Even the best messages seem to stir my mind for a moment, park in my working memory, but fail to hook into my experience or take root. I often try to take notes, and collect those notes in categories, and that sometimes leads me back to a thought or idea. The rest of my week is so filled with other “messages,” I fear that my pastors sermons are completely lost in a sea of information. 

Most lack the skills and discipline to try and integrate new information into their lives without prompts– reflection, dialogue, artistic expression, synthesizing questions, wondering, etc.  Sermons also tend to lean towards the informational side… and often lack emotional and imaginative connection. They need to be sensory. Church leaders are called beyond offering speeches and singing to create worship environments that invite an experience and connection with God as a community of faith. Churches need to take notice of this… what do you think? 

Other than that – I’d LOVE to take a week alone of silence.  And not a whole lot of good happens in my office, I agree.  

Thanks for your thoughts, I’ve enjoyed your blog!

the prob is that we have all been molded by a certain approach from academia and it has unfortunately persisted for centuries; and the church, by and large, now bears the heavy indictment from Isaiah, that we have become irrelevant

I preach every once in a while at my church. I have done a few “normal” sermons and a few sermons that involve breaking off into little groups that discuss the scripture together and then share with everyone else. I was listening to the sermon yesterday when I leaned over to my wife and said, “I’m never going to preach a normal sermon again. There’s no just connecting in all of this.” 

I’m right there with you, and I pray that we begin to see and experience communities who engage people in holistic ways.