IN THEORY,submitted to La Canada Valley Sun, August 26, 2010
Topic:
A recent op-ed piece published in The New York Times states that American clergy are burning out as they try to meet their congregation’s demands for more light-hearted messages. Is it possible for the clergy to tailor their sermons to a congregations hungry for a comforting, entertaining message or is there no room to do so without sacrificing the tenets of their faith? Do you find such challenges as you preach to your flock every Sunday?
Link to story: Click here.
Our response:
Last month I completed my term as first reader for my church. That position entails conducting the church services, so it seems fitting here to describe the unique sermon that is a feature of the Church of Christ, Scientist. It consists typically of six sections of selections from the Bible with supporting, explanatory passages from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy.
Mrs. Eddy regarded the Bible together with Science and Health as the “dual impersonal pastor” of the church she founded. She wrote in her Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896 that “it is God that feedeth the hungry heart, that giveth grace for grace, that healeth the sick and cleanseth the sinner.”
This sermon format, known as the Bible Lesson, takes about 30 minutes to read, and is the largest component of our Sunday service. The Bible Lessons are compiled by a committee appointed by the church headquarters in Boston, with 26 weekly subjects that rotate twice yearly, and are read each Sunday at branch churches around the world.
This week’s subject, “Christ Jesus,” highlights Jesus’ ministry as a teacher, bringing out how he used parables to teach listeners in ways they could understand. He regarded those who followed his teachings as like the man whose house withstood a flood because it’s foundation was built on a rock (Luke 6:47).
The Bible Lessons are published ahead of time in the Christian Science Quarterly, including citations-only and full-text editions. A young persons’ edition has background Biblical and general information, often in a light-hearted manner, — it’s my favorite. Most adherents of Christian Science subscribe to the Quarterly, study the Bible Lesson during the week, and find additional inspiration in hearing it read during the Sunday service. They genuinely look forward to discovering helpful gems in the Lesson and applying them daily, even if unable to attend the Sunday service.
This approach to the sermon does not cater to congregational entertainment, of course, but it provides proven scope for addressing current issues of interest and importance, and forms a sound basis for individual spiritual growth.
