ever have trouble following us?
This past weekend was a terrific celebration of Pentecost, the anniversary of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church of Jesus Christ. However, our guest speaker (who shall remain nameless, since this post is in no way a criticism of his ministry) sensed that he 'lost' us Sunday night and 'never got us back'. I've already heard from at least 3 pastors who were present (not including me, and I'm guilty, too) who said they weren't quite sure where he was going.
At any rate, it got me thinking about this whole area of communicating God's truth to an audience, and I suspect our distinguished guest is not at all alone. Surely every preacher sometimes says some things that are hard to understand - if Peter and Paul are any indication here.
I know I'm sometimes guilty of trying to cover too much material in too little time. Probably there are times I've simply not communicated well, perhaps because I didn't have a firm enough grasp on the truth myself - by that, I mean it's one thing to 'comprehend' a principle in Scripture and pass it on verbally; it's another thing altogether to have lived it out - and the easiest truths to pass on effectively are always the ones that we have incarnated.
Can you help me with some other suggestions? Surely you've sometimes had trouble following a preacher's presentation - so can you put your finger on why? Your comments may keep it from happening so frequently at CLC, so help a brother out, please?
At any rate, it got me thinking about this whole area of communicating God's truth to an audience, and I suspect our distinguished guest is not at all alone. Surely every preacher sometimes says some things that are hard to understand - if Peter and Paul are any indication here.
I know I'm sometimes guilty of trying to cover too much material in too little time. Probably there are times I've simply not communicated well, perhaps because I didn't have a firm enough grasp on the truth myself - by that, I mean it's one thing to 'comprehend' a principle in Scripture and pass it on verbally; it's another thing altogether to have lived it out - and the easiest truths to pass on effectively are always the ones that we have incarnated.
Can you help me with some other suggestions? Surely you've sometimes had trouble following a preacher's presentation - so can you put your finger on why? Your comments may keep it from happening so frequently at CLC, so help a brother out, please?
posted by Pastor Jerry McQuay at 2:12 PM
4 Comments:
Interesting...I thought we might hear something on this matter.
I love our guest speaker, so much so that I crossed an ocean...well, the English channel to hear him speak while living in Europs. His insight & take on things really changed my life a few years back. However, I was swimming...more like floundering, trying to keep up this weekend. In the end, it all came together & we found solid footing but the getting there was challenging.
I appreciate a new dimension, insight or application & find such refreshing. It's not to say that deep matters are not for CLC, but neccessiate the proper setting and time to build a foundation if the structure is to remain. Plus, we are perhaps just accustomed to a meaty message with clear & practical application. That's one of the appealing aspects of CLC. It's not the high & lofty but the where we live teaching & preaching that fosters sustaining growth.
Nonetheless, I'm already looking forward to Pentecost weekend 2008. PS...please feel free to edit or delete if this comment is not helpful or is disparaging in any way. Thanks, Pastor~
It is much like getting lost in route to some unfamiliar place. I find myself most lost when I don't truly to know the destination. Sunday night, I couldn't tell where we were going. There were so many detours and side streets. I hung left and enjoyed the other sights. I think most engaged in a sermon that is laid out with the end point in mind.
Because of the "weight' of the message/material, time did not allow for us to ingest or digest what we heard. I personally would have benefited from our speaker connecting the dots for me, taking me from point A to point B to point C. I felt so overwhelmed when the service was over. I think we were privy to a semester of coursework in one evening and it's no one's fault if all or some were lost.
Although I'm a lil' partial to that particular evening,because halfway through it, it turned into "God & Monika Day"...(Lol), It was a fairly intricate message. and because Marcus & I weren't in service that morning (Because we were serving in Shorewood), we did'nt have the opportunity to hear His first message.
However, it reminded me of my Biblical Principles & OT studies at ORU. And knowing that most of the congregation wasn't in my classes, it was definitely a message to buy the cd and study through.
But I think we still love Him for the challenge!!!
But because it was basically "God & Monika" day anyway, maybe I should've paid for that flight across the continents...
Nah....:)
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