A previous post listed a few items on the desk for Lectionary A. Today, a couple more.
From the Disciple series (from Cokesbury), Jesus In The Gospels and Remember Who You Are (a study of the prophets and of Paul) form a really helpful small library. A friend has used the Disciple study on Luke-Acts as the base for a Sunday School teaching experience for a long time; everybody is happy with it.
Why these? To preach means to be a life-time student. Just out of seminary, I enthusiastically recommended a just-out book to the senior pastor where I served. "No, thanks, I don't read new books now. I'm solid." Now, that is a real conversation stopper! I admired many characteristics of the man, but that created a distance instantly.
In the same way, re-furbishing the old "sermons from the well" doesn't work. When I hear a joke that is dated prior to 1980, I get something of the same feeling. You know what you mean, and I know what you mean, but the VAST majority of the listeners tend to tune out, from that point forward. The conversation becomes a monologue.
Leander Keck, who assembled Jesus in the Gospels has a long list of credentials, and is superb at stimulating the feeling that you are having a conversation with the author. Take a look.
Tomorrow, I'll publish a sermon on The Lord's Prayer, a good way to move through the seasons, and to cover a fifth Sunday in October.
Blessings.
B
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