"We're Not Having A Sermon Today"

[Quasiblogo]

Have you ever been in a Church service where the pastor announced there would be no sermon due to special music, extended ministering to people at the front of the church (as evangelicals tend to do via "altar calls"), etc.?

No one can put the Omnipotent in a box, but I have witnessed several times where I didn't think a sermon/homily-less service was warranted.

 

[Quasiblogo]

It's true that we must live the Gospel, through love, but a church service seems to be a divinely appointed place/moment for the proclamation of the Gospel, and omitting this can stunt the growth of the Body, IMO.

 

[seeking.IAM]

There are many ways to worship beyond the sermon. The sermon as the central point of worship is a matter of one's faith tradition. In my tradition, the central point of worship is The Eucharist, not the sermon. You might hear an Anglican say, "I've heard many a bad sermon, but I've never been to a bad Eucharist."

I would have no objection to foregoing a sermon if it was a rare occurrence, was not merely an excuse for a pastor's unpreparedness, and was set aside for a special worship experience of a different type. Now in my 60's, I can count on one hand the number of things I remember out of all the sermons I have heard in my life.

 

[Paidiske]

I can think of perhaps one or two occasions when a sermon would have been an expected part of the service, but was foregone for some reason. Provided it's as rare as that - a couple of times in 20 or so years of church going - I don't feel the need to complain.

That said, not all church services have preaching as an integral part of them, and I'm okay with that too. Usually that type of service is not the main service for the week, but is a form of evening prayer or the like put on as something "extra" for people to go to. And I think it's not a bad thing that there are various forms of worship and not all of them are sermon-heavy.

 

[quidam65]

Have you ever been in a Church service where the pastor announced there would be no sermon due to special music, extended ministering to people at the front of the church (as evangelicals tend to do via "altar calls"), etc.?

No one can put the Omnipotent in a box, but I have witnessed several times where I didn't think a sermon/homily-less service was warranted.

Actually no I have never been to such a service, excepting those where it was a featured Easter or Christmas musical of sorts. Nothing like you've described. I have no problem with it on an occasion but I wouldn't make that the norm.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

Last month Our pastor was led to have people who
needed prayer for healing come up for prayer,There was so many who came
up My pastor actually didnt have time to do his sermon.It was a very different but touching service.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I've always had a sermon, but sometimes it's shortened due to other things. I don't mind at all - there are many ways to worship and sometimes a sermon can be my least favorite part of the service, even if it is beneficial.

 

[Gwen-is-new!]

Last month Our pastor was led to have people who
needed prayer for healing come up for prayer,There was so many who came
up My pastor actually didnt have time to do his sermon.It was a very different but touching service.

This is common in the Pentecostal churches. Never had a healing service in my baptist church.

 

[Gwen-is-new!]

Is the pastor supposed to be "making disciples" and if so doesn't that entail teaching/preaching a sermon? I prefer to let the service go outside the allotted the time if necessary to get the sermon in. I think that it's a big problem confining the service to a time. It's the Lord's day. If you have to leave, then quietly leave.

 

[Paidiske]

I suspect that preaching is one of the least effective strategies in "making disciples," actually. As it's usually done, it's a very passive experience for the congregation, rather than participatory; and disciple-making works best when it's about shared experience and learning together.

(Like the old adage, "Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, involve me and I will learn.")

I don't see the end of the sermon as we've known it any time soon, but as a pedagogical strategy, we actually could do much better.

 

[Radagast]

I suspect that preaching is one of the least effective strategies in "making disciples," actually.

That is a truly astonishing statement. I presume you've never heard a really good preacher (and, of course, most of the greatest preachers are dead).

But, of course, preaching is not the only strategy.

 

[Paidiske]

On the contrary; I have heard excellent preachers. I even have some evidence that on occasion I am an effective preacher.

But I explained my point; formative learning (disciple making) is best when it is about shared experience and life, about participation in what it is you want people to grow into. Rather than telling them about that and hoping that they can make the jump from being told to living it out.

 

[sunshineforJesus]

This is common in the Pentecostal churches. Never had a healing service in my baptist church.

I think we should have them more often,I couldn't believe how many needed a touch from God.
What I didn't like about that service was someone getting very loud in the spirit,screaming crying.
I was out the door very quickly when that happened.I dont know why but stuff like that makes me nervous.

 

[Dave-W]

Have you ever been in a Church service where the pastor announced there would be no sermon due to special music, extended ministering to people at the front of the church (as evangelicals tend to do via "altar calls"), etc.?

Sure. many times.

 

[Dave-W]

This is common in the Pentecostal churches. Never had a healing service in my baptist church.

LOL. Depends on the Baptist.

SBC pastor Charles Simpson had them on a regular basis.