This Side of the Pulpit » Theology » Cantate Should be Easier
Cantate Should be Easier
For some reason I think the upcoming Sunday in the One Year lectionary is one of the hardest Sundays for pastors. For the last three years that we have used the Historic Lectionary, I’ve run aground in this set of readings. Perhaps it is the post-Easter burnout. Maybe it’s spring fever (where is Spring anyway? It’s only 59 right now). Regardless, I’ve got nothing yet.
The readings are:
Isaiah 12:1-6
James 1:16-21
John 16:5-15
At first glance they may not seem too bad. But remember, pericopes do not fall out of the sky. For the past two or three Sundays we have been hearing some similar themese–at least it seems so to me.
But this is the life. Sometimes sermon ideas flow, other times they don’t. Sometimes the ideas are there but the execution is lacking–though this happens less and less with experience.
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Filed under: Theology · Tags: pastor's life, writing
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This stretch of the 1 year series, where we just plow through John 16, seems to me the most tedious part of the lectionary because it is the one part that does what I most dislike about the three – it just hangs out in the same chapter of the same Gospel for so, so long.
Here's how I've ended up approaching the Gospels.
Easter 4 – Joys of Christ will overcome the Sorrows of the World.
Easter 5 – the Spirit is tied to the Word, and uses the Word to convict (Law), bash human righteousness (Law) but point to Christ's Righteousness (Gospel), and to comfort us while oppressed in this world.
Easter 6 – We trust in the Father's continued care for us on account of Christ – for we are in the Name of Christ.
Easter 7 – … more John 16? …. Really? … I know, I can't get an evening Ascension service going, let's transfer and preach on Ascension!
I'm glad I'm not the only one. And I may transfer Ascension this year, though I've never done it before.