Reflections

I found out Darby didn't exactly bomb, but I have yet to get the congregation to understand there are times when you can speak during the sermon!!!

So I did the seven week religions series, last week was Laity Sunday - I have to write an actual sermon this week! It's very hard. I'm not sure if I want to do an outline, sticky notes in my Bible or a full fledged manuscript. I realize it's four o'clock on Friday and I'm at Leadapalooza tomorrow, but I have only done the first two so far and don't feel I have a complete handle on what I want to say. What's funny is I pulled up some preaching helps two weeks ago and ended up with last year's scripture (we did All Saints on October 8th to accomodate a snow bird last year) which includes a Revelation text! Looks like the Revelation series is starting early!!

Since last year was the first All Saints Day this congregation remembers celebrating in a while, I want to make each one different. This year we are celebrating Communion using the readings for All Saints and lighting the candles and ringing the gong before sharing in the elements. That way we will truly be 'in the company of the saints' when we partake. I'm a little concerned my message will not flow into communion.

Will let you know next week!

Darby bombs

Well, I did the sermon on Darby/dispensationalism/fundamentalism/end times theology and it flopped!! A couple times, I stopped the sermon to ask if they were with me and not one person moved. They were frozen (in terror/in confusion?)!

Joy, joy!

Darby

I'm finishing the series on World Religions by discussing dispensationalism and Darby and eschatology. My sole reference was Micky Efird's Left Behind Question Mark book, which is a direct rebuttal to Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.

What is so funny is:
Jenny saw my work and gave me a book by Dr. Bilezikian which appears to do the same.
Keith finished his two year overview of the Bible, by staying away from eschatology.
McIlweb cites Hal Lindsey (who is also reference by Efird) in his blog on Al Gore's Nobel Prize

It's everywhere!!!!

In November, I am sure that I will be up to the task of taking on Revelation itself using these materials.

It's going to be interesting see as my organist (who picks the music based on the scripture and my theme for the week) is excited to see what I have to say since she 'is a fan of Left Behind'. I don't have the heart to warn her the sermon is a rebuttal!!!

mormonism

I did the sermon on Mormonism. Hopefully, the congretation felt it was balanced and informative. I'm not sure I did a very good job on the beliefs of Mormons since I really didn't understand them myself and basically just read what I had found on line. Which made what happened before the service very scary. I lost my manuscript!! I had placed it on the desk while I copied the bulletin, then I went to the pulpit to pick music for next week as the organist is celebrating her anniversary and will not be playing. Well, sometime after she arrived one of the girl's had picked up the sermon and mixed it in with her papers. I had not really paid attention that she was by the desk and asked the other girl to help me look for it. Long story short, the second girl was very stressed and felt I had blamed her - I didn't and I think we straightened that out -- but I was stressed myself as I could do the history of the book of Mormon and the migration west from memory, but there was no way I could even attempt the doctrine and major beliefs!!! Luckily, the second girl checked the first girl's book bag during the greeting time and the service was able to proceed. Thanks Viv!

Lesson? Always take sermon directly to the pulpit when entering the building!!!

This week we'll finish with Adam Hamilton. Then on the 14th I plan on doing a bit on Darbyism from Eiferd's book Left Behind Question Mark. The 21st is Laity Sunday and Viv will be doing the message. The 28th is All Saints (for us anway). Then I think I might try to tackle the Apocolyptic Literature as a four week series leading into Advent -- have to do the research to see if I can pull it off!!