I have discovered that the General Board of Discipleship produces sermon series packets for most of the Christian year. To be honest, I never really connected well with the ideas contained within them and I didn't feel that I could craft sermons that would relate to the themes of the series.
Well, for Lent, the theme was REHAB. The premise of the sermon series is that I could take the example of physical rehab, such as what I underwent following my accident 2 years ago, and relate it to some spiritual REHAB that we might need to undertake during Lent.
I liked the idea and as I looked at the accompanying orders of worship, I noted that they were based upon the order of worship as found in the Book of Worship that places the sermon towards the beginning of the service rather than toward the end of the service. Both I and the congregation were used to the sermon coming towards the end of the service. However, as I read through the order of worship, I noted that it would make much more sense for the sermon to come first. I could lay out the thematic elements that would then be repeated in the order of worship that followed.
So, without consulting anyone, I announced on the first Sunday of the series, that the sermon was getting moved to help better convey the theme of the service. There was no real backlash.
However, in the weeks that followed--I have not preached 3 sermons as of this writing, I began to get comments. The people seem to like the sermon earlier in the service. To be honest, so do I. Numerous reasons were given by several individuals. All seem to think it helps them better hear the message with it coming at the beginning.
So. Now I have a choice to make. Will I leave it there when Lent is over or will I revert back to the previous way. As of right now, I am leaning toward leaving it at the beginning of the service.
What are your thoughts? Leave it there or move it back?
Well, for Lent, the theme was REHAB. The premise of the sermon series is that I could take the example of physical rehab, such as what I underwent following my accident 2 years ago, and relate it to some spiritual REHAB that we might need to undertake during Lent.
I liked the idea and as I looked at the accompanying orders of worship, I noted that they were based upon the order of worship as found in the Book of Worship that places the sermon towards the beginning of the service rather than toward the end of the service. Both I and the congregation were used to the sermon coming towards the end of the service. However, as I read through the order of worship, I noted that it would make much more sense for the sermon to come first. I could lay out the thematic elements that would then be repeated in the order of worship that followed.
So, without consulting anyone, I announced on the first Sunday of the series, that the sermon was getting moved to help better convey the theme of the service. There was no real backlash.
However, in the weeks that followed--I have not preached 3 sermons as of this writing, I began to get comments. The people seem to like the sermon earlier in the service. To be honest, so do I. Numerous reasons were given by several individuals. All seem to think it helps them better hear the message with it coming at the beginning.
So. Now I have a choice to make. Will I leave it there when Lent is over or will I revert back to the previous way. As of right now, I am leaning toward leaving it at the beginning of the service.
What are your thoughts? Leave it there or move it back?
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