Why do we have sermons in worship? I've always been confused by this. I've never understood how listening to a sermon was praising God. I know that at some point we need to learn new things or be retaught stuff, but why in worship? I almost always dread the sermon. It's not because the preacher is boring or doesn't have something to say. It's just that it breaks my focus. I want to be singing and praying and reflecting on God. I want to be praising him and expressing myself to him. The sermon always seems to be the most important part of the worship service, but I really don't think it is. If we're gonna call it worship then we need to be worshipping. I've gotten to visit various denominations and one thing I really like about the churches who have "high church" is the focus on Communion. Everything points to communion. Now there are other issues that arrive out of "high church," like the routine of it loosing meaning and such, but I like the focus and attention that is put on communion because that's really what it all comes down to right. If it weren't for the cross then we wouldn't be doing any of this. I also like the reverence of it. There are times to cry out to God, there are time to shout to him with joy, but then there are times when you just need to be in awe of his power. I don't think I'd want to attend a church like that all the time, but sometimes we seem to forget about the holiness of God.
Okay so back to this whole sermon thing. I don't think sermons are wrong. I mean it's pretty obvious that there was a lot of preaching going on in the Bible. But I wonder if the teaching should be a separate thing? Like what about Bible classes? I'd always been taught that Bible class was a totally separate thing from worship, but I don't really see that anymore. Okay so in Bible class you get to interact sometimes and usually in sermons you don't (although that isn't always the case now either), but other than that what is really the difference? Now no offense to those of you who are preachers it's nothing against you. There are a number of preachers that I enjoy listening to, but is the place for sermons in the worship service? Or at least should the sermon be the dominating portion of the service? I just think that we need to spend more time praising him and being in awe of him and a little less time trying to figure him out.
I'm fully aware that backlash on this one is sure to follow, but as long as you keep it clean I'll post what you have to say. I really like the idea of my blog being a place where ideas can be freely exchanged and expressed without fear of retribution.
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5 comments:
I think preaching on sunday morning is one of those traditions that has become "canon" (not to be confused with cannon of course).
So yeah, why not have a sunday morning service without preaching?
I've had some questions about public prayer also, particularly when it comes to outside of church. I always wonder if we are just showing off. I know there have been many times where I was more conscious of people watching me than actually focused on the prayer, but at the same time God has used some of those occasions to reach other people so I don't know whether it was good or if God just made the best out of a bad situation?
Praying aloud in church is a different issue and one that I don't object to, but I honestly end up praying my own (often unrelated) prayer most of the time. Not sure if that's wrong or not.
I don't think it matters whether a sermon is part of the "worship service" or not. I do think it is important that a body of believers is regularly fed from the Word. I personally enjoy good old fashioned Bible study as opposed to topical studies that merely check to see what the Bible has to say on a certain topic. I'm not against topical study at all, I just think we do too much of it these days. Why don't we study the Book instead of studying a book about the Book? So.....to sermon or not sermon during the service? I don't think it matters, just don't neglect corporate presentation and study of the Scripture.
You know me so you know that for me God speaks to me and I talk to him best in song. I NEVER get enough praise time in worship...but that is not the way God speaks to everyone. I guess I think that for some - the sermon or even a vocal corporeal prayer may be the way they best hear or see or speak to Him. As for public prayer, I recently had the unusual experience of leading my rotary club in prayer. I was somewhat uncomforatable about it yet it felt right in a way to acknowledge God and my belief in him in this fashion.
Without sermons... kids wouldn't have time to color.
Without sermons... churches would have to spend money on evangelists and people who provided ministry rather than a "speaker."
Without sermons... we'd have nothing to harp on at Sunday lunch.
Without sermons... there wouldn't be time for bathroom breaks.
Without sermons... ahhh that's enough for now. My time is up. Time to stand up, yawn, and have a closing prayer.
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