Preached like #Yoda have you?

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Not hopefully 

Last week I preached what I would regard as a fairly disastrous sermon on ‘domestic life’ from Proverbs 17 v.1 and 25 v.24.  The teaching was sound, in so far as it went.  The points it made were scripturally justifiable, and presented with the help of pictures and words on Powerpoint. We even ended with two stories for those who love such things. One story was about a picture-perfect home which lacked the qualities God looks for behind the front door.  The other described a tiny hovel where real poverty was outshone by the virtues of a Godly domestic life. So far, so predictable.

The real problem was that the stories were in the wrong place. I have written numerous times on this blog and elsewhere about the power of narrative to carry truth. It can be the preacher’s stealth weapon to carry God’s word past the listener’s defences before unleashing its potential. All of this means that the stories should have been preached up front. They should have been used to whet the appetite and pave the way for the teaching which was to follow.

I wonder how often our sermons are full of the right things in the wrong order?  Many will know the character Yoda from the Star Wars films. He is hugely wise and exudes an other-worldly wisdom which resounds throughout the films. The only trouble is, he says it all in such a back to front way that wisdom ends up sounding like folly.  In order to see what I mean – try clicking here on the “Yoda Text Generator”. If you are brave enough – you could even try feeding in your sermon!

Of course how much sense it then will make could not I say!

 

Image:inflexwetrust.com

2 thoughts on “Preached like #Yoda have you?”

  1. Here’s this post, as translated into “Yodish”

    Last week I preached what, regard as a fairly disastrous sermon on ‘domestic life’ from proverbs 17 v.1 and 25 v.24, would I. Sound, the teaching was, as it went in so far. Scripturally justifiable, the points it made were, and with the help of pictures and words on powerpoint presented. For those who love such things we even ended with two stories. About a picture-perfect home, one story was which lacked the qualities god looks for behind the front door. Outshone by the virtues of a godly domestic life, the other described a tiny hovel where real poverty was. So far, so predictable.

    In the wrong place, the real problem was that the stories were. Written numerous times on this blog and elsewhere about the power of narrative to carry truth, I have. The preacher’s stealth weapon to carry god’s word past the listener’s defences before unleashing its potential, it can be. Been preached up front, all of this means that the stories should have. Been used to whet the appetite and pave the way for the teaching, they should have which was to follow.

    Full of the right things in the wrong order, I wonder how often our sermons are, hmm? Know the character yoda from the star wars films, many will. Hugely wise and exudes an other-worldly wisdom, he is which resounds throughout the films. The only trouble is, to front way that wisdom ends up sounding like folly he says it all in such a back. To see what I mean – try clicking here on the “yoda text generator” in order. If brave enough – you could even try feeding in your sermon, you are!

    Of course how much sense it then will make could I say not! Hmmmmmm.

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