On the Desk

It's on my desk as I begin. It connects me with the Church Fathers, the Reformation, and pattern-makers of the 20th century.

It's a short course in what we believe: Christian Believer from Cokesbury. The best part: Readings. J. Ellsworth Kalas asked a large group of former students to contribute short selections that had been the most influential for their Christian faith and growth. Out of those, a group working with him selected, according to the basic doctrines to be presented. The result is an inspiring collection.

The introduction:

"Step into the sandals of a first-century Christian believer walking along the road in Galilee. You stop to exchange greetings with a stranger. As you talk, you casually scratch the shape of a fish in the dust with your walking stick. The stranger notices, smiles, clasps your hand - you've met another believer."

Symbols and words. Preparing preaching is preparing to "nurture in" an "ah-ha" moment. The message we scratch into the sand, and shape into Sunday morning words, can, by the work of the Holy Spirit, convey God's intended word, always much more than the words we speak.

Preparing in a Hot-Button Age

The man just asked a simple question: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Jesus just gave a simple response: Show me a coin.

It was a totally loaded political hot-button question: translated - - is it lawful to collaborate with the Roman occupation army?

Jesus response was as complex. Why are you carrying Caesar's image in your pocket? Is THAT lawful.

I seem to remember there were some folks who understood the moment, and set their course to kill Jesus. Remember, Jesus was not killed for being gentle, meek, mild, and non-offensive. Jesus was killed for offering the Kingdom of God as a purification and fulfillment of the eternal purposes of God.

The weather man, giving a senior-citizens' program, was asked about global warming. His answer was careful: "I don't like to comment on issues that are purely political." Some folks say that if lots of people define an issue as political, then preachers should have no comment on it.

Jesus didn't get the memo on that. There is no "button" hotter in our time than "taxes for Rome" in the first century. Israel rebelled, Israel lost in a long conflict that ended with the drama of Masada.

Preparing to preach from Matthew, what is our "style book"? What focus leads our thoughts? Is it political correctness (big problem for preaching from Matthew!!) or is it a loyalty to the definitions, goals, perspectives and wisdom of Jesus?

Starting early, do we have that talk with ourselves and God in our private prayer place, and decide, yet again, to preach the Gospel?

Getting Ready

My friend Sam often says: "Read Matthew; he tells it like it is!"

Matthew is central to Year A, with a touch of John and Luke thrown in. Advent is always a strong season in A, and it is fun to anticipate how to do it.

This year, I take in a new asset, Sullenberger's autobiography of life-long preparation for a critical moment. You remember Sully, the airliner pilot who safely water-landed in the Hudson. It turns out that he not only had a life-long love for the "art of the airplane", he also had great experience as an accident investigator. His research specialty related to that?

Sullenberger had studied every safe and not-so-safe emergency water landing on record, and all of the military research on those landings.

Preparation counts. It will this year, too.

First Prep

Almost the end of August, so it's time. I've sorted some files, looked over things that "really worked", and decided to say "hello" with this new blog.

It's Year A, starting with Advent 2010, and a good time to begin a summary. It will be a three-year project, working in parallel with other writings. Several years ago I discovered Kir Shalom (http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermon.html) as a wonderful resource when I was geographically remote from the kind of stimulating conversation that feeds faithful work.

They offer good things. I'll offer things here that have worked (and now work on a weekly basis) as I've preached through the lectionary pattern several times.

Each week, we'll do a little prep-time, then in Advent, move directly into sermon and service design and preparation. If anything is useful, plagiarize at will!! Do much!!
And praise God for all sorts of things that might get stirred up!

Blessings