Packaged Truth
I made a distinction today between two types of truth: packaged truth and experienced truth. I think we're real good at packaging truth in the church. We have our systematic theologies and three-point sermons with alliterations. But maybe what people respond to is truth that is more unplugged and more unpackaged.
People respond to stories and stories are experienced truth. And sometimes that is messy. Sometimes the truth doesn't fit into our nice neat categories. But the church needs to be a place where we allow people to be in process. One of the greatest hinderances to spiritual authenticity is this feeling that we have to have it all figured out.
We don't. We can't.
When I'm preparing for a sermon I want it to be perfectly packaged. But maybe if we did less studying and more living our sermons would be less packaged and more experienced.
The best sermons aren't just the byproduct of study. The best sermons are the byproduct of living. Don't get me wrong: study to show yourself approved. But living the truth is more important than studying the truth.
Less packaging. More experiencing.
People respond to stories and stories are experienced truth. And sometimes that is messy. Sometimes the truth doesn't fit into our nice neat categories. But the church needs to be a place where we allow people to be in process. One of the greatest hinderances to spiritual authenticity is this feeling that we have to have it all figured out.
We don't. We can't.
When I'm preparing for a sermon I want it to be perfectly packaged. But maybe if we did less studying and more living our sermons would be less packaged and more experienced.
The best sermons aren't just the byproduct of study. The best sermons are the byproduct of living. Don't get me wrong: study to show yourself approved. But living the truth is more important than studying the truth.
Less packaging. More experiencing.
3 Comments:
and the people said... "AMEN!"
So did you crazy this week getting ready for this week? Eat grass perhaps?
I think that it's significant that it says that we are to study in order to Show ourselves approved...
And "...I will show you my faith through my good deeds." (from James 2:18)
There is great power in a life (and a sermon) that is being worked through the filter of study and experience.
I think the world is hungry for that kind of preaching. It is definitely a challenge, however!
Thanks for the reminder, Mark!
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