There are no great sermons
Ok, I've been thinking about Justin's "embrace the cross" thing, and how we shouldn't build up our preachers too much. So, I'm not not going to call any sermon "great" from now on. "Good" will be my highest compliment. "A good sermon from Driscoll" etc.
8 comments:
Hey Craig -- for the record, I think that you certainly do need to build them up. Of course. You need to build up the whole body, and that includes your preachers and leaders. I think that Hebrews 13 is a great verse that captures the simplicity of it all:
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
My thing is this: If you contribute to the process of turning someone into a superstar, then ironically, you do not build them up. Ask any Hollywood actor.
Here is another suggestion: tell us what was helpful, Biblical, and what you'd change as a result of hearing the Bible expounded. Speak highly of the content, not the man.
Well, we don't want to build them up *too much*.
I know preachers love to hear "Oh, I found comment x really helpful." But most people don't seem to process a sermon in that way - that is, even sermons that people enjoy and are edified by, there might not be an item that stands out.
It can be hard when you say, "That was good" and the preacher says "Oh, what was helpful?" because nothing specific may leap to mind. In those situations I often feel like a student on the spot, trying to recall facts during an exam essay.
Yes, if you are asked on the spot after church. But this is your Blog, and God has gifted you with words.
Of course, a democracy, it ain't!
:)
Yeah, that's a fair point, I will endevaour to put a bit more a comment on them when I link...
While I agree with what you have been saying, surely the good/great difference is just a moving of the goalposts, not any sort of substantive change.
Here is another suggestion: tell us what was helpful, Biblical, and what you'd change as a result of hearing the Bible expounded. Speak highly of the content, not the man.
This is what I was thinking about as I read what Craig had to say. Sure there may be reasons to deliver feedback re. the manner in which the preacher delivered the sermon, but the content should be what has more influence than the manner of delivery.
I personally think a sermon can be great in that it's a great encouragement, provides me with a great challenge that I needed to hear, etc, but to simply use the soliary adjective reminds me of those Wogs at Work reviews: It was really good. You can't really figure out why.
My comment is in my blog post, John Bunyan's reaction to praise of his sermon.
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