Allen Kleine Deters

I have found that sermon-based small groups are a great way to start new groups. We have been using sermon-based groups for almost a year now and people really appreciate them.

One thing I have discovered is that people find the application part of the discussion to be difficult. Basically the application part of the discussion takes the message of the sermon based on scripture and asks, "so how's that going for you?" It requires a level of commitment to be held accountable and vulnerable. Good leaders can model that and encourage it.

Thank you for this solid article. For me this is where the rubber meets the road as a church within it's community. It doesn't matter whether you are a large or small church, with this focus churches can be strong and vital participants in God's work where they are placed.

John,

I'm not sure I fully buy into the 10 or 15 minutes of youth attentiveness. Perhaps it happens sometimes.  But I think your points raise another concern that I have and find myself trying to work with.  That is perhaps we have created and enabled an environment where people can turn-off during the sermon.  It's sad to me when people think a service is supposed to last no more than an hour.  In some ways our tight system has enabled people and perhaps subtlely so to tune out and not fully engage.

Recently when I was at the Right Now Conference in Dallas I rubbed shoulders with many wonderful evangelical brothers and sisters who often spoke of a 45 minute sermon and people responded to the message.  These are very fast growing churches too.  And listening to some of the speakers I could tell why.  Their style of preaching and teaching was very encapsulating and engrossing -- it was a very down-to-earth style that touched a lot of contextual nerves throughout reconnecting the listener in different ways.  It was exegetically sound and very honest and enlightening.  But I think that many of these growing churches have the DNA of "We are here to encounter the living Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit and we don't care how long it takes."  I experienced this myself in my own church journey as a young adult.  Expectancy and a "realness" in worship keeps attention -- generally speaking -- there are always some who will disengage no matter what.

James,

Sounds kind of refreshing.

I agree with you that sermonizing has very much become an academic exercise even though it is changing.  All I can say is that I have been wrestling with, "what is good preaching?" since I left seminary just over a year ago.  While nice academic, polished sermons may cut it in GR and in the trenches of deep rooted established traditional churches, I have not found that style to be valuable out "in the real world."  Trying to reach simple folk and unchurched here in the West requires a much more passionate conversational style.  While I appreciate the 4 page method we learn in the seminary, I use it mainly to make sure my bases are covered with trouble and grace, the rest is dictated by how I believe the text needs to be preached in my context.  I think my sem profs would shudder sometimes.  But, hey, the Word of God is being preached and I see lives changed.  And to be honest, I think GR and entrenched established churches need less polish and a little more spit... and vinegar sometimes.  To me, Jesus sometimes just laid it out there as if to say, "okay now what are you going to do with that?  How will you respond?"  It wasn't all polished and caudeling, if you know what I mean?  If we're preaching to the saints and seekers, lost and hopeful, then there are times when the challenge needs to be laid on the table for the saints and a challenge for the seekers as well as hope for those needing it.  Grace in the world could also include a quote from Alan Danielson, "What if.... we got off the couch?  Why are you wanting to stay on the couch in the first place?"  Let people walk out with that on their mind.

One of the first things I talked about with my elders when I got here was the need for evaluation of everyone; SS teachers, youth leaders, Life Group leaders.... and yes me and the council.

I think with the right tools this process isn't so difficult and it keeps us focused on our mission.

I want to know that my sermons are touching base and that people genuinely know that their pastor loves them and has God's mission and their best interest in mind.

I think that we've tried to build an ongoing openness in our relationship as pastor and council. It's built an atmosphere where we can be very honest with each other around the table during meetings or across the table over coffee. Often these conversations tend to be about the business of the mission of God rather than the person unless there are stark issues.

And now there is an atmosphere during our elders meetings where they hold each other more accountable for their responsibilities and calling.

Fantastic!!!! Well said.

I couldn't have read this at a better time. Our elders are heading into a series of discussions on "the Charge to elders". It is soooo easy for the elders to do business and administrative stuff, but our church has suffered for years with untrained elders who no longer understand their role. It has been evident since coming here and a discussion I recently had with our chair of council enlightened me to this even more.

This article is precisely what we need, a catalyst for healthy discussion which will lead to much necessary training.

Thanks again.

Here in the US, the IRS allows all meals related to pastoral ministry an expense.  We can also claim any time we have people over for refreshments or a meal, parishioners or otherwise, as a ministry expense.  We just have to keep a calendar record of who and why.  Having a couple of beers and nachos while leading Theology Pub at the local brewery is deemed a pastoral ministry expense.