Comments on: The Art of Preaching http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-art-of-preaching watch out for lightning Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:16:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Lia http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-150 Lia Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:18:32 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-150 Susan, my congregation is made up of introverts. And even still, we have lots of "talk back." But I love those moments when they get what they need to hear. Proof, to me, that the Holy Spirit rocks! Susan, my congregation is made up of introverts. And even still, we have lots of “talk back.”

But I love those moments when they get what they need to hear. Proof, to me, that the Holy Spirit rocks!

]]> By: Susan Phillips http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-149 Susan Phillips Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:16:31 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-149 I love designing and leading worship. I also LOVE that our congregation has 6-8 folks who are occasionally willing to preach. It is good for community members to share that responsibility and their stories. After a particularly effective stewardship moment for mission, I said to Linda, "You should consider preaching sometime." "No, no" she protested. "I think you have something to say," I said suggestively. After a pause, she responded, "Yeah, I do. I do have something to say." The hard part for me is getting very little immediate feedback from very reserved upper midwestern, small town folk. Although I marvel at the work of G-d when I leave the sanctuary thinking, "whew, that stunk!" And inevitably, someone will stop me and say, "Wow, that was just what I needed to hear." what the...? I love designing and leading worship. I also LOVE that our congregation has 6-8 folks who are occasionally willing to preach. It is good for community members to share that responsibility and their stories. After a particularly effective stewardship moment for mission, I said to Linda, “You should consider preaching sometime.” “No, no” she protested. “I think you have something to say,” I said suggestively. After a pause, she responded, “Yeah, I do. I do have something to say.”

The hard part for me is getting very little immediate feedback from very reserved upper midwestern, small town folk. Although I marvel at the work of G-d when I leave the sanctuary thinking, “whew, that stunk!” And inevitably, someone will stop me and say, “Wow, that was just what I needed to hear.” what the…?

]]> By: Liz http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-143 Liz Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:22:34 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-143 Lia - It has been a place a long time. Do you think it is worth challenging? Lia – It has been a place a long time. Do you think it is worth challenging?

]]> By: Lia http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-141 Lia Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:47:23 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-141 The irony, there, Amber, is that you write so much! Liz, you are probably right in the way preaching sets up a teacher/learner dichotomy. It sure doesn't help with the way the churches put their preachers on a pedestal. However, it is a model for theological learning that has been with us for a long time. The irony, there, Amber, is that you write so much!

Liz, you are probably right in the way preaching sets up a teacher/learner dichotomy. It sure doesn’t help with the way the churches put their preachers on a pedestal. However, it is a model for theological learning that has been with us for a long time.

]]> By: Liz http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-139 Liz Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:31:06 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-139 I think we put a too much emphasis on preaching and teaching in the church - I think more emphasis should be on learning in community - maybe we should only meet in a large group to worship together and we should always be together in smaller groups to learn with and from each other. I think the position of preacher/teacher sets up some very unhealthy dynamics - for preachers and for the ones being preached to. After being in church every Sunday for most of my life I have come to feel this way. So I guess I am thinking that whether the sermon is good or not is the wrong question to be asking - I think we should be asking if a sermon is the best way to help people grow spiritually. Here's an idea that just popped in my head - maybe we should only have a sermon once a quarter...there could be a big special gathering once a quarter that included a sermon. Maybe sermons should be more like special events rather than weekly events. What do you think? I think we put a too much emphasis on preaching and teaching in the church – I think more emphasis should be on learning in community – maybe we should only meet in a large group to worship together and we should always be together in smaller groups to learn with and from each other. I think the position of preacher/teacher sets up some very unhealthy dynamics – for preachers and for the ones being preached to. After being in church every Sunday for most of my life I have come to feel this way. So I guess I am thinking that whether the sermon is good or not is the wrong question to be asking – I think we should be asking if a sermon is the best way to help people grow spiritually.

Here’s an idea that just popped in my head – maybe we should only have a sermon once a quarter…there could be a big special gathering once a quarter that included a sermon. Maybe sermons should be more like special events rather than weekly events.

What do you think?

]]> By: Amber Rhea http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-133 Amber Rhea Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:51:43 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-133 I've thought before that preaching must be hard! Kind of in the same way I've thought writing a newspaper column must be hard. Basically anything where you have to write something at a set interval (once a week, once every other week, etc.) and you're expected to produce something whether inspiration strikes or not, seems VERY tough to me. I have massive respect for the people who do it! I’ve thought before that preaching must be hard! Kind of in the same way I’ve thought writing a newspaper column must be hard. Basically anything where you have to write something at a set interval (once a week, once every other week, etc.) and you’re expected to produce something whether inspiration strikes or not, seems VERY tough to me. I have massive respect for the people who do it!

]]> By: Lia http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-132 Lia Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:42:22 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-132 In my little church, we have a talk-back time after the sermon. Everyone talks just a little bit. Then I seem to know if it hits home. Especially if they don't agree! In my little church, we have a talk-back time after the sermon. Everyone talks just a little bit. Then I seem to know if it hits home. Especially if they don’t agree!

]]> By: Songbird http://www.roguereverend.com/2009/07/the-art-of-preaching/#comment-131 Songbird Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:39:37 +0000 http://www.roguereverend.com/?p=276#comment-131 Yes, I would agree. I'm glad when people go away with a feeling of almost any kind, though, better than flat neutrality! Yes, I would agree. I’m glad when people go away with a feeling of almost any kind, though, better than flat neutrality!

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