I really want to read more. I want to be more technology savvy too and use some of the amazing resources there are on the web. There is so much information that I could benefit from having, and there are so much blogs and books that I would like to be able to read. But, I don't.
I follow a few blogs, but I have only started that not too long ago. I discovered that I could get glimpses of real good information without going through a book to find it. I also liked that I could just read shorts bits of everything and all kinds of things.
This morning I decided that I needed to have a system in place to try to manage some of the things I want to read and instead of just getting lost and distracted to focus on what I want to read. So, I tried Google reader. I don't know how much it is going to help me, but if I can figure out how it all works, it can't hurt.
I also would like to spend so much less time reading useless status off of Facebook, and instead take that time to read resources that can help me in ministry and life. So, perhaps some kind of Facebook cleaning will be necessary too. I keep one Facebook just to have contact with ministry people and some kind of public image out there to connect with the world. That's also why I decided to join Twitter, although most people I work with don't even know what a blog, or facebook, or twitter is anyway. Maybe in a few years it'll catch on!
Then, there are all those books in Jeremy's library that I really should read. I have found lately that I just don't know much at all. Answers to questions, Biblical interpretations, doctrinal issues... Writing sermons every week has me digging for information that I just either forgot about since Bible College or maybe I just didn't pay enough attention while I was reading that material.
This digging takes a lot of time that I usually don't have when I finally come up with something to write on by Thursday night. I feel that if I was more in the books I would have fresh insights that would help me write my sermons. Maybe it would be easier to come up with sermon topics if I kept my head submersed with the right information.
Any experienced pastors out there have suggestions on how I can make my sermon prep time more effective and less of a burden every week?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
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2 comments:
Hi Rebecca, I'd like to offer my suggestions, they have eased the burden for me significantly.
First I would say invest in a good Biblical commentary. I have several at my home, if you ever want to come over and check them out, feel free. Although some of my colleagues would disagree with me because he wrote in the 50's and is therefore considered somewhat passe, the commentary author I find most consistently helpful is William Barclay. He was written an extensive book-by-book, passage-by-passage commentary on the entire NT (but not the OT, which is too bad). He is simple and accessible, not only to pastors but also to congregants, which is why I like him. As I said, some of my colleagues disapprove of him becuase he rarely waxes theological, but I am of the opinion that theology and lapsing into intellectualism when it comes to issues of faith can often stand in the way of ministry.
The second piece of advice I can offer you comes from my own past. In seminary, I was tasked to write a sermon on 1 Cor 13. Of course I wanted to be witty, sparkling and fresh speaking on a passage which has been beaten to death, but was coming up with nothing. I expressed this to a friend of mine, and asked a question which has become my most important baseline for sermon writing. I was asked quite simpy, "What do YOU think of the passage?" I reread it and realized that my first reaction to the passage was: "It's impossible" 1 Cor 13 speaks of love (we often use it for weddings, but it does in fact refer to love for God and neighbour) that is perfect and flawless, and as we are fallible humans, it is impossible. No one can love perfectly all the time. There was my sermon.
Remember that personal revelation is a valid and important tool for the modern Christian and pastor, and that perhaps that revelation comes to us in the form of our own opinions, attitudes, questions, doubts, etc. It is important of course not to turn a sermon into a personal confession, but what is on your heart regarding a passage is likely to be on the hearts of others, and is likely a good place to start.
Hope this helps, blessings,
J.
Jason, thanks for the comments and suggestions. Here are my thoughts.
Although I do have a good load of commentaries and they do help in understanding passages, I have a hard time coming up with topics some times. I agree with you that they often come through some form of personal revelation as you explained, but if was exposed to more material more often I'd be thinking about things more and therefore receive more of those personal revelations. Make sense?
I think that anyone in our position really should constantly be reading something. I just don't do enough of it.
I'm not sure I understand exactly what you mean by, "I am of the opinion that theology and lapsing into intellectualism when it comes to issues of faith can often stand in the way of ministry.". Care to elaborate?
I might just take up your offer to go searching through your library one of these days.
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