The Gospel in Every Sermon?

Warner asked for our comments on this video, so here goes.  Before you read on, watch it, then next time you hear me preach come and tell me if I succeeded.


My first reaction was to the Title.  Why the question mark?  Shouldn't that always be the case. Quite early on one of the guys says something like "Put the gospel clearly enough in every sermon so that if anyone hears it for the first time it's enough for them to be saved".  Yes, now I see what he's trying to say.  Normally in my preaching there are the truths from the Gospel but not always the core message about the death of Jesus and His resurrection.  But I am preaching to the converted.  Or am I?  How often do we hear of people in church for years who have just made their first commitment to Christ?  Maybe they've heard the news that Jesus can save them from sin and death lots of times, but today was the first time they really listened.  He also said "Tell them how to make the decision".  That's something I rarely do, and rarely hear.  That seems to be left to those who are ready to pray with people after the service.  I wonder if they're ready to pray with someone who wants to give their life to Jesus?
One of the guys received feedback from someone:- "I could have heard that message in a mosque".  I don't think I've ever heard a sermon that I could say that about, but I can think of at least one that came close - very close -and it wasn't based on an Old Testament passage either.
Now to the culture that these guys live in. They get letters about what they SHOULD preach about because someone's bringing a friend or relative to hear the gospel.  That's how committed their congregations are.  It is a different world.  I struggle to get useful feedback of any kind, they have requests!
The other thing I noticed about the culture, apart from is Americanness, was the view that "Evangelism should be a joy instead of a duty."  That might be quite a hard sell in our church, but we do "let people tell their stories" and it's true for us as much as anyone that "everyone loves a changed life".  Here they are talking about people being baptised as adults, which as also a rare occurrence for us.
I think we have a long way to go before we get to the environment I was hearing about in the video.  We need to be more open and engaged in conversations about our life with Jesus with other members of the congregation before we will be able to enjoy speaking of Christ with non-believers.

Not watching Eurovision

The blue roll is a hospital sized role of paper towel. Its nicely wrapped in polythene, and rolls really well. It caused you to stretch certain muscled in the back of the neck / top of the shoulder. Its the only exercise that I cannot do effectively at home. The Isometric resisted exercise is the one that consistently causes me least problem and little pain. I give you these last two, as I'm promised some new ones, although I'm not expecting line drawings.

Tonight is the evening of the year when all the countries in the Eurovision area - including Israel, among other non-European countries, gather together for their annual song contest. It used to be mandatory viewing when I was young, now it is to be avoided. Avoidance is essential if you are to miss the unedifying sound of a commentator pretending that its all fair and only the songs are being judged, or maybe you will hear the commentator being too flippant about the whole show and ruining their career. Also I don't enjoy listening to songs in other languages that I have no hope of understanding. When there were only western European countries it was bearable (because there aren't that many of them).

The week has been dedicated to work and sermon preparation, and I've been in a world of my own while I concentrate on these two important aspects of my life. In work I was asked if I would return the holiday that had been mistakenly carried over. I was happy to. Even more so when I was told that it was not required that I was paid while off because of my accident.

Preaching Idea

Standing up in front of anywhere just talking to people has long been the way preaching has 'worked'. Educationalists would tell of how little is absorbed by just listening, seeing is a lot more effective - how many time have you said "show me"? Doing is the most effective "let me try that". We are restricted in the church environment. One to one hundred (if your lucky) is never going to allow for too much of the "let me try that", neither are we teaching people to use a computer or similar. Rather we are helping them see something new of Jesus or the situations He was in. Possible we might include some suggestions for how that might relate to the world of AD 2000+ and what they might choose to do about it. Hopefully they are listening to me and the Holy Spirit, so I don't mind if they miss a bit here and there. There are other things we try to do as well. Looking at the latest ABSO Jesus (709) and in particular reading the comments I came across an interesting idea - Jazz Preaching. I do not know if it has been tried, and have asked that question.

There were some other interesting links too, I especially liked this picture:

Evidence of my weeks work

The shed has been re-roofed, and the two visible sides painted. This job started last Monday when Andrew was at home and able to help. After removing the roof, I found significant tree damage and had to replace the supporting timbers. The covering timbers were tarred (with a modern day adhesive) and new felt stuck on, and the edges nailed to the supporting timbers. There is still some tidying up to do. Somehow these jobs seem never ending and never get quite finished properly.

I also painted the boards and the rendering on the front of the house. We started this on Tuesday, and applied the first coat using ladders, and a brush on a stick to get over the porch. On Wednesday I decided to get some new ladders that would allow adjustments to the height I needed, but met a friend, who loaned me a tower. That made things much easier, and I completed the second coat on Thursday without help.

Friday saw completion of the painting outside, and in the porch, and some tidying up in the garden. See to the left of the shed above. Jo was busy all day taking pieces of tree to the recycling plant.

It is always pleasing to see a job 'completed', but I am always led to think about how long it will last - almost always 'not long enough'.

Today it's back to something that, I hope, will have eternal significance, if only a very, very little significance - I'm preparing my sermon for next Sunday. That will be over in a week, and forgotten by most people in two weeks, but something, however small, will last a lot longer.

 

"The pen is mightier than the paint brush" - no that doesn't really work does it.

Evening Service sermon for Environment Sunday (June 3rd)

I have posted the sermon here. http://3cephas-notes.blogspot.com/2007/06/evening-service-sermon-for-environment.html it was a bit long, but I hope, interesting and relevant. Lots of material taken from A Rocha "The Heat is on" pack.

Sunday, March 25th @ 10:00am at Christ Church - Explorers

Explorers are the 7-11 age group. Its many years since I've been out with the explorers, I used to lead them, and I used to enjoy it. Kids at this age are great fun, but somewhat unruly. During the week I got a phone call - could Jo or I be the extra adult, as the usual helpers can't make it.
"Yes, I can do that", I said after carefully checking the calendar. I'd missed one appointment during the week, and didn't want to get it wrong again!
Sunday comes and when the children leave, I go with them. There are 8 boys and 2 girls. Thats pretty amazing. Lets hope we can keep the boys interested as they grow. The story this morning was Ruth. The children drew people for the story, and as we sat listening, they showed their pictures. Then the gleaning game. Get the rice crispies in a bowl with just a tea-spoon. Five boys vs 2 girls and three boys. Want to guess who won?
So forty minutes fun with the children and then back to reality. Reality was not so bad, The Curate was with us for communion and the service was lead by our reader, who had done a good introduction to the state of Chocolate production. Another reader from Emmanuel preached, but of course I missed that, and will have to listen when its posted on the web site.
I'm told my sermon from last week - the second assessed sermon is there already, I'll have to listen later. That is generally something I hate, but it has too be done - its known as a good learning experience.

Mothering Sunday and a surprise visit

Not only was I speaking today in church, in my second assessed sermon, it is also Mothering Sunday. At our church we have a tradition of giving a small bunch of flowers to each of the women in the congregation (regardless of whether they are actually mothers or not) on this Sunday. The tradition was upheld as it should be. I was also preaching in my second assessed sermon, which I split into three pieces, to try to reduce the boredom factor. You should know that it was also parade Sunday, so we had brownies and a few others. That was slightly disappointing, I was hoping we would get cubs and scouts as well. I do enjoy these services, especially preaching at them. Its so much better to get some real feedback, and some proper involvement. I'll post the text after I have the feedback.

When we got home Jo was talking to her mother on the phone saying the only thing she had was one card. Its true - the boys forgot! Shortly after Jo got off the phone Karen delivered her card in person. She is of course close enough - just - to do that. She has been having car problems all week, so I was very glad she made it without any incidents. I was also very glad that we'd managed to keep it a secret. Jo was really properly surprised - and pleased to see her.

Sunday, December 10th @ 6:30pm at St Mary's Prittlewell.

I'd left the sermon notes and readings in the car, and was fussing about loosing then - nothing happened of course - they were still there as we left St. Peters. Just time to get home, eat the sandwich, have a cup of tea, and off to St. Mary's. We arrived with 10 minutes to spare, I used this up taking the wrong turning - the nerves are beginning to show. This is my first assessed sermon. I'm greeted in a very friendly manner by Frank, our tutor, and members of the choir. I'm provided with robes, and helped to dress. The switches are demonstrated for sound and light. Then there's a 15 minute wait. Ideal thing to do, plenty of time to get nervous. I try to sit and pray. To focus on God, and the message I will bring in His name. There have been comments about various things that I'm going to touch on, should I change them? No. It stands as it is, I've prayed about this and worked on it for over 4 weeks on and off, and I believe that what I have is what I'm meant to have. We do all our own readings, so that we have to read the texts we will preach on. so to the first lesson (pun intended). As I stand to read Isaiah 40, the re is noise over the sound system, nicely loud of a mobile phone syncing up to its network. I was nervous - I'm terrified now. I hold on to the lectern, and do my best impression of a stoic. The second lesson is without incident, and I calm down. At the end of the second hymn its up into the pulpit - and lift you dress so you don't trip - I remembered. That at least is going well. The sermon seemed to go OK, so far as I can tell, at least I felt reasonably relaxed and comfortable. There was little feedback at the end, just one or two comments. I hope I've left people with a message that will give them something to think about - that at least was the aim. I hope it gets a 'pass' as well, that was the other aim.
You can read what I planned to say here. I'll also post a read through of a previous version here its 7 Mb, so take care before downloading. The major difference is the ending, and the expression in the voice - I hope!

Sunday, November 19, 6:30pm at St. Mary the Virgin, Prittlewell

At last the trainee preachers, for that is what we are really, are given the opportunity to practice. So its off to st Mary's for the first one of our tutor group to have a go. It is fair to say that each of us has had some practice in our own home setting, but this is the first time we've been released to an unsuspecting world. The first time you see St. Mary's its big. When you get inside its bigger. I arrived early, fearing parking problems, but it wasn't too bad. Inside I'm greeted by the tutor, he seems genuinely pleased to see me. The 'victim' for today is already preparing. I go and choose a seat, four rows from the front. Later I find myself sitting further forward than anyone else, some are at least 12 rows back. Why are church people so afraid to sit next to each other? In our church tradition we do not put on robes - but here they do, so borrowed robes are required. They are very loose fitting, and can be dangerous to the uninitiated. Neither do we preach from a pulpit - but here they do. We are not used to BCP*, but here they are. We do not chant Psalms (or anything else), but here they do. You get the picture - its about as different as it can be and still be church. The sermon is before the last hymn, and the preacher gets to read all the lessons. Its a long time to wait. When it finally comes its a well constructed, thoughtful sermon, easy to follow and relevant to today. "Not bad." Is out tutors only comment - I'm not sure but was there an unsaid "not good" there as well? He and I retire to the pub and play "Name that tune" with the seventies tracks that are playing - This we're both good at - too good.

* BCP = Book of common Prayer ( a service book of the church of England, first published in the 1660's

Placement

My placement is at All Saints with St Peter's Hutton. The placement starts officially this weekend. Its the first task that's part of the 'practical' training that we have to undertake. There's also the parish project, for which the planning is underway, and the three sermons. Just to keep us busy our first sermons are before Christmas. Mine is on Dec 10. The readings for the day are Isaiah 40:1-11 and Luke 1:1-25, and the sermon will be preached in St Mary the Virgin, Prittlewell, at an evening service. Its very different from what I'm used to.
Back to the placement, I have already met with the vicar, and had a long chat about the church and how it works. This church is also very unlike Christ Church. That is the point of the placement, so you can get an impression of a different style of worship and a different context to the parish. All sounds very interesting, if slightly daunting. I have to work out the dates, when I'm where, to get enough of an exposure to the new setting, and enough time to research, reflect, and record. Sounds like the makings of a sermon!

Today's sermon - Matthew 7:7-12

I had a proper script this time - practicing for the three assessed sermons that we have to do this year. Once again the technology failed, but fortunately it wasn't as essential as it has been at other times - nevertheless disappointing. I have two very useful pieces of feed back, with some helpful comments, and am expecting a third. Thanks to those who are helping me to improve.

Preaching last Sunday

Preaching last Sunday was a very strange experience. The passage spoke to me of thanks and joy. Not exactly what you'd expect in the days leading up to a funeral (when I was preparing)? Well, what do you think - before you answer, follow the link. The strange experience was finishing the sermon, and then thanking the church for their prayers and their support during the last couple of weeks. It wasn't easy, but it had to be done. Why was it strange? I haven't worked that one out yet. Please pray for Karen who is also going through a difficult time - but that is what grief does to you.