Okay, let’s say that I’m sticking with the constellation of texts that I proposed this afternoon. How do I begin the sermon?
The beginning is one of the vital parts. A sermon badly begun risks losing the charitable attention that one depends on in order to elicit sympathy for one’s efforts. If the first couple of sentences suggest, “Here comes a lame-o sermon; time for a nap,” a tremendous proportion of listeners will act on that suggestion. At the same time, The Bang-O Attention-Grabber opening sentence gets to be a shtick; I try not to seize attention at the outset so much as to entice it, to seduce it.
So, now I’m working on the beginning of the sermon. I will have read the sentence from Hebrews, I think, as the main text of the sermon. Everyone is quiet. And I’m working on what on earth I’d say to get the thing rolling.
Oh, and today will be a very important Sunday; there are a lot of hurt feelings around the congregation, and even more than any other Sunday, the sermon will need to articulate an intelligible way forward for people who might be on the verge of just plain giving up on the congregation. All that, without scaring away someone who happened to drop in out of the blue, and certainly without nagging or scolding. Hey, piece of cake.
Posted by AKMA at October 10, 2003 09:52 PM | TrackBacksounds like you'll need to give not only encouragement, which you've alluded to in the last couple days, but a vision that the Holy Spirit wants to lead the congregation, in which they can find hope that God has great plans for the church.
Posted by: enoch at October 10, 2003 10:22 PMHey Fr. Adam:
Whatever your reservations about this process might be, I find your post fascinating and rich fodder for young preachers. Getting inside the head of a great preacher (after the tradition of the black friars no less) is valuble treasure to this apprentice. Thank you.
Pax et Bonum
"It is appropriate today that we are a congregation filled with wonder and doubt, for God has designed us with that capability in mind. It will also be appropriate for us to leave here today filled with wonder and hope, for in that manner too, God has designed us."
Posted by: adamsj at October 11, 2003 09:02 AM