Liturgy or Evangelical Sermon

[Hermit76]

I gave that a "laugh icon." But then I got to thinking that you might have been serious that there were actually "liturgical dancers." I found out there really are.

This does not happen in Orthodoxy

 

[Tutorman]

Howdy! I am curious to know which one do you prefer. I honestly prefer liturgy since it feels more traditional and worship-based (plus Communion). What do you think?

Liturgy all the way, as the Church did for 1600 years.

 

[thecolorsblend]

Liturgy. I've sat through enough dull, uninspired evangelical sermons to last two lifetimes.

If you require a slightly longer explanation, the Eucharist is the centerpiece of the Mass, it's true. But the reality is that I've heard bad evangelical sermons. But I've never once received a bad Eucharist.

Regarding the liturgy, every movement, every posture, every prayer and every response in the Latin Mass has meaning and significance to it which has been carefully considered over the centuries. The Latin Mass is one huge act of worship comprised of hundreds or even thousands of small acts of worship.

On a personal level, I simply find that to be more compelling. And certainly more trustworthy than some guy who graduated from "Bible college" making things up as he goes along, yet another finger-wagging sermon on how his audience (which is what the congregation has become by that point, in effect) should be more luuuuuuuuuuuuuving or some such tripe.

Besides, the liturgy allows for an insightful homily. But an evangelical sermon can only be an evangelical sermon; only this and nothing more.

 

[Sketcher]

I don't have enough recent experiences in liturgical churches to pass judgment on whether I like or dislike liturgy. This I will say: A good Evangelical sermon is good for you.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I always enjoyed long services when I was a Protestant, but the best ones had a lot of singing.

I've been Orthodox for several years now, and I really love the Liturgy. I arrive before Matins and stay through most of the Divine Liturgy (I teach a class so must leave early) so I'm there for about three hours. It seems to go by incredibly quickly for me. We get LOTS of the Word read though it's woven in so seamlessly much of the time that people may not realize how much Scripture really is in the service. Most of it is chanted, intoned, or sung. We have readings from the Psalms, Epistles, and Gospels (and sometimes other books as well). And there is usually a homily that is typically around 15 minutes, which is always really good as our priest is an excellent teacher (when the bishop came, his teaching went on for the better part of an hour). We also have Bible study separately which runs about an hour, and I'm thankful to have many hours of podcasts with in-depth teaching available on Ancient Faith Radio every week.

I did enjoy a really good sermon in my evangelical days. But otoh, they are not always good. The last time I went to an evangelical fellowship to visit, I was just about out of my mind with the pastor going on for such a long time with so little really to say, and on top of that making snide little comments about other folks in the process, displaying not a good personal testimony, and with no real plan and a lot of hemming and hawing and repeating himself. But it's not fair to judge everyone based on that. I just know that I have no patience anymore for prolonged periods of poor preaching. I'm used to very rich servings in lesser amounts of time, usually centered heavily on the Gospel.

 

[Paidiske]

I would say that a well-prepared sermon and liturgy ought to mutually inform and enrich one another, and that both are at their best when care and attention are given to each.

It's not either/or, but both/and.

 

[Mountainmike]

Howdy! I am curious to know which one do you prefer. I honestly prefer liturgy since it feels more traditional and worship-based (plus Communion). What do you think?

That's a false dichotomy, is it not?
They are not generally alternative.

Liturgy often has place for a homily.
An evangelical sermon is only a part of a service.

I have a great preference for liturgy to a weekly rock concert, but then I much prefer Gregorian chant anyway! Happy clappy works for many, but not for me.
In our fathers house are many rooms.

But making the Eucharist the centre of the Christian service seems to me to be right and is certainly consistent with early church. In many churches it seems to be an optional and rarely performed extra.

It is fascinated Me on my journey to Rome, that the catholic mass and liturgy was wall to wall scripture, and yet the evangelical groups I had been part of had almost none in the services, whilst claiming to be more biblical!

 

[GingerBeer]

Are there not sermons in Catholic and EO churches? What's wrong with a sermon?

A homily. A sermon is longer i think. 30 mins and more.

 

[PloverWing]

Liturgy for me. That's why I became Episcopalian. Among other things, I like that I can participate in liturgy, instead of just listening to someone else.

I confess that I have a very short attention span for listening to other people talk when there's no opportunity to engage the speaker in conversation. I can certainly sit politely and watch a speaker for extended periods of time, but my mind only engages for about the first 5 minutes; after that, my mind wanders. I do at least try to get my wandering mind to wander through the day's Scripture readings.

With that said, I know that sermons are really helpful for some people, so if you're one of those people, you'll probably enjoy the kind of service that features a long sermon. Different people's personalities fit well with different forms of worship.

I'll note that a third form of worship is a Quaker silent meeting. Of these three forms of worship, I like liturgy the best, followed by a silent meeting, followed by a sermon-oriented service.

 

[Dan the deacon]

Don't charismatic Catholics have service with guitar and instruments?

What does that have to do with this?

 

[Phil 1:21]

Howdy! I am curious to know which one do you prefer. I honestly prefer liturgy since it feels more traditional and worship-based (plus Communion). What do you think?

Did Jesus go around reciting rehearsed liturgies? Or did be teach?

I prefer a church that mirrors Christ.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Did Jesus go around reciting rehearsed liturgies? Or did be teach?

I prefer a church that mirrors Christ.

Actually when Jesus was in the Temple He participated in the Liturgy that was Jewish worship. That's the context within which He was given a scroll to read.

But teaching outside of Liturgy is beneficial too. The Liturgy is for prayers and worshipping God. Bible study and teaching is for helping the Body. Both are necessary and good.

 

[Barney2.0]

I prefer a legalistic form of worship since it’s what I grew up on, to me I find it abhorrent to worship God in the form of a rock concert. So I definitely prefer liturgical worship.

 

[Barney2.0]

Did Jesus go around reciting rehearsed liturgies? Or did be teach?

I prefer a church that mirrors Christ.

I’m sure Jesus didn’t preach in the Benny Hinn Evangelical style.

 

[Phil 1:21]

I’m sure Jesus didn’t preach in the Benny Hinn Evangelical style.

Nor did he pray to stained glass windows or burn incense to paintings and statues. You point being?

 

[Not David]

Did Jesus go around reciting rehearsed liturgies? Or did be teach?

I prefer a church that mirrors Christ.

He was a Jew who went to liturgical Jewish synagogues, so yes.

 

[seeking.IAM]

It would be nice if we could appreciate each other's preferences and accept our differences without denigrating what another Christian values in worship.

 

[Phil 1:21]

Did Jesus go around reciting rehearsed liturgies? Or did be teach?

I prefer a church that mirrors Christ.

He was a Jew who went to liturgical Jewish synagogues, so yes.

Do you attend a liturgical Jewish synagogue?

 

[Barney2.0]

Now did he pray to stained glass windows or burn incense to paintings and statues. You point being?

If Jesus was a second temple Jew that’s exactly like how he would pray, which was at the temple which had images in it, incense, windows, and etc.

 

[Phil 1:21]

If Jesus was a second temple Jew that’s exactly like how he would pray, which was at the temple which had images in it, incense, windows, and etc.

And yet nothing in scripture of Him or his Apostles instructing anyone to do any such thing.