It almost always happens, unless the sermon is an absolute dud.
Someone shares a great insight with me after the service, something that occurred to them during the sermon, triggered by a particular point, a particular statement, the passage, or perhaps, just a phrase. And I think, “Wow, that’s great! I wish that everyone could have heard you say that.”
When I was preaching two services I would sometimes incorporate what was said to me after the first into the second, especially if what was said was a question or a search for some clarification. But, often it was a personal experience that perfectly illustrated the point of the sermon.
I have a couple of ways to get ahead of this insight-sharing process, a couple of ways to capture some of it before the actual delivery of the sermon. For years I have conducted a sermon prep group, open to anyone. This group would study and discuss the passage on Tuesday nights. It wasn’t a focus group, where I would come with a prepared sermon and see what they thought. I chose not to come that prepared. We studied the passage together. And some of the best insights for Sunday’s sermon came from that group, from people attempting to live the text.
If I can find a place and time I’m going to start such a group again. Because it’s a blast. We also review the sermon from the week before. Believe it or not, I find that fun, too, even when it got really stormy after a sermon out of Amos that some thought was way too political, attacking one of the parties. There were fireworks that night in the group, but also growth.
BUT, TODAY, I’M ANNOUNCING A NEW WAY TO COLLECT INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE.
I’m going to use the world wide web, or at least the ten people who may read this post.
On Tuesdays I’m going to preview the sermon theme and/or passage for the following Sunday and invite discussion, questions or comments.
So, here goes:
This Sunday I am beginning a new sermon series, What We Most Need to Know About . . . , and it will focus each week on different topics, starting this week with the topic of God.
How do you think the Bible answers this question: What do we most need to know about God?
How would you answer this question from your personal experience? What do you know about God that you have most needed when it counts?
If you boiled it down to 3-5 truths about God that are absolutely essential, what would they be?
If you think that such a question is wrong, misguided, too simplistic, or whatever – why?
This is your chance, especially if you attend the Gathering Church. I know that you really don’t have time to engage, but something might just occur to you to share.
Go ahead, I dare you.
(If you think that I should have had the sermon written six weeks ago so that all of the multi-media, songs, drama, dance, and special affects would be set, you may be right, but, sorry, I haven’t learned to roll that way.)