Starting tomorrow i get to begin writing the sermon for this Sunday evening. I'm behind schedule compared to where i would normally be, but with no work i should be fine.
With the time delay my mind recalled to a statement someone said at church once. The guy said that he would like to hear a sermon planned from prayer and personal reflection alone. Nothing else. No commentaries, no books, no pod casts.
Personally, i have a problem with that. First, I'm a pretty smart guy, but not so smart that i could go without the help of others. Second, i believe that the audience of a sermon deserve the best resources that the speaker can gather. Finally, we stand on the shoulders of the saints that have gone before us. To reject their insights would be plain stupid.
I also bring the point up because of a recent trend I've noticed at church. After sermons the person giving the talk promote the books they have used and point to further reading.
I won't be doing this on Sunday. Unless, you give a small gist of a books outline, why would you? Do people suspect that you have done research? They should. Do you need to prove it to them? I don't think so...
i agree with everything you said in the post, however i think nothing is more powerful than people's stories.i think its best if you can use your own experiences to convey the meaning of the passage (provided the meaning of the passage doesn't get manipulated). it makes the passage more contextual for today and helps the audience to relate. you love christian illustrations! besides, what makes your insights any less valid than 'the saints before us'?
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