"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Paul to the persecuted at Philippi (2:5-11)

06 May 2009

The Birth of a Sermon (moved)

How I write sermons, in ten, no fifteen, no several easy steps.
1. Pray
2. Read the assigned Scriptures.
3. Leave the scriptures on my desk for a day or two, perhaps to ferment a little?
4. Skim the scriptures. Make thoughtful facial expressions.
5. Ponder.
6. Scribble down thoughts. If no thoughts skip to #7.
7. Read the scripture and surrounding chapters. Let things sink in.
8. Read a commentary or two.
9. Putz around on Facebook, complain about being uninspired.
10. Repeat step 4.
11. Check sermon writing websites, discover that no one else has posted any thoughts either.
12. Play internet based video games or instant message a friend to complain that you're feeling uninspired.
13. Write something. Anything. It doesn't matter.
14. Delete anything written in step 13.
15. Sleep on it.
16. Repeat step 10.
17. Write something else. At least three paragraphs.
18. Paragraphs need to ferment too!!!
19. Write anything that comes to mind. Panic.
20. Complain that other people get to have fun on Saturday nights.
21. Panic some more. Pray some more if this is how you cope with panic.
22. Think of a cute illustration. Use it whether or not it fits.
23. Pull it all together and preach it!
24. Hide during coffee hour.
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