I have a number of minister blogs that I read every week or two. Many of them are United Methodists, a few are not. They often make reference to the Lectionary and the sermon they are working on based on that week's lectionary text. Over the last month or so a number of them have been writing about the Lenten season and referring to their Lenten sermon series that they have been doing. For the first time in many of my pastoral years I'm not doing a Lenten sermon series. And only occasionally do base my sermons on the Lectionary.
First, let me address why I'm not doing a Lenten series, that is, a series of sermons based on what typically is viewed appropriate Lenten texts (often based on the Lectionary). Like I said in the previous paragraph, I have, in the past, done some sort of "Lenten" series that led up to Easter. But as I was entering into this new year and planning out my rough draft schedule of the "possible" sermons that I would do up to Summer, I felt very compelled to do a series on the Holy Spirit. There were things that I was sensing, in my reading, in the sermons that I would often listen to, in discussions with church members and fellow pastors, that kept leaving a strong impression that I should do this series. Also, I was curious about what type of sermons were being preached on the Holy Spirit - what depths were being explored in those messages or were they more superficial in their approach. What I was picking up was somewhat disturbing to me, that being, there seemed to be a lack of understanding on who is the Holy Spirit and what he does in the life of the Christian and the church.
Now, I don't have a clear answer about what other United Methodist pastors are preaching about the Holy Spirit but I have come to the belief that one reason so many churches are not having any impact in their community and in the lives of those around them and within the church is, first and foremost, because of a lack of understanding or a lack of control by the Holy Spirit.
Now, in the very beginning of this sermon planning I thought I would do the series leading up to Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit was given to those early Christians who had followed Christ and also to all those who would come after) but when you get the kind of impression that I was getting (or should I say Holy Spirit prompting?), you don't ignore it.
The response has been great and I have truly felt the Spirit in my preaching and moving in the minds and hearts of the people. I'm taking a break in the series for the next 3 weeks because of revival services (my Dad is coming to preach) and to focus on Holy Week (Palm Sunday - Easter). Then I'll start up again and focus some time on the fruit and gifts of the Spirit.
Now, concerning the Lectionary.
I remember when I was in a seminary class back in 1979. It was a class on the writings of Paul. One of the assignments was to write a dozen or so sermons on various passages in Romans and then do an order of service for each message. I got a B on the paper with the comment about my order of service and about "following the traditions of my church." I found that to be a baffling remark so a went and asked the professor about it. He basically said that every denomination has various traditions in which they base their worship on, their interpretations of Scripture, even in the way they approach evangelism, prayer, and so on. And that's why I got the B, because he felt I wasn't following the traditions of my church - every order of service was different, with chorus', hymns, skits, even "interpretive movement." I happened to be a Free Methodist pastor then (where I was ordained a Deacon and an Elder) and told him so, then added, "there is a reason why we called ourselves 'free'." I think I also said something about being relevant to a younger generation (I was way a head of my time, that was my problem) but I knew I had crossed a line.
His view about the Lectionary was similar and, I admit, it turned me off to it completely back then. Now, years having gone by, my feelings have changed and so have my views. I tend to use the Lectionary as a guide during those special seasons of the Church - Advent and Lent - and I certainly lift up those special days as well, like Pentecost, Epiphany, and so on. But my approach to preaching has developed into more of a series approach, whether it be by a specific book of the Bible or a topical series, like the one I'm doing now on the Holy Spirit or on prayer. It's what I feel most comfortable with - no, I should say that I feel more challenged and productive in my preaching with this approach. I have a greater sense of direction. Plus, I can't help wonder how the early church approached their preaching. I doubt it was preaching as much as it was teaching, from the Torah and from the letters that were being sent around.
I heard a professor say that preaching the Lectionary kept a pastor from picking and choosing their favorite passages or topics. And I know that I have to be careful not to do that when I am planning my sermons. But I also know that, even in the Lectionary, there is a choice to be had from three or four passages, and that even in it's three year cycle, there are a lot of passages that are covered.
Just my thoughts and opinions on the subject, not that you asked.
