In seminary, we often interviewed one another about Biblical texts during sermon prep in order to gain new insights, to share experiences, and to open new preaching paths. When I was an intern in Lynnville, TN, I had two meetings during the week that took this process even further. One was a lectionary study group (the Lewisburg Lectionary League) that gathered five or six Presbyterian pastors to discuss the text. Wednesday mornings, driving to Lewisburg, I often thought of Karl Barth, hiking to a neighboring German village to meet all day with local colleagues and then hiking back to preach the next morning.
My other meeting was Lynnville Pres's Bible Study (and informal worship committee), where we read the texts for each week and I opened the floor to thoughts and reactions from the congregants gathered there. Of the two, this discussion was where my weekly sermon was born. Questions raised, connections made, problems found, those Monday night studiers gave me plenty to consider during the next six days of sermon writing (I include Sunday as a writing day). Since that time, this birthplace of the sermon has been lost as I've moved on to only occasional preaching; it requires a dedicated group of listeners.
So, in this first week of blog entries, I am turning my ears to y'all, our readers. The two texts are these: Matthew 20:1-16 and Exodus 16:2-15. If you get a chance, please read these texts. And then comment with your thoughts. What stands out to you? What do you see in these words of Scripture? And what do you hear for the Church (capitalized or not, however you understand it) in this time and this nation/world?
Thank you to anyone who takes the time to do this, to walk this journey with me.
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