"What's the Matter with Preaching?"

andy's picture
Submitted by andy on Thu, 2007-10-18 16:51. [ ]

The other night, some of the "teaching-types" met for a couple of hours to pray and interact with each other regarding the gift of teaching and how the Spirit might be using it in the simplechurches. As part of the discussion, Jonathan Friesen mentioned an artical that he had recently read by a retired preaching professor.

This afternoon I read the artical and was encouraged by it. In many regards I sense God leading our churches along a similar track as we seek to incorprate this gift in the church - yet in new ways.

Read on if it sounds interesting.

http://www.mbherald.com/46/10/preaching.en.html

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Rebecca Brooke's picture

thought provoking read...

Submitted by Rebecca Brooke on Sat, 2007-10-20 12:22.

thanks for posting Andy,

I had a read... a good article.

It did make me think about my experience with sermons. Quite possibly, the young man's comment about putting up with the monologue sermons every Sunday is a common experience... however, it hasn't been mine.

As we know, God can and will use all things for His glory. I have been very blessed by many gifted speakers and sermons throughout my life... I think of 'preachers' who I've particularly enjoyed hearing... Cam and Bob Roxborough, Brian Buhler, Joyce Meyers, Andy Lambkin, Aileen Smith... To name a few. It would be a shame if these people did not give of the gifts that God has given them... I have missed talks as such... but God still speaks of course, and has been speaking in different creative ways.

That being said, I agree with the movement and direction that we as simple churches are headed. We (humans) are relational. This is an obvious fact of our creation, but one that cannot be under-emphasised. The monologue sermons unless followed up on didn't leave room for dialogue... as we keep seeking Jesus I pray He will lead us into the relational sermon. I see facilitators and participators and discerners all playing their part... bathed in the grace and love of Jesus.

As I was reading this morning in my 'time' :

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are bing built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22.

Blessings
Rebecca.

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andy's picture

I agree...

Submitted by andy on Mon, 2007-10-22 17:01.

Hey Rebecca...

Good thoughts. I too have been blessed and encouraged by monlouge style sermons... and I've given quite a few of them over the years! What I liked about this guys thoughts was the encouragement not to abandon them all together, but to see them woven in with various other forms of teaching. At one point didn't he even suggest that we see them more on a "monthly" basis as opposed to weekly. That seems to fit in with what we have been experiencing in our churches. And to be honest with you I've found this monthly format much more rewarding both as a teacher and a reciever. What I've found happening is a much longer opportunity to really ingest and consider what God was communicating in his word. Further, as a teacher, I've found it has provided much more opportunity to really dig into something and consider it - hopefully in the end it has enabled me to bring something that has really been worked through, prayed on and considred.

We'll keep exploring and working this stuff through.

A

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