If you were soon to become the Vicar of some churches, what would some of the early topical sermons you'd want to preach be?
Perhaps:
A Vision For Ministry
What is the Christian Gospel?
What is a real Christian?
How can I do to heaven?
What on earth is the Church for?
Communion confusion
Why does the Vicar keep going on about the Bible?
A Vision for The Good Life
Then maybe your sermon series on The 10 Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, The Lord's Prayer and the systematic exposition of Bible books - then retirement.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
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8 comments:
Why would you want to preach any topical sermons early on? Start as I hope you mean to go on - with the bible. Besides which, I think you'll want time to work out where you want to draw your battle lines, what issues really need to be addressed and what language will most easily win your folks round. Start with Jesus would be my advice.
I'm with Ros. Start with a Gospel.
Maybe u r right. Or the CW lectionary, perhaps?!
I did sermon one on 1 Cor 15:1-11 as a 'This is the foundation' sort of sermon. Then jumped right into Luke 1. Apart from August (Psalms 1-5) I'm sticking with Luke until the new year, although I did skip chapter 2 in order to keep it for Christmas itself.
That said, I'm planning something topical (lots of ideas, no final decision yet) for January before jumping back into Luke.
I liked the sermon ideas you had, Marc, but the danger is thinking "I've given them the basics, now I can build on the foundation" whereas, in fact, they've forgotten most things you said early on!
The reason for the Psalms is that I've found Psalms are quite good for the fluctuating congregations of summer. But I've taken a leaf from Doug Wilsons book (I think) and did 1-5 this year. Next year, DV, 6-10 and so on. If I get to Psalm 150 then I've been here quite some time!
Thank you, Tim. You must tell me how to do this Vicar lark some time!
If the lectionary is what they're used to, why not start with that? If not, then pick a gospel and start with that.
The lectionary does have some down sides - e.g. it misses out some bits the compilers didn't like!
Maybe the thing to do is lectionary in special time and other stuff in ordinary time, as the rules allow!
I think a good lectionary with continuous reading would be a great blessing.
I believe the previous incumbent began with the lectionary and then introduced sermon series.
In the long interregnum, I think one church has continued with series and one has gone back to the lectionary, but I could be wrong.
I wonder if the best use of my time might be to preach on the same stuff at all 3 churches.
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