Creative preaching

In a 1991 speech, John Cleese famously tried to say how we can be creative. He said not much could be said. Have a playful childhood was a good suggestion. But he did conclude that creativity is not a talent (e.g. not a gift correlated with intelligence). Rather, it tends to come from a certain mode of operating – a way of doing things, which he called the open mode. By contrast, the closed mode tends to say that there’s lots to be done and I have to get on with it. Perhaps we’ve all prepared sermons with that thought in our mind? It may be a little anxious. Or that anxiety might give a kind of exciting energy to get on with the task. But the task is not likely to be done in the most expansive, creative way. For creative preaching, try to take away the pressure to get something ready and be more contemplative and open to humour and curiosity. Explore the text. Play with ideas. What seems irrelevant might be a clue. If we relax, different ways of doing it might come. Then we will need the closed mode to get our sermon outline down and done. Then, switch back to the open mod. Are you content with what you’ve prepared?

To help yourself get into an open mode you will need limited secluded play: a bounded oasis of quiet undisturbed space, a set amount of time away from the closed mode and other distractions. You will also need confidence and humour. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. Experiment. It’s okay. Don’t be paralysed by fear of getting it wrong. Risk something silly or illogical. You cannot be rigidly spontaneous. Any drivel may lead to a break through. Preaching is a serious important business, but that does not rule our humour. It does not have to be dull, pompous or self-important.   

The quick trivial things will try to distract you from the important business of thinking, but you need to just wait and allow yourself to quiet down. You probably need about an hour and half, and after that you probably need a break. But don’t give up too soon. Sit with the problem, tolerate the discomfort, and you will probably come up with something more creative. Don’t decide too soon. Put in more pondering time and you will be more creative.

In this open mode, you need to bring yourself in a gentle and friendly manner back to the subject. Ideas will come. Perhaps in the shower tomorrow or on a walk on Wednesday.

Is there someone (who doesn’t make you feel defensive) you could talk to about it in a free and positive manner?

Creativity might be described as connecting ideas in a way which generates new meaning. Does X + Y produce something fruitful we might use? Generate connections and see if any of them are interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvKeu46jgwo