The Key to Preaching in a "Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous" World
Perhaps many of us don't need Dr. Johansen to tell us what already looks to be a frightening and chaotic world is only going to get worse.
What may be more surprising is to hear Dr. Johansen's outline for a counter-narrative: hope. The upside, he says, is that this time of chaos is fertile ground for creativity, innovation, and a world that can become better than it is now.
So how do preachers participate in this counter-narrative?
What Not to Preach on All Saints' Day
How do we harness the example of the Saints' stories without leaving our listeners feeling washed up and hopeless? There's one key element that takes the Saints off their proverbial pedestal so they can be a healthy model for our listeners.
8 Steps to Find Your Sermon When the Good News Frustrates, Disappoints, or Makes You Nervous
Why does a Gospel text bother us?
That’s the essential question when confronted with a text we don’t like. The essential answer is this:
The text bothers us because it conflicts with our understanding of God.
Jesus doesn’t always speak or act consistently with our faith.
So how do you find the sermon message when dealing with Gospel texts where Jesus frustrates, disappoints, or makes you nervous? This 8-step process examines the backstory of your faith so you can name your theology, identify the apparent inconsistencies in the text, and then bridge the gap between them.
3 Ways Your Backstory Informs Your Preaching (whether you're aware of it or not)
Maybe you want it revealed. Maybe you don't.
Regardless, it's on display in every sermon.
What am I talking about? Your backstory.
Your backstory is the story you tell in your sermons without "telling" it. It seeps into your sermons whether or not you say the word, "I."
Your backstory is the unique mixture of your theology, childhood, DNA, education, church experience, personality, political persuasion, and so much more. It affects how you approach the Sunday's scriptures, influences your conclusions about them, and shapes your style and the purpose for which you preach.
To preach the message you intend to preach, consider these three aspects of your backstory to help you use your backstory in service to your preaching.
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I participated in the Lectio study today with a complicated and double-speak Gospel (John 17:6-19) and WOW! I received so much great insight and am headed in a direction I feel really good about. Thank you to all my colleagues! If you are wondering if this is worth it, wonder no more. It is.
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The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages was written to aid preacher’s in understanding what’s at stake for their listeners so they can craft sermons their audience can receive, even if they challenge cherished beliefs.
I just have to say WOW. I'm so grateful that I made the investment and joined The Collective. These Thursday [workshops] are a game-changer for me.
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