Lately, "preaching" has been one those things for me that just doesn't fit. In the light of organic church, where we are all priests, preaching for a while [30-45 minutes] doesn't exactly go with the flow.
Growing up, I had suspicions about one person preaching [and no one else talking] for that long, and so, in our church, we've set it up for more people to talk. But even now, as we have something that invites others to speak, there still seems to be something missing.
Then I read this...
"...every once in awhile, we have a really memorable meal. But most of the time, when we are hungry, we eat. It's not earthshaking, it's just what we do to keep our bodies functioning. We don't really remember what we had for lunch two saturdays ago, two months ago, two years ago. But somehow, eating every day keeps us alive. It would be silly to expect it to rock our world every time.
Same with reading God's Word, with 'going to church', with discussing Scripture with other people... Every once in awhile, something amazing jumps out at us and changes us. But mostly, it's the every day discipline of coming to God's Word, it's the every week submission of putting ourselves under God's Word... that's what keeps us alive."
After reading this, I got a little clarity, but there's much more to explore, and I wanted to open it up.
Has "preaching" [and we might need to define terms here] ever seemed a little out of place to you?
[whole article: preaching, it's kind of like... from Bob Hyatt's blog]
Thoughts on preaching...
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4 comments:
Your "doesn't exactly go with the flow" comment really is full of thoughts...and questions is it not?
I join you in the *suspicious* reaction to preaching, but with qualifications. First I do not think it is bad or wrong to have a teaching go long. However it does not work for everyone that way. Looking at Acts 20:7-9 I see one person who "got bored" (maybe there were more), but overall my understanding is that the majority were receiving the l-o-n-g message Paul was giving...all the way to midnight! I believe a teacher (preacher)wishing to engage the hearers and help them process the message needs to recognize the varying learning styles of the group. Perhaps it's not so much about avoiding one person doing all (most) of the talking, but rather letting the hearers process based on their personal style. This may mean movement or something else that may not "look" like listening, or even maybe they DO need to stop and process at the mid-point and not let their mind be overrun...maybe at the mid-point they have heard the Truth God intended for them that day. So I guess I am thinking people need to feel free to do these things and the teacher needs to feel confidence in their presentation even if someone *walks away* for example. Kind of like the passage you quoted about eating. Take it from a person overweight from childhood...some of us need permission or even encouragement to be excused from the "table" when we have received sustinance. Out of politeness we might otherwise stay and "overstuff" ourselves in a way that does not raise our health.
The second thing I have felt related to the *suspicious* feeling is the sense of whether the teacher REALLY is openly looking to share the teaching with those who also have that gift, even those who are *untrained* or inexperienced....are they really open to the Holy Spirit so that they might share the teaching in a way that multiplies the local body's ability to teach and therefore potentially multiply the Kingdom? Perhaps I have a more critical eye for this because I feel called to be involved with churches that have strong doctrine and here in the south (in particular) that means traditionalism about the roles of women in leadership. (remember from my previous post I do believe in male headship) So, I guess I would say that a leader with the gift of teaching should look carefully for those with perhaps hidden (but authentic) gifts for teaching to mentor. The leader might also look to know their flock's gifts in words of wisdom, compassion related gifts, faith, and even prophecy and then perhaps include those particular people at various times in various messages, but on a selective basis. WOW, can I imagine a conectiveness and amplification of the message with the body functioning that way!!
Well, hope you didn't mind a bit of a ramble, lol...obviously you stirred my passion a bit:D
Sandy
no, i don't think preaching is out of place. In fact, it's necessary. People need to be fed, as your quote says. It's not about "blowing their minds", but giving them something to chew on, with the discipline to keep coming back to it.
I would also had that people need to hear, other than a blog, your thoughts here. Mix it in with the sermon or whatever.
i've definitely wrestled with the issue of "preaching" . . .
Kent, I didn't get what you said, but I think it had something to do with my personal thoughts on preaching. Right?
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