God
God is an adventurous God
God is a teaching God

“Vocational Victory: Lessons from God’s Manual”
Principles for the employed and unemployed. Why do you work? What does God say about work? Are you engaged in “work” or a “vocation”? Five essential questions for the employed. If without a job, are you “gainfully unemployed”? Lessons from biblical characters facing unemployment. Who is in your personal Human Resource Department?

Sexual Purity
Patrick Morley, the “Man in the Mirror” states that “For every ten men in your church, five will have a serious problem with pornography. Men are in a battle for their souls.”

We need to understand real-life sexual temptation that men are bombarded with everyday and be committed to help men live a Christ-honoring life in a world of sexual promiscuity. A grace-based approach begins with a creating a culture of accountability through ongoing relationships in men’s small groups where the tough questions can be discussed freely
regularly.

A Dad’s Dating Dialogue With Anyone Dating His Daughter
Dads are called to be priests, providers and protectors. As a dad, what kind of “gate keeper” are you with the “studs” assaulting your castle? Here are some questions you and the “studs” need to deal with:
1. What do you know about my daughter? (I Peter 3:7)
2. Why do you want to date my daughter? (I Corinthians 4:5)
3. What should your relationship with my daughter look like? (Ephesians 5:25)
4. Can you “touch” my daughter? (Acts 24:16)
5. What can you do with my daughter? (I Corinthians 10:31)
6. Do you have any questions for me? (Proverbs 1:5)
7. Do I have any special concerns about you or the relationship? (Matthew 19:20)

Youth Sports, A Microcosm Life
Having played (or attempted to play) every sport imaginable before his body went bad on him and then having coached his son and daughter and other kids in youth baseball, youth softball and youth basketball for many years, Brent has learned and taught his kids many lessons of life from the world of sports, which is a true microcosm of life. Whether it be affirming the true cliché, “It’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game.”, experiencing that youth sports like life sometimes isn’t fair or practicing strategies to deal with “youth sports parents” (the only thing bad about youth sports), Brent has much to share.

MINISTRY LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Serving alongside adult ministry pastors and currently leading an Adult Bible Fellowship, Brent has developed a philosophy and materials to help you with your mid-size group ministries. These materials include the following.

    Identifying and Recruiting Leaders
If it was “The Perfect Church/Organization”, there would be no need for more leaders or administrators. But since such is not the case, what are you to do? There is hope! Are there some clues for identifying these saints, crucial to the ministry. The answer is yes! Are there some methods for effectively recruiting those who you’ve identified? Again, the answer is yes!

    Mentoring and Replicating Leaders
Just as Timothy & Titus needed Paul to enhance their ministries to the early church, the leaders and administrators in your church need someone to mentor them and be replicated. This is more “Fellow-Traveling”, so check out that page on this website and apply it to your leaders.

    The Spiritual Gifts of Leadership and Administration
Brent presents principles around the following concepts;
    1. Challenges for the church
    2. What are spiritual gifts?
    3. What are the purposes of spiritual gifts?
    4. What are the spiritual gift of leadership and administration?
    5. How are the spiritual gift of leadership and administration to be exercised?
    6. Are leadership or administration one of your spiritual gifts?

    Conflict Resolution
“You Got Conflict? What An Opportunity!”
What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word, “conflict”? Whether you like it or not, your church, adult bible fellowship/adult Sunday school class or small group can’t avoid it! Come learn what the Bible has to say about conflict, an inevitable fact of life, and conflict resolution, including principles from Peacemakers Ministries, including “The Slippery Slope of Conflict”, “The Seven A’s of an Apology” and “The Four Promises of Forgiveness”. Remember Jesus’ words: “Blessed are the peacemakers….”

    How’s your flock?
Establishing and leading men’s and women’s discipleship ministries, mid-sized groups and Bible studies may be less about leadership and teaching and more about shepherding. Come learn practical truths about sheep and shepherding that you can apply to your ministries and groups.

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“‘The best seminar I have ever attended…I learned more about teaching and leading adults in one day than at any other time…Terrific, need to do it again.’

These are just a few of the comments received as a result of the teaching and lay ministry leadership training provided by Brent Amato. Brent was at the First Church of the Nazarene, Indianapolis, Indiana, in April, 2007 to provide both teacher and ministry training. His presentation on that particular day with regard to teaching spoke first to the “spiritual gift” of teaching and then to the passion for teaching. He then taught us on planing, preparing and presenting a lesson. Brent was insightful, contemporary, engaging and held the attention constantly of all who were in attendance.

Later in the day he moved to ministry leadership training and dealt with such topics as identifying and recruiting leaders and administrators, mentoring and replicating leaders, and Biblical conflict resolution. Again, the teaching was insightful, relevant, current and dynamic.

Brent is a gifted communicator and loves the Lord with all his heart. He simply wants not only to encourage, but also to teach others how to be effective as teachers and administrators. He wants those who teach or minister to become as it says in Corinthians, “living letters written on the tablets of the human hearts, not tablets of stone”. He has a passion for those “living letters”. He wants those who teach and minister to have a passion for Christ and to communicate that effectively by example. Brent’s ministry is a needed ministry as adult teaching and discipleship groups seem to flounder in so many different church venues. His personality and presentation are, without question, the best you can expect to experience. Most of all his love for the Lord comes through all of his encouragement and teaching. It was a privilege to hear and learn from Brent.

If given the opportunity, I would encourage every church with a small or mid-sized group ministry/Sunday School/discipleship ministry or those who should have one to take advantage of this ministry and teaching that Brent has to offer.”

Herb Jensen
First Church of the Nazarene, Indianapolis Indiana
Church Board Member, Chairman of the Board of Christian Life
Adult Sunday School Teacher