Twelve

Discussion of the Sermon

I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. “Why do

you insist on shouting at us like we were children?” he

asked in something less than a pleasant tone of voice.

“Not only that, I didn’t appreciate your reference to

the Catholic Church.”

The fact is I had invited this kind of feedback.

After a sermon I am sometimes worn out and need

time to recover, and an attack on my person and my

sermon both was tough to take. “Those are good

points,” I began, “Let me try to explain myself.” And

so I did and I think he accepted what I said though he

might not have agreed completely. He did keep coming

and attends to this day. It was better for him to voice

his complaints than have them drive him away.

         

A preacher ought to be accountable for what is

presented in the sermon. As a way of making that

happen, after the service at Miller Avenue, everyone

is invited to stay for “coffee hour” and a discussion of

the sermon. We have coffee, tea, cookies, and

sometimes, a light lunch. There are some old couches

and a coffee table in one particular section of our

fellowship hall where we gather to eat and discuss the

sermon.

65

Discussion of the Sermon

People will often have questions and comments

after hearing a sermon. There have been affirmations

and confirmations, there have also been some anger

expressed. Everything is welcome and the sessions can

even be quite helpful to the preacher as well as to

others. Some important work is accomplished during

the discussion of the sermon.

There are some alert, sophisticated people at Miller

Avenue who are not afraid to be critical and will

challenge me. I, of course, am very aware of this, and

try to be careful not to put myself into a bad situation;

I have learned to be careful about the things that I say.

Ministerial exaggerations, mean spiritedness, attacking

people and/or institutions, these will not go unnoticed

or unmentioned. I am not above defending myself and

I will not back down from preaching the truth either,

but I know I will be held accountable when I go where

I should not.

There is a helpful saying, “We agree to disagree”.

I am not looking for uniformity in doctrine, or expecting

people to use words and phrases that I use. We are not

all at the same place theologically or spiritually, and

room must be made for differences. Debate and

discussion is characteristic of maturity, and so is

becoming accountable for the content of the sermon.

Accountability can actually result in better preaching.

         

  Have you ever wanted to talk with a preacher about

a sermon?

  I assume the answer is yes. Some people may want

to do the same with your sermons. Could you handle

it?