Church seasons are awesome because they make us stop and look at God’s world. We are coming up to the season of Lent. Lent is a time of repentance….a time of inner cleaning… a time of being forgiven. Traditionally the Presbyterian Church in Canada has not been a denomination that “gives something up for Lent”. In fact we usually do something more…. more time spent in meditative prayer, more time spent reading God’s Word, more time spent reflecting upon God’s Word. It used to be that Presbyterian Churches had special Lenten events…. the Pancake Suppers on Shrove Tuesday…. the Lenten Worships during the week…. the extra prayer meetings…. the Lenten Bible Studies. Over the years, these times have slipped away from our Church. And they should not. Worship is our joy and what could be better than eating together in community.
Why have we traditionally done something more for Lent instead of giving something up for Lent? The short answer is, it is easy to give up chocolate or Starbucks Coffee or Tim Horton’s Coffee or those awesome amazing cookies. Lent is not about doing something easy. Lent is all about repentence — not easy. Lent is all about forgiveness — not easy. It is not as easy to do something more. Yet, out of our love for God we gladly do something more. This Lent, instead of taking the easier route and giving something up for Lent — do something more!
Preaching. The Lectionary reading this Sunday is the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus is spending time in prayer. Prayer away from the crowds and the busyness of life. Jesus takes Peter and John and James with him. And then what happens? Each Sunday, those of us sitting in the pew wait for the Word of God to be preached. We hear the Scriptures being read and we get ready to hear the Word of God in the sermon. But each Sunday, more and more of us sitting in the pew are becoming discouraged. We are hearing sermons not based on any portion of the Scriptures. We are hearing sermons that do not illuminate the Scriptures. We are hearing sermons that have too many “I’s” in them and the minister forgetting to get out of the way and let Jesus in. We are hearing sermons that were written only the day before. Ministers — we know when you are fluffing and haven’t taken the time to reflect upon the scriptures, or prayers about the scriptures, or done research on the scriptures. This Lent — all ministers and lay preachers — please do something more!
So what makes a great Sermon? Back in the day, Sermons used to have three points. First point was a re-telling of the Scriptures. Giving us a point of reference…. what had just happened before this scripture. Or provide us with a short illustration that reflects upon the daily Scripture. Something that captures our imagination. Second point was illuminating the Scriptures. A portion of the Scriptures was focussed upon and explained. This second point should make us go “hummm!” followed closely by “wow”. This second point is also the time when the research and meditation by the Minister comes through the words that are preached. Third point was taking what had been heard and preached upon that day and then given to those of us in the pews with a “how can you take what you’ve just heard this day out into the community in which you live”. Something to take home and work upon. One ancient of days minister used to say at the end of each sermon “what one thing will you do this week that will illuminate this portion of scripture”. Sermons are not to just be the ten to twenty minutes preached on a Sunday during Worship. Sermons are to illumine the Word of God so that with renewed enthusiasm and imagination we can go out into our community sharing the love of God with those we meet each and every day.
So, during this time of Lent, what one thing will you do that will illuminate the Scriptures of Lent?
