Bored to Death? Some thoughts on sermons

Time Out 51


Sermon

I think most people come to a sermon intending to give the preacher the benefit of the doubt, but the path of the Spirit, from the mind of the Father to the heart of the hearer, can be hazardous. 

The (Greek) root of the word for sermon emphasises good news, but much can get in the way. The spirit is willing, but the flesh…..  

 Acts 20 tells of the sermon at Paul’s last night in Troas. He had a lot to say and continued to speak until midnight.  Eutychus - sitting in a window alcove three stories up, began to sink into a deep, heat induced, sleep - while Paul talked on. The lad fell onto the floor below. Paul picked him up. ‘Do not be alarmed his life is still in him,’ and after communion, the sermon continued until dawn.

My mother, the daughter of a Vicarage, was taught by her mother to look for the animals to be found in the hymn book – a cross eyed bear, a fountain fly, and many more. Those of an academic disposition found the 39 Articles at the back of the Prayer Book. When asked about distractions, the Principal of my theological college said rather dryly that he had observed a form of prayer which was very close to sleep.

Our theological college did not allow its students to preach - not even in their home parish – until the Principal Judged they had some content to balance their enthusiasm. Other Colleges allowed their students to preach much earlier.  


Some things stay in the mind.  My mother in law felt firmly that I did not have to say something new every time I preached – routine, encouragement, reminding, were good too.  I have been told that I had five good chances to finish a particular sermon and had taken none of them... and thanked more than once for saying something I had not said. 

A truly awful sermon could be (quite often) one that the Lord made effective in spite of everything. The Holy Spirit has powerful navigation skills and lots of love… as you know. 

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