I preach. It’s what I do. I’m “gifted” at it, I believe.
It’s one of those jobs, however, where most people think they can do it a lot better than the person getting paid for it.
I’m doing a good job whenever I say something that people would agree with. But if not, katy bar the door. I imagine it is a lot like coaching in that regard.
There has been a lot of talk recently about the purpose behind going to church. What does it exist for? Part of this is the realization that Hebrews 10:25 has been woefully proof-texted through the years to mean something that it doesn’t say and that Acts 20:7 cannot be a normative example coming from a group of believers who met together daily.
The discussion is a good one. Many of the reasons for assembling together can be done in other settings.
But what really interests me is the slagging on preachers. I went to a renewal this past week with a number of other ministers–7 couples in all. It was a great time of actually being with people who “get me.”
But two important things I learned:
–Preachers should not be the ones to make the first contact with a visitor, sorry “guest.” In fact, if the preacher makes the first contact then the likelihood that they will return to a second worship service drops by more than half than if a lay member made the first contact.
–Preachers make crummy small group leaders as a rule. Of course there are exceptions but it is generally better that someone else facilitates the discussion.
Combine these thoughts with the discussion that seeks to move corporate worship assemblies, sorry “gatherings,” from pyramid shaped, top-down affairs to a more concentric egalitarian format and I’m beginning to feel fairly anachronistic.
Now, I don’t believe the need for and position of the preacher is any danger of going away any time soon. There will always be a need for proclamation.
But the devaluation is a healthy thing. To move away from the pyramidal concept of church participation is one that each of us need to consider and discuss. I have things to share and impart to a church because I spend all of my work week studying. But it cannot continue to be done at the expense of the corporate body being able to express themselves.
What is the purpose of assembling together? Where do you see our corporate worship service, sorry “gatherings” heading in the future?