So I know it’s been forever since I’ve posted anything at all… hope to remedy that…
As part of being “young adult” clergy (generally classified as those 35 and under, I think), I was asked to participate in the “First Parish Program” at Hinton Rural Life Center, a United Methodist run camp and resource center for small churches. The first week was back in August, and Fred Craddock was the presenter for the week. (What was I thinking, volunteering to preach while Fred Craddock was there?) So, below are some thoughts he presented from a “top 10″ list about preaching:
First, he pointed out that it’s better to follow a good preacher when you’re new in a ministry setting, rather than a bad preacher. Sounds counterintuitive, right? He pointed out, though, that good preachers get people in the habit of listening… bad ones get people in the habit of tuning out.
Another point that I really resonated with, and I think many preachers will also, is that having to preach is a higher motive than wanting to preach. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten in the pulpit not because I wanted to, but because I had to. And it’s funny… many times those end up as my best sermons, all by God’s grace.
Finally, one last point I’ll share, is he said that “seriousness of purpose does not require heaviness of manner”. He pointed out that one reason so many jokes are funny is because they actually deal with some serious matters and things people really care about.
I think the last point could apply to everything we do as the church as well. Why do so many unchurched people not go? Because church can be such a drag! From slow and drawn out hymns sung in language no one understands, to preachers who seek to engage the head but instead shoot straight over everyone’s heads, to people in the pews falling asleep or looking like worship is the last place they want to be at that moment. Church can be fun! Worship can be exciting!
What do you think about these matters that Fred Craddock raised?
