The art of listening to dull(ish) sermons
Iver Martin
The sermon is arguably the central feature of a worship service and the one component most likely to remain in our consciousness as we leave church. That is, if the sermon has done its work.
Having spent my whole life regularly going to church, I discovered a long time ago that there are preachers and preachers: some who are exceptionally gifted and others, well… not quite so – which actually accounts for most preachers.
Have we become too sloppy about Sundays?
Iver Martin
Growing up in a strict Scottish Presbyterian home meant that Sunday was a big deal. For some in my tradition, you weren’t even allowed to call it Sunday. It was properly called “the Sabbath” and it had to be kept meticulously: you didn’t watch TV, go out to play with friends, play sports or even read ordinary books.
After church and dinner, Sunday afternoon was spent reading “good” books or learning the catechism. When I was four years old I was so outraged at an ice cream van parked outside our house that I made my way to tell the unsuspecting vendor how wrong he was selling on the Sabbath. I still remember the bemused look on the poor Italian’s face!