A Day For Sermons

SUN., JUNE 6, 1993, 6:28 AM
FARM, STUDY

This is the Christian Sabbath… the day of rest and of worship. This is a day in which you will gather with other Christians, both actively and symbolically, present and past, to sing, to pray, to confess, to offer… and to listen to a sermon. You have been taking notes to use in a class that has not met often. Today you shall just listen…and see where your Preacher has been, with his spirit, this week.

Christian worship services are always supposed to include readings of at least one, and up to four, passages of Holy Scripture. The form I like best is that which lets the sermon flow from these Scriptural themes, with content and with spirit. Richard is not consistent in doing this. You observe that his more frequent pattern is to us a current theme, or one of his own, and then try to relate the chosen Scriptures in some way. This is common practice, and sometimes I, the Holy Spirit, do lead preachers in sermons that need to be preached, somewhat apart, at least from Scripture. More often, however, it is the preacher’s choice, rather than My leading.

I like variety in sermons. I like emotional, evangelistic sermons that build to fever pitches. And, occasionally, I like an academic sermon, written and representing real scholarship and being carefully and thoughtfully read. And, of course, most sermons fall between these extremes… and some do fall rather badly. Hence, while sermons are expected, as part of this morning’s “program,” expectations from members of congregations vary as greatly as the sermons.

Some worshippers truly seek “spiritual food.” A few do as you do, and read the Scriptural passages once or more before hearing them read. This increases the possibility that these portions of Scripture will give more substance to the sermon and that they will be better understood by these “seekers.” When a sermon can help a hearer understand and appreciate the Bible in new and deeper ways, it has been very worthwhile. This is somewhat the equivalent of taking good, nutritious food and preparing in some unique, delicious way, that actually enhances its food value.

I must admit, however, that the mystery of Holy Scripture, written about events 2,000 to 4,000 years back from the present, in being absolutely relevant to this time and culture, is, well, “spotty.” This means some of it is sharply relevant, much of it is somewhat relevant but needs interpretations, and some is, at best symbolic truth that needs much interpretation. Thus, there are some excellent sermons that take off from Scripture and give good advice for problems or decisions that are “of the moment.” Would the best government for your people be one that is less democratic and more based in Scripture and administered by born-again Christians only? This sounds good to such Christians, but I’m afraid that the realities of ruling would cause the practice to be different from the theory. This was one good reason why I, as Jesus did not take on the job of establishing and running the government. Remember that the Romans of Jesus time wanted peace in the earth. They just wanted it on their terms, and so there was much strife and oppression in order to “maintain” that peace.