Learning how NOT to Preach

I'm preaching away this weekend at an evangelistic Sunday for a church in Bristol (The Village Church). While doing some research for a sermon illustration I came across a hilarious parody of preaching and was  reminded of the need we preachers have to be able to laugh at ourselves from time to time.

There's a a long tradition of parodying preaching styles in order to help improve preaching and clarity in communication.

For my 22nd birthday my parents bought me a copy of C.H.Spurgeon's 'Lectures to my Students'. For the uninitiated, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a famous preacher in London in the 19th Century. He is known as the 'Prince of Preachers'  because of the remarkable power of his preaching. He pastored the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London for 38 years which was packed out every week with 5,000 people seated and 1,000 people standing. He also founded a seminary for training preachers that was name posthumously after him.

'Lectures to my Students ' is a transcription of the addresses he delivered to these trainee preachers, and while dated now, they are still full of down-to-earth practical wisdom.

I had just started preaching at the time and had been recommended it by a mentor. (I guess that just goes to show how weird a 20-year-old I was! Can you imagine the average 22 year-old today asking for a copy of one of Spurgeon's books for their birthday?)

Lectures 6 and 7 of Volume Three were my favourite by far. Entitled: 'Postures, Action, Gesture etc' (the Victorians didn't go in for catchy titles) Spurgeon urges his students not to fall into the various bad habits common among preachers of his time. It even includes pictures! He is merciless and comprehensive in his parodying and it is absolutely hilarious in places!

Here's just one example (I picked this because as far as I can remember none of us at Woodgreen fall into this trap!!)

'There is a class of action which must, to use the mildest term, be described as altogether ugly. For these a platform is 'generally necessary,' for a man cannot make himself so thoroughly ridiculous when concealed in a pulpit. To grasp a rail, and to drop down lower and lower till you almost touch the ground is supremely absurd. It may be a proper position as a prelude to an agile gymnastic feat, but as an accompaniment to eloquence it is monstrous; yet have I seen it more than once.'

If you want to read these two lectures, click on the appropriate one below - unfortunately these don't include the pictures! (full links are given at the end of the blog)
lecture 6
lecture 7 

The serious point of course is that a preacher's job is to focus people on God's Word and anything that distracts from that, however trivial, is unhelpful.

To quote Spugeon again:

'No minister would willingly cultivate a habit which would blunt his arrows, or drift them aside from the mark; and therefore, since these minor matters of movement, posture, and gesture may have that effect, you should give them your immediate attention.'

A preacher's mannerisms, tone and pulpit habits can become obstacles to be overcome by the listener, rather than tools that help focus attention on God's Word.  All of us who preach regularly therefore need to continually reflect on and learn from each other when it comes to the WAY in which we preach, as well as the CONTENT of what we preach.

And so, in the spirit of learning by parody, I invite you to listen to the following 'sermon', a sketch written by Alan Bennett many years ago. I issue it with a health warning for all preachers: you will wince more than once as you hear yourself in this!

Links:
The Village Church, Bristol: http://thevillagechurch.co.uk/
Vol3, Lecture 6: http://www.cblibrary.net/pastoral_aids/spurgeon_lectures/lms_19.htm
Vol3, Lecture 7: http://www.cblibrary.net/pastoral_aids/spurgeon_lectures/lms_20.htm
'Take a Pew' sketch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOsYN---eGk

10 Reasons to support the Coalition 4 Marriage

On Monday the 'C4M' was launched, a coalition of various groups with the aim of retaining the traditional, biblical definition of marriage.

John Stevens, FIEC National Director, has written a very helpful rationale on his blog, outlining 10 reasons why it is important that we speak up and oppose the government's proposals to redefine the scope of marriage.

It's a great summary of the issues at stake. Click on the picture or follow the direct link below to read it...

http://www.john-stevens.com/view/magazine#!/2012/02/fiec-news-c4m-coalition-for-marriage.html

http://www.john-stevens.com/view/magazine#!/2012/02/fiec-news-c4m-coalition-for-marriage.html

When Good Lives are Bad News

In the light of the 6 hallmarks of dead religion that we looked at on Sunday night from Luke 11, I found this blog from Tim Chester timely. It challenged my own heart. I trust it will continue to bring the challenge of God's Word to bear on yours as well.

There are two ways we get life wrong.

1. We want to be our own Lord instead of Jesus

In other words, I replace Jesus as Lord with Tim as Lord. I run my life my way. I want to be in charge. That often leads to behaviour that by moral standards is bad: ‘sex and drugs and rock-n-roll’. We do not think Jesus is enough. We do not think the rule of Jesus is the good life. So we replace Jesus with others things.

But there is a second way we can get life wrong.

2. We want to be our own Saviour instead of Jesus

On other words, I replace Jesus as Saviour with Tim as saviour. I want to save myself by doing good things or I want to save other people by straightening out their lives or I want to save the world through good causes.

Now, here’s the tricky thing: This way of getting life wrong often leads to behaviour that by moral standards is good behaviour. People who are trying to be their own saviour are going to live moral lives. Or they are going to be good husbands and wives and parents because they want to rescue their family. Or they are going to be involved in good causes, raising money for the poor or campaigning for justice or getting involved in the environmental issues.

Those are all commendable things to do. So replacing Jesus as Saviour can look like a good life. They will be people in your congregation who are doing this and you will think they are doing great.

But its fruit will eventually become apparent. It will lead to pride or frustration or stress or anxiety or manipulation. Think, for example, about a parent who is trying to save or sort out their children and who thinks it all depends on them. They might be manipulative or domineering as they attempt to control and protect their children. Or they might be bitter about their children’s behaviour or weighed down with stress.

The people who are rejecting Jesus as Lord will usually be easy to spot. But be on the look out for people who are rejecting Jesus as Saviour. I can think of people who have come to us highly recommended, but whose hard work turned out to be driven by deep insecurities.

Gently and firmly we have taught them the good news of justification and adoption. I tell people who are rejecting Jesus as Lord to repent, find joy in Christ and change their ways. I tell people who are rejecting Jesus as Saviour to do … nothing. Stop. Listen. ‘It is finished.’ There is nothing left to do. You have a heavenly Father who loves you and cares for you.

And look out for saviour-tendencies in your own heart.

Many of us are rejecting the lordship of Jesus in some areas of our lives while trying to be a saviour in other areas. Here is the good news: Jesus is Lord and Saviour. And he is a better Lord than you and a better Saviour than you.

(Reproduced fromTim Chester's blog:  http://timchester.wordpress.com/ )