Another lovely essay,rlp. Speaking for myself, and I'm probably not unique, I can still remember my previous pastor's sermons from years ago. Her love of God, Jesus and the Scripture sparked my own. I'm sure many in your congregation can say the same.

Brenda

What I found, especially in crisis times, was that I preached what I needed to hear. Apparently, by God's grace, I actually managed to find the Spirit's Word to all of us, as what I said seemed also to be what others needed to hear.

At the same time, I preached what I would need to hear in the future. I have found myself recalling sermons that I preached to my congregation years ago, knowing that those were words I needed in the present. I hope God also brings my words back to others' minds and hearts when those words can be helpful.

can you recall any particular sermons you have heard preached by other pastors that have meant a great deal to you?

I confess that I don't remember much content from sermons I've heard preached -- other than the stories. A wonderful story about a young semanarian losing her wallet in Washington DC and the one person who finally gave her money for the train was a homeless man. That one gave me chills. But mostly I remember how I felt during the event -I heard Fred Craddock preach once. I am a storyteller and so I am used to the rise and fall of the action in a story -I can only say that Craddock took us up the rise and instead of bringing it back down and tying it up in a bow; he left us up there gazing up at the cross. I've never experienced anything like that before or since. But I also remember more cerebral highs -- hearing Walter Brueggeman preach; the connections he made between "Old Testament" text and our lives were astounding. It changed the way I have looked at the Hebrew scriptures forever.

Anyway, I loved this essay. As a storyteller who also occasionally preaches, I often wonder about the value of what I do. Maybe I should have gone to medical school and become a doctor...discovered a cure for cancer. The best I can do somedays is to say, "At least when people are listening to my stories they aren't out hurting anyone or trashing the environment...for awhile" And then every so often someone will pull me aside and say, "You remember that story you told at...I've never forgotten it. It was just what I needed to hear." And then I know that this is a worthy vocation. Please God help me to keep listening to it's call and follow with integrity.

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it's funny your essay came across my computer monitor when it did. your sermon on sunday (genesis 1 pericope) was inspired and one i hope i remember (readers, i even walked up to gordon's music-stand podium and was about to swipe his sermon-note outline, like one would reach up from the mosh pit to take a band's playlist, before he willingly printed me a set off his laptop).

the sermons i've heard over the years don't just evaporate, rather they are absorbed like hand cream on dry, cracked skin. no external trace remains precisely because it's gone deep. y'know?

you took a difficult lectionary text and disarmingly illuminated it with levity and a holy r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

If it's any consolation (and I know it's not), if there was a preacher like you around here, where I live, I'd WALK to church on Sundays if I had to. No joke.

But there's not. So any sermon you might preach is probably better than the ones I don't hear.

The sermons I remember are the ones which enlightened me, taught me something I hadn't previously seen clearly.

This is gorgeous, Gordon.

Well, not a crisis. But I am a bit discouraged. I've been preaching since 1999, (as well as teaching sunday school, bible studies and various seasonal studies.) recently I've begun to wonder if preaching and teaching really does anything. I try to present content both theological and historical to bring the bible alive, but often I get blank stares and comments such 'didn't follow that pastor.' Occassionally I get positive responses, but most often I wonder if people really care about what the bible says. I'm in New England. I've tried night-time studies, weekends, hosting cookouts with a discussion, book studies, seasonal studies. Very little response. Most recently a beloved member has been attending the lay-lead bible study (from another church) with a more 'literal' approach to the Bible than I would present. I was very disappointed, and feel so more and more, that my education is devalued and perhaps I am just a bore. Anyway, I'm done whining. I just wanted to say thanks for the essay. I discovered it by accident and somehow it made me feel like trying again this sunday
thanks