tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post1126344390441652201..comments2024-03-12T03:53:57.725-04:00Comments on Faith and Theology: Preaching on every book of the Bible: or, the problem with the lectionaryBen Myershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800127501735910966noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-7933594434347661802011-10-28T15:30:32.826-04:002011-10-28T15:30:32.826-04:00I struggle to imagine what a single sermon on Gene...I struggle to imagine what a single sermon on Genesis would look like.Johnmeuniernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-70834374804032212852011-10-24T01:54:24.302-04:002011-10-24T01:54:24.302-04:00I find it helpful in my preaching to move away fro...I find it helpful in my preaching to move away from the Lectionary soon after Pentecost and explore books and themes, beore returning in Advent. Seems to work OK. ChrisChris Buddennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-9348480387114724622011-10-21T16:36:20.907-04:002011-10-21T16:36:20.907-04:00A thoughtful response here.A thoughtful response <a href="http://www.saintmarkslutheran.org/2011/10/21/breadth-and-depth-creating-a-people-that-love-the-word/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.Ben Myershttp://www.faith-theology.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-51567698764047163982011-10-21T15:41:44.378-04:002011-10-21T15:41:44.378-04:00I would think it depends on how strictly you follo...I would think it depends on how strictly you follow the church's liturgical cycle. I'm an Eastern Orthodox layman, with the attention span of a gnat. The lectionary gives me a fighting chance at least once during the week to figure out where I'm at during the church year and what I'm supposed to be doing. The lectionary isn't for the benefit of the preacher, but for the people. We need a predictable diet of Scripture rather than regurgitations from the last book that the priest read. <br /><br />My $.02 worth.John Stampshttp://www.facebook.com/people/John-Stamps/100000615038642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-38772211360882093242011-10-21T09:39:00.854-04:002011-10-21T09:39:00.854-04:00Great comments, Ben. An interesting study is to s...Great comments, Ben. An interesting study is to see exactly what the lectionary leaves out. As a minister I'm convinced that at times it seeks to save me from having to work extra hard and/or preach something that may be embarrassing.Alan Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-50883563116608696792011-10-21T04:56:35.203-04:002011-10-21T04:56:35.203-04:00Thanks for these thoughts Ben. I value the Lection...Thanks for these thoughts Ben. I value the Lectionary because it keeps us reading the biblical story and specifically Jesus' story, so that it becomes the story we find ourselves in (apologies to Brian Mclaren), and because it saves the congregation from just hearing sermons on my favourite texts. Of course it doesn't stop them hearing my favourite themes being brouhgt out but I try hard to let the text speak for itself!<br /><br />Having said that I agree that it has its limitations and I think there is lots to be said for your suggestion of breaking away from the cycle from time to time. I think you're right that the lectionary presumes an awareness of the story and I am discovering that in an increasingly biblically illiterate world that is forcing me to educate when I think the imperative is to proclaim God's word for his people today. Simply hoping that repeating the cycle will enable people to catch hold of the story isn't proving to be enough. <br /><br />As far as preaching each of the 66 books in the Bible goes, I like the idea, but the thought of trying it is overwhelming. I can imagine starting well, fading quickly, getting a second wind (maybe around the time of the OT prophets), looking forward to the gospels - but then realising my naivete when I try to find one thing to say (ok, the it's Jesus, but...), and limping on from there towards the finish, with the book of revelation portrayed not as a vision of apocalyptic wonder but as a 'thank goodness we've come to the end!' anti-climactic climax!<br /><br />How about asking your erstwhile readers to submit a sermon (not an essay) for one book and then select the 66 most challenging to be posted on this blog (or another) during the coming year? I would be willing to give it a go and not too offended if my offering on a minor prophet was considered less Habakkuk and more bunkum! Alternatively I'm sure Kim could offer us ten theses on each one.<br /><br />Keep up the good work!Ashley Lovettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-23691910740325158032011-10-21T02:07:03.424-04:002011-10-21T02:07:03.424-04:00Being in a series of minor prophets is certainly b...Being in a series of minor prophets is certainly better than a series of major lossesGreg Colbyhttp://twitter.com/gregtheexplorernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-85388391574128690632011-10-21T02:06:03.804-04:002011-10-21T02:06:03.804-04:00Break the Lectionary cycle? NO...say they didn...Break the Lectionary cycle? NO...say they didn't. Did the world stop?Greg Colbyhttp://twitter.com/gregtheexplorernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-21123562472803903982011-10-21T01:28:37.330-04:002011-10-21T01:28:37.330-04:00I've been doing just that this year with my co...I've been doing just that this year with my congregation. We've been exploring the writings of the prophets all year - even the ugly yucky ones like Nahum.Jeff Carterhttp://www.facebook.com/thatjeffcarternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-80304016878272811422011-10-21T00:11:11.968-04:002011-10-21T00:11:11.968-04:00I understand lectionary frustrations, but I admit ...I understand lectionary frustrations, but I admit to dabbling in it. I think the lectionary has pros and cons. My own tradition (UMC) uses it, but I have heard some pastors desire to tweak it a little to have time to focus on more passages of Wesleyan merit. I do like the lectionary though because it forces me to preach places I wouldn't naturally fall too. I like to use it to thematically shape services instead of the old read 4 sections bit.<br /><br />I haven't used it at all during ordinary time, but I plan to for Advent and Lent.<br /><br />I think it does sound like a great idea to preach through all the books in 66 weeks. I have found lately that the various OT books most people don't read or hear about leave pretty big holes in their biblical awareness.<br /><br />Thanks for the thoughts.Chad Brookshttp://twitter.com/chaddbrooksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14261952.post-86505720086097034122011-10-20T23:37:54.923-04:002011-10-20T23:37:54.923-04:00Our church is in the middle of a series on the min...Our church is in the middle of a series on the minor prophets, I imagine in the same vein of what you're referring to... one prophet per week. Last week was Jonah this week is Micah. It has certainly been a great series and very interesting. You can check them out at www.theorb.org. We are a church in Red Bank, New Jersey.Mattnoreply@blogger.com