Theology is for Proclamation

If I ever get around to writing a handbook on preaching, one of my primary road rules will be, "Read good theology, lots of it!" I quite often find it to be the case that when I try and read practical resources to prepare for preaching (commentaries on the biblical text from the lectionary, stuff off textweek, etc.), the pay off is slim. I don't mean to imply that these resources are somehow poorly written or un-interesting in their own right. Clearly, there's a direct application and connection- it just doesn't, at least in my method of sermon preparation, prepare in a fruitful way for the task of preaching.

On the other hand, when I stay engaged with solid theological resources, especially books that aren't obviously addressing a theme or text for the Sunday sermon, they do in fact in surprising ways prepare for preaching.

I consider this one of God's serendipitous benefactions. Read theology for its own sake, the joy of it, and the wonder, and it will prepare you to preach the Word of God come Sunday. Read widely, far away from anything that seems like a sermon handbook. Read difficult stuff. Explore the wonder of it. And you will be fed.

Two books I'm reading right now are stellar examples of this. James Alison's new collection of essays, Undergoing God: dispatches and scenes of a break-in, is a wonder. You can check out most of the essays at his web site, www.jamesalison.co.uk

The other book, also a collection of essays, is by the late and great Colin E. Gunton, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Toward a Fully Trinitarian Theology . For example, some aspect of the following will find its way into my Easter sermon: "In sum, the lesson we can learn is this: if you want to understand how God works in our world, then you must go through the route God himself has given us--the incarnation of the eternal Son and the life-giving action of the Spirit. Let me repeat: the Trinity is about life. Irenaus is the writer of that great sentence, often heard from him: the glory of God is a human being truly alive." (11)

It is periodically the case that resources on-line or in books of practical theology bear such proclamatory fruit, but each time I set aside time to read great theologians, I come away once again with a sense of the wonder that is this holy conversation, and the over-flowingness of such discourse for the life of faith and preaching.

Save Darfur

SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Organize your Community" that's worth checking out...

Concerned citizens across the country are coming together to help the people of Darfur.The coalition strives to empower activists with effective tools and relevant information. We also encourage activists to team up with others in their area and join our Communities United to Save Darfur network.…

Exemplary Youth Ministry

Most of the study documents are now out on Exemplary Youth Ministry. I find the whole study and results inspiring, and will spend some time reporting and writing on them these next few weeks.

Youth Ministry Best Practices

Five Themes of Faith Formation

1. Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit, through personal, trusted relationships, often in our own homes.

2. The church is a living partnership between the ministry of the congregation and the ministry of the home.

3. Where Christ is present in faith, home is church too!

4. Faith is caught, not taught.

5. If we want spiritual children and youth, we need spiritual adults/parents.

Four Keys

Parents can double the probability that their youth will build a life of faith in Christ by establishing a home where faith is freely shared and related to the everyday circumstances of family life through the practice of the 4 Keys:

1. Caring Conversations

2. Family Prayers and Devotions

3. Rituals and Traditions

4. Acts of Service (Based on Search Institute's "Effective Education Study", Family Strengths research at U. of NE and Dr. David Anderson's study of Luther and Lutheran practice.)

Triple A Road Servants

Triple A Road Servants are those people who seek to live the life of a disciple by being

Authentic, Available and Affirming with all people, especially youth.

Eight Faith Factors

Dr. Roland Martinson has identified eight key factors or "best practices" found in congregations where youth developed a deeply owned faith and remained involved in a faith community following high school graduation:

1. Faith deeply integrated into family identity and practice

2. Six to eight adult mentors of faith, in addition to parents (New numbers as of 8/04)

3. Apprenticed early into leadership in their church

4. Engaging, meaningful church experience in which youth are valued

5. Excellent senior high/young adult ministry

6. Encouraged by strong Christian friends – peer ministry

7. Support within an engaging Christian community during personal crisis

8. Three or more months of service in the name of Jesus Christ.