I saw this painting recently in London. It purports to be St Monica being handed her newly born son who was to become Augustine of Hippo.
It seems to me that this painting explains much.
3 responses to “Six Points for Preachers”
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I think I would add: if it does not matter to you, yourself, then don’t imagine it is likely to matter to anybody else. Find, if you can, the point where your concerns and the concerns of the text cross. Better to say a very little that matters, than a lot which really does not.
Also: read (to yourself, before you start) the whole passage you are going to speak on and read what comes before and after. You do not have to agree with it. You do have to enter into dialogue with it. Supine agreement of Scripture is not (in my opinion) required. Taking it seriously, is.
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[…] Dent-de-Lion by admin Posted on November 2, 2012 Six Points for Preachers […]
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I’ve noticed how uncomfortable preachers are with the word ‘love’. Discounting the times in is used in a pre-set theological phrase like ‘love of Christ’ as sort of a plug in, I rarely hear it in sermons.
Its a reason to be Episcopalian – if the preacher avoids love, you can always hear it – or see it- or taste it – in the Eucharist.
Previous Posts
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Ascension tomorrow
Tomorrow is a glorious feast – it is Ascension Day. It is one of my favourites and celebrates one of those stories from the Bible (like the talking snake with legs in Genesis) that you instinctively know is true. Services at 11 am, 1.05 pm (in Glasgow University Chapel) and 7.30 pm. The evening one…
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LGBT Booklist
I recently hosted an LGBT Group meeting at church on what books I might recommend to people looking for something to read about the church and the various sexuality issues that are around at the moment. I think that there was some surprise amongst those present as to how many books there were to talk…
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Christos Anesti! Alleluia!
Christ is risen for our orthodox friends. The silliness of the churches having two different Easter days bothers me more as the years go by. We waste our time on other silly controversies when the date of Easter remains unresolved. There was a plan some years ago to unite the churches by those who currently…
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Preaching tomorrow evening in Ayr
Just to note that I’m preaching tomorrow evening in Ayr at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. They are celebrating 100 years since the church was consecrated. Kick off is at 6.30 pm. All welcome.
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