What is the worst sermon you ever heard?
(Hopefully it wasn’t at College Hill Presbyterian Church!)
I have a long list of contenders for that particular distinction.
One of them–which is easily among the top 5–was an Easter sermon I heard in April of 1996. I was, admittedly, not in the most receptive frame of mind. It was my first year of college, and a friend from my dorm convinced me to break my mother’s heart by spending Easter with him, visiting his old church in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts.
Worst. Easter. Ever.
(Sorry, Mom).
We arrived at the home of a “friend” of my friend, a local who betrayed some irritation at our unshowered, unannounced presence. We were grudgingly offered accommodation on some lumpy couches in a living room that (I subsequently discovered) received a disturbing amount of early morning light.
There was no television and, as good Christian college boys, we did not drink.
I recall going to bed early.
On Easter Sunday morning, we attended the sunrise service at my friend’s former church. Of the music, the prayers, the flowers I remember very little. But I vividly recall the sermon. Mostly I remember not liking it, not even a little bit.
The sermon title was something like “7 Irrefutable Proofs that Jesus Christ Rose from the Dead.” The preacher’s tone could best be characterized as: “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury.” He argued ferociously, piled up evidence, battered the barely awake congregation with sweaty and enthusiastic arguments.
It left me cold. And somewhat annoyed. But it took me a long time to understand why.
Looking back, I think I see the problem now. That Easter preacher regarded the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a “historical fact,” something like The Battle of Gettysburg or the Beatles at Shea Stadium. And his job was to convince the congregation to “accept” this fact.
But Easter will not let us off so easily. Easter means much more than mere fact. In April, as we walk together through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we will not be arguing about facts. God has something else in mind.
The Risen One has an annoying habit of seeking out those that God loves most and posing “personal questions:”
Why do we look for the living among the dead?
Have you believed because you have seen me?
Do you love me?
Facts are easy. Whenever we deal with facts, we can debate, delineate and remain in control. Facts can be held at arm’s length.
But Easter is not (merely) about facts. The Risen Christ wants to ask us some pretty personal questions.
Join us, in April, as we try to answer together.
(Hopefully it wasn’t at College Hill Presbyterian Church!)
I have a long list of contenders for that particular distinction.
One of them–which is easily among the top 5–was an Easter sermon I heard in April of 1996. I was, admittedly, not in the most receptive frame of mind. It was my first year of college, and a friend from my dorm convinced me to break my mother’s heart by spending Easter with him, visiting his old church in the Berkshires region of western Massachusetts.
Worst. Easter. Ever.
(Sorry, Mom).
We arrived at the home of a “friend” of my friend, a local who betrayed some irritation at our unshowered, unannounced presence. We were grudgingly offered accommodation on some lumpy couches in a living room that (I subsequently discovered) received a disturbing amount of early morning light.
There was no television and, as good Christian college boys, we did not drink.
I recall going to bed early.
On Easter Sunday morning, we attended the sunrise service at my friend’s former church. Of the music, the prayers, the flowers I remember very little. But I vividly recall the sermon. Mostly I remember not liking it, not even a little bit.
The sermon title was something like “7 Irrefutable Proofs that Jesus Christ Rose from the Dead.” The preacher’s tone could best be characterized as: “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury.” He argued ferociously, piled up evidence, battered the barely awake congregation with sweaty and enthusiastic arguments.
It left me cold. And somewhat annoyed. But it took me a long time to understand why.
Looking back, I think I see the problem now. That Easter preacher regarded the resurrection of Jesus Christ as a “historical fact,” something like The Battle of Gettysburg or the Beatles at Shea Stadium. And his job was to convince the congregation to “accept” this fact.
But Easter will not let us off so easily. Easter means much more than mere fact. In April, as we walk together through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we will not be arguing about facts. God has something else in mind.
The Risen One has an annoying habit of seeking out those that God loves most and posing “personal questions:”
Why do we look for the living among the dead?
Have you believed because you have seen me?
Do you love me?
Facts are easy. Whenever we deal with facts, we can debate, delineate and remain in control. Facts can be held at arm’s length.
But Easter is not (merely) about facts. The Risen Christ wants to ask us some pretty personal questions.
Join us, in April, as we try to answer together.