tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020471.post2523868204746956215..comments2023-06-10T11:47:43.132-04:00Comments on Reverend Ref +: Sermon surprisesReverend Ref +http://www.blogger.com/profile/12608521436386973234noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020471.post-47940491261467073392008-07-11T12:28:00.000-04:002008-07-11T12:28:00.000-04:00Yea, I get it. That makes sense. I especially like...Yea, I get it. That makes sense. I especially like the emphasis on affecting what we can affect - is our church good soil or not? Great question to ask.....<BR/>I just don't want to be in charge of deciding which soil is good soil. However, I do want to make sure that my church is focused on being (becoming) that kind of soilDavidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530837886690240096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020471.post-88443431565045810992008-07-11T11:14:00.000-04:002008-07-11T11:14:00.000-04:00Johnny Apple Preacher ... heh ... that's funny.Dav...Johnny Apple Preacher ... heh ... that's funny.<BR/><BR/>David: To address your concern about what is "good soil," it seems to me that good soil is that which nourishes the "seeds" and allows them to grow. If church is as barren as the path where people don't understand what is going on, or if it's only a place where we go to feel good about ourselves, or to be assured that the size of our house is in direct proportion to God's blessing -- that is not good soil. But if we make church a place where we nourish people, care for them, teach them, then that is good soil which produces growth.<BR/><BR/>I have no intention of "letting them off the hook." I have told them since Day One that this is really their parish, I'm just passing through. They bear the brunt of evangelism. And in this case, that means helping to ensure that the church is good soil which can help with growth.<BR/><BR/>The analogy of me as the sower means that I have to be intentional about the direction I am sowing. In other words, this isn't a high school "shotgun" essay in which you just throw everything out there and hope some of it sticks. I need to be focused about what I'm doing.<BR/><BR/>Heh ... maybe I'll just send the parishioners to this blog Sunday instead of actually preaching.<BR/><BR/>Or not.Reverend Ref +https://www.blogger.com/profile/12608521436386973234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020471.post-43425059617161440522008-07-11T09:17:00.000-04:002008-07-11T09:17:00.000-04:00Hey ToddCan't wait to read the whole thing. I am s...Hey Todd<BR/>Can't wait to read the whole thing. I am sitting here struggling with a new approach to this text myself.<BR/>My concern with the little tidbit you gave us is leaving the determination of what is "good soil" to you, as the sower. I am not sure that's up to us, as preachers and priests, to figure out.<BR/>Also, I worry about putting the sowing function in the hands of the clergy, when statistics show new people come to church when invited by the lay folks by a HUGE margin over those who come when invited by clergy. I know you are not talking specifically about inviting to church, but I would be concerned about the folks in the pew thinking you just let them off the hook.<BR/>I do really like the thinking about the "church" making sure it is good soil, by the work of the people, by welcoming, etc. That may be a way I go with this.<BR/>Good thoughts...Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530837886690240096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6020471.post-3597438063358391232008-07-11T00:27:00.000-04:002008-07-11T00:27:00.000-04:00We will just have to call you Johnny Apple Preache...We will just have to call you Johnny Apple Preacher from here on out... but honestly... I like it. In something I just read from The Pastoral Rule from Gregory the Great, "... every preacher should be 'heard' more by his deeds than by his words." Given that we are all called to witness, the laity too can be a witness to God's call.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09694268333842505461noreply@blogger.com