Recommended (next)

This one is for those who will be preaching this year. The Gospel for Year B (2012) is Mark. For some good background reading on the second gospel you might like to go here . While you're there, by all means look around.

This is the Working Preacher website that always offers some interesting insight into the lectionary scriptures for the week.

Our CPI pastors will be especially interested in the January 15 essay. Ask any one of them the special significance of the fig tree.

I realize there are many links in this particular post, but all of them will bring you to this excellent resource for you "working preachers" reading What's the Good Word today.

Posted by Marion

Challenge

Yesterday’s Church for Starving Artists blog really got me thinking (blogger Jan Edmiston often does!). She has a talent for asking the right question at the right time. This week’s question is about preaching. Does preaching get in the way of mission?

Wow! We often write about “mission” here at What’s the Good Word. Here and here, for a couple of examples. We think it’s what matters most. (D&C 164:9 f)

On the other hand, I also spend quite a lot of energy promoting good preaching, stronger reliance on scripture, an understanding of exegesis. We hold up one result of the Co-mission Pastor Initiative as “better preaching” and this has consistently been something the congregations of our CPI grads and participants both report and appreciate.

Now, this pastor I really respect is suggesting preaching might be getting in the way of what matters most? Her explanation bears exploring. I’ve often heard it said that we come to church to be “refueled.” We see Sunday morning as a kind of pit stop on the race track that is life. And a good sermon is a good way to spend the time; come in, sit down, rest a bit and listen to the Word.

The problem is in our attitude. (Isn’t that so often the way?) If we feel like we’re done now for another week, that being here and listening attentively, of having a spiritual thought or considering a scriptural question is all there is to it, then we’ve missed the point. If we walk out the door, thank the speaker for “a good message this morning” and leave refreshed to face our life for one more week, then that blogger is right!

Here’s what is supposed to happen, again from the blog:

“The proof is how our priorities change, how our activities shift, and how our commitments deepen in terms of how we are changing our communities for good. In other words, are we following Jesus more closely?”

If that’s what the sermon does for me as listener, than I’ve been moved for mission! How are you doing? How are the sermons you’re listening to helping? How are the sermons you’re preaching helping? Now there’s a challenge. Is “Mission” happening where you are because of the preaching, in spite of the preaching or is it happening at all? I’d love it if you’d share your thoughts.

Posted by Marion

Reflection

This afternoon I've been working on my "reflections" for the World Day of Prayer service in Lowbanks this Friday coming. I was pleased when I looked at the program and they had called my part reflections.

I've been thinking about the theme and the scriptures for several days. Reflecting, one might say. But I hadn't really come to a point where I could say, there's a message or that's the Word! I certainly had not arrived at anything that could wear the handle of "sermon"!

What do you generally call the bit that is spoken by the speaker in your Sunday bulletin? Is it the Sermon? or the Word? or the Message? or something else? And what difference does it make anyway?

Most of the time I don't much care what is in the bulletin as far as the name of the bit that I'm going to say. But this week I was having a hard time arriving at a point that I could finally say "There, that's it; I'm done."

However, I'm very much enjoying thinking about, pondering over, exploring, reflecting upon the verse that's been selected as the theme for the 2010 World Day of Prayer service, Let everything that has breath praise God! And I am happy to be sharing my reflections with the Lowbanks Christian community tomorrow.

Posted by Marion