Spirituality

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A Surprising Lesson from Nadia Bolz-Weber about Vulnerability in the Pulpit

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A Surprising Lesson from Nadia Bolz-Weber about Vulnerability in the Pulpit

"Preaching to preachers has to be about the most delicious thing I can think of."

That's roughly how Nadia began her sermon to 1700 preachers, some of whom are the brightest luminaries of our vocation.

That one word stopped me short: "Delicious?!"

If you or I were preaching to 1700 preachers, would we use the same adjective, "delicious"? A word that connotes a feast, an indulgent treat, a delightful experience to be savored?

Or would we be more likely to choose an adjective somewhere between nerve-wracking and paralyzing?

Or is that just me?

Imagine, though.

What would make preaching to so many colleagues "delicious"?

Be Fed That You May Feed

Be Fed That You May Feed

Consider how we feed people with the Word week in and week out:

  • Sermons
  • Bible studies
  • Prayers

When we're only using the Word as a necessary tool for ministry, yes, we get fed on the side. But we don't eat the main course. When we don't sit at the banquet table and feast daily ourselves, we slowly starve ourselves. 

We know we're starving when:

  • Preaching becomes a test of strength, willpower, and adrenaline.
  • Preaching doesn't give us life, it drains it. 
  • Preaching hangs over our heads all week.

I'm Not the Right Preacher for this Job

I'm Not the Right Preacher for this Job

This is not where I expected to meet you. 

I never set out to run an online preaching formation center for Mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic clergy.

I was given this nice little idea to help a few preachers at a time. Work with them one-to-one for a year. Help them get better at preaching but tuck it into a process more like spiritual direction. 

But now, here I am. A tucked-away-in-a-corner preacher no one knows is now sending you emails, blogging, getting on Facebook, publishing a book, and inviting you to be part of a preaching approach that's way bigger than you or me.

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