Bailey's sermon was titled "When You Pass Through the Water," a reference to a passage from the book of Isaiah. She wanted her church members to know that even in hard times, God is there to lend guidance.
- Ryan Trares, "Beacon of hope" from the Franklin Daily Journal
"The last week has been described by some as the worst natural disaster ever to strike Franklin, Indiana," she said. "Still, God has been at work to create stable and friendly spaces."In his book, Choosing the Kingdom, John Dally suggests that preachers consider moving away from "exegesis/illustration/application" sermons and move toward "proclamation/implication/invitation." This, he says, is not a formula with blanks to fill in or even a suggested order. When we look at Jesus' sermons, however, and how Jesus asks his followers to preach we see this second model of preaching. Parables, tales, and interpretation are instances when Jesus preaches in such a way.The Gospel reading referenced the tale of Jesus walking on the water. As his disciples were fighting a storm on the sea, Jesus walked out to them.
They were frightened at first, thinking he was a ghost. But he soon comforted them and led them from harm.
"Can you imagine the relief they feel when they hear the voice of Christ?" Bailey asked.
All of that segued into the final part of her sermon. Bailey said she had witnessed God in action during the past week, as neighbors who barely knew each other banded together to help victims recover.
There was the Franklin Community High School football team, which banded together to help clean a victim's house, she said.
In her own neighborhood, the damage was not extensive. Still, water was encroaching some low-lying homes.
Bailey relayed the story of a woman and her son who stationed themselves next to the nearest drain. As corn stalks became clogged in the drain and prevented it from removing water, these two people stayed up all night clearing it of debris.
She made it clear that the disaster this community has weathered was not sent as punishment or vengeance. God was there to help his people, not hurt them.
The word "proclamation" in scripture is a common translation of the Greek word keryssein (the root for our word "crisis"). Other translations include "announce," cry out," or "preach." Amy, in her sermon, was proclaiming the Kingdom, announcing where it is, pointing out where God is in her community, underscoring the implications and inviting people to participate.
So, that's what I meant by proclaim. Does this muddy or clarify things?
Posted by tripp at June 19, 2008 09:35 AMIt's fine. But it doesn't answer the fundamental question, "Why do you think so?"
Proclaiming seems to presume a bedrock of belief among those who hear the proclamation. And perhaps that's how you intend to deploy the tool, for advancing and shoring up the existing belief of your existing believers.
But for someone like me, it's not going to be effective because it skips over answering the crucial-to-me question, "Why do you think God exists?"
It's easy to see why a proclaimer would point out the valiant actions such as those in the examples you show. But my questions would be about those who are NOT helped. That's where the rubber meets the road, for me.
Questions like, "Why do you think such a God as you believe in permits believers to suffer and perish before anyone helps them? And why would I be interested in a relationship with such a God?"
Posted by: Megan at June 19, 2008 12:05 PMWhy do I think so? I told you. I quoted John Dally and showed you how my friend preached recently. That's the only answer I have...not trying to be flip. This is simply the answer I have for you.
"Why do you think God exists?"
It's a good question...I guess. I experience God. And God is something I can't prove. So, if the question for someone is about provability, I think that the question is pointless to try and answer. There's no proof ala the scientific method. You know these old arguments, I'm sure.
So, my response is to simply show God where I see God. To proclaim God in that way. And then provide ways for people to experience God through prayer, worship, charity etc. The rest is in the other person's hands. I cannot make anyone believe anything. All I can do is offer opportunities to see...and share what I see. God's grace moves. They choose to believe or they do not. I cannot control that part.
The question of suffering is also an unanswerable question. The Bible is filled to the brim of attempts to understand why we suffer. It's the ultimate question about human existence. Why do we suffer?
No one really knows. But suffering is real. So, what are we going to do with the suffering we encounter? That's the question that Jesus suggests we ask.
In Luke, Jesus is said to have quoted scripture in the midst of his home synagogue...
Luke 4...
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:This is how I understand suffering and proclamation and...in this way, preaching.
18‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’
20And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
Well, you've told me why you FEEL so. Not so much why you THINK so.
This is a place where what you offer basically doesn't satisfy what I need as an individual. You're convinced by feeling. I'm not.
I think that's also an important distinction -- convincing vs. proving. I never ask for proof. It's not possible. Descartes covered that.
So, since proof isn't possible, I'm looking for reasons that are powerful enough to convince.
What you feel isn't powerful enough to convince me.
Posted by: Megan at June 19, 2008 12:51 PMThat's an important distinction. One of my favorite quotations from some spiritual journal somewhere is "God requires the heart." I guess you are right. That is where I live in terms of faith. I've never been convinced by an intellectual assertion or philosophy about God...So, I stopped looking there. I started looking at my feelings and muddled through from there.
I've never been able to think my way to God. I'm sorry I cannot answer the question you are asking.
Posted by: Tripp at June 19, 2008 12:54 PMReason 14,398 to be glad I'm not a parishioner in your church. :-)
It leads me off on a question tangent I think might be interesting, though.
Do you, as a minister, only offer to your parishioners, things you find useful yourself?
Posted by: Megan at June 19, 2008 02:42 PMI can only offer what I have. The good news is that I share the pulpit, bring in other speakers and teachers, and try to make room for various voices and experiences of God. I am not the only person in the congregation who communicates experiences of God.
It's a good thing. This is one of the reasons why I talk about community so often. I could not possibly communicate to everyone.
Posted by: Tripp at June 19, 2008 03:01 PMYou know...I think I'll chew on it a bit, but there are ways that I do think about this stuff...but it's not about convincing...as much as it is describing.
Hmmm...More on this later.
Posted by: Tripp at June 19, 2008 03:04 PM