How To Write A Better Sermon

Over the last number of years I have worked really hard on developing my craft as one who preaches the Gospel. Pulpit ministry is tricky because there is a sense that you look for affirmation in the wrong places. You want people to like what you say, but, if you're preaching the subversive gospel then they probably won't like what you have to say very often. 

I have come to realize that it doesn't matter whether people like my message. I want the message to stick and I want it to be fruitful. That means, when I preach my hope is that life change follows.

Early on in my days of preaching I would often bite off more than I could effectively communicate. I studied so hard and prepared so much that messages would last 45 minutes and really be all over the place. I would over illustrate, over metaphor, and educate. 

A few years ago at Grace Chapel we began writing children's questions for every sermon. If you were preaching you were responsible to write the questions. I have found that thinking through these questions with children (4-12 year olds) in mind has transformed my preaching. 

One of my good friends said that the best thing that he had to do in seminary was give a message to 5 year-olds. I believe it, now, more than ever. 

You see when you are thinking about communicating the Scriptures to a child you know that there have to be a few things that are true of your message:

• It has to have movement. This means that you need to have a narrative arc to your message. If you don't then boredom will set in. There must be a clearly defined beginning, middle, and end. 
• It has to be focused. You can't go on rabbit trails. If you do they lose interest.
• It has to be concrete. Your messages can't be theoretical. Kids don't get the theoretical, they don't have the intellectual hooks for it. 

Here's my secret: The things that are true about speaking to kids are the same things that are true for speaking to adults. 

The beginning of this process for me is writing children's questions. This exercise forces me out of my "great" theological mind and into the necessity of movement, focus, and the concrete. 

Do you want to be a better preacher? Write a few children's questions. 

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How Should Christians Respond to the Demise of Public Officials

Today in Detroit, former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, was found guilty and sent to prison. As a mayor he failed and did some horrific things. The evidence proved his guilt. Most of the response in my social network feeds is that of jubilation and mockery.

Mostly by Christians.

It seems that this kind of response is not the way that we ought to respond. As a people we are called by God to pray for those in authority. We are also supposed to pray for our enemies.

It's interesting, when I regularly pray for someone it makes it very difficult to hate them. I find myself seeing things from their perspective. I begin to experience empathy.

In the case of Kilpatrick I am thankful that the city of Detroit and our metro area will experience closure. But, I am saddened that a family has been destroyed. What is lost in all the mess is that Kilpatrick through his decisions destroyed a city and his family. His children won't have a dad around.

This is not a time for celebration. It's a time for somber reflection.

It's a time to ask hard questions of ourselves and those we have placed in public office.

There is joy when justice happens. There is also sadness when we see the effects of evil. I hope that we as Christians will bring both to the public forum.

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Modeling and Engaging Faith is Better Than Separation and Isolation

We do things really weird at +The Antioch Movement.

It's true.

Really weird.

For starters we include our children in everything we do. We place a high value on inclusion. The reason is simple, we believe that discipleship is the proper model of the spiritual growth of our children, and all people.   If we think that discipleship is the means by which to best reach others, then we must be committed to it in the context of our own families. We believe that the primary discipler is the parent, Mom and Dad.

In most of the West when Mom and Dad arrive at church they are told to drop off they kids in "children's wing". Where wonderful Christian men and women will teach their children. They are wonderful. They are amazing. My kids have benefited deeply from Sunday School. They are benefiting even more as they see us engage with others and others engage and model the faith for them and with them in a multi-generational context.

We are in a time of training and preparation in the Antioch Movement. Part of this is me as the "professional" getting out of the way and letting go of leadership. We have been learning a model of bible study leading that is simple and can be with anyone and led by anyone. So, I started getting out of the way,

"Who would like to lead our conversation next week?" I asked.

"Is there an age limit?" asked the 11 year old.

"No."

"I want to wead..." said the four year old.

Silence.

"Ummm....OK. Sidney you're leading next week." I responded.

"Sid, we'll practice this week together. OK?" her dad chimed in.

"OK, and Vinnie will help too!" Beamed Sidney...

A week later, we had a great conversation. Sidney's dad asked the question, Sidney repeated it. It was fantastic. It was proof that anyone can lead a discussion about the Scriptures and do so well. For the adults in the room I think it showed them that we need not fear leadership.

A four year old did it.

That's not the best part though. The best part is that Sidney wants to lead it every week. She is engaged and interested in our gathering around the Scriptures. She has meaningful training from her parents. Her parents are training her and helping her grow in the Lord.

The rest of us saw this, experienced this, and profited from this.

Discipleship is something that is central to who we are as the church. It is our central means for reaching the lost and maturing the found. If we believe this then our practices must reflect our belief.

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We Must Change Our Thinking On Property

Photo Courtesy of Todd Waller

This week I was in a meeting with church leaders and civic leaders in our city. There are some amazing people and things happening in our town. There are people who have huge hearts and care deeply for the people of our city. I was impressed and thankful to be among them. 

There was a brief side conversation that took place about a church purchasing a significant piece of property in town. As a result of the church buying the property it came off the tax roles. While many see this as a huge benefit, I struggle with this reality. Many smaller cities like ours are in need of taxes to keep things balanced and to provide core services. I appreciated the fact the official from the city is hopeful that the people coming in for church programs will spend money at local businesses and in this way add to the tax base. Just to be clear nobody from the city had anything bad to say about the church buying the property.

This conversation confirmed some thoughts I have been having about the role of the church in a city. I am convinced that the Church should not own property, or if it is going to, should willingly choose to pay property taxes. Another thought would be to consider repurposing the building to something for-profit that would cover the taxes and provide a service to the community while simultaneously funding the mission.

Why?

It's because often times we own some of the best property in a city. We have a responsibility to the city to be stewards of the city. Part stewarding the city is paying our fair share. This is significant. I know many will read this and say, "It's not right to pay taxes off of offerings given by the congregation. That money has been taxed already." Or they might say, "If we had to pay taxes then we wouldn't be able to afford the building at all!"

To both these critiques I say, "Then don't own property."

It is my hope that +The Antioch Movement will some day rent property that owned by a local person. We will be adding to the economy of the city and not simply taking. The other thing this allows for is the ability to respond and adapt to the needs of our community and city. A church that rents can choose to not be building poor. Maintenance will be done by the landlord. Parking lots, landscaping, etc...all would be taken care of by someone else. 

This kind of change is foreign in our thinking. The American Dream is to own property and this dream has extended to the local church. Why? Because the Church in America became domesticated and institutional. It is time for the church to return to its roots as an ever changing community that proclaims the excellencies of Jesus in word and deed.

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