[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #540, Epiphany 4, Jan. 28, 2007

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Epiphany 4, January 28, 2007

Jeremiah 1:4-10
Psalm 71:1-6
I Corinthians 13:1-13
Luke 4:21-30

Inflammatory Preaching or Inspired Speech?

Jeremiah got thrown into a pit for his preaching, and Jesus nearly got 
thrown off the edge of a hill.  The worst that has ever happened to me 
after preaching is getting thrown into the line at a cafeteria or a 
covered dish dinner.  I suppose then that I cannot pray with the 
Psalmist and get the same sense of God's deliverance -- deliverance 
 from what?  Green beans?  Of course, I can hide behind Paul’s words and 
claim that it is my love for the people that keeps them feeding me 
lunch after church.  I am patient and kind.  I am not arrogant or rude, 
jealous or boastful.  I hope all things.  I believe all things.  I 
endure all things. Hmm. Believing all things is especially good for 
keeping a preacher out of the pit.  Enduring all things helps.  But, if 
I preach and come out with meatloaf while Jeremiah preaches and lands 
in the pit, does that mean that I love my congregation better than 
Jeremiah loved his.  Does it mean that I love my people more than Jesus 
loved his?!

This issue really divided the preachers in the 60's when I was breaking 
into the ministry.  Some preached peace and others preached war.  The 
ones that preached peace in Viet Nam got war at home.  The ones that 
preached war in Viet Nam got more peace at home, well meatloaf anyway.

The lure of meatloaf is stronger now since the church seems weaker. The 
last thing we need is a church-splitting issue. “Church Growth” is the 
watchword. Is there any inspired speech for our time? Is there a 
prophet? Is there a voice that can’t be categorized immediately as “The 
Religious Right” or “Liberal”? Is there a voice that embodies both love 
and judgment? That would be inspired speech. That quality is what 
separates the prophet from the loose canon. That voice can be yours and 
mine by God’s grace.


May these thoughts strengthen you.

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor
(an e-mail service)

[See Web Page address below for a Children’s Message coordinated with 
these lections.]

http://www.webspawner.com/users/ChildPage/

Multiple Sermon Starter Essays are available at
http://www.webspawner.com/users/McGregorPage/

The MCGREGORPAGE is available free to your email inbox
To subscribe, write the word SUBSCRIBE in the Subject line and send it 
to mcgregorpage-request at intenex.net.

To unsubscribe, write the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line and send 
it to mcgregorpage-request at intenex.net.

You may contact the author at RMcGregorAlbq at AOL.COM.

  --Copyright 2007, Roland McGregor, all rights reserved—
You have permission to share this material with any individual provided 
that you include the source with e-mail address.


________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL.  Most comprehensive set of free safety and 
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from 
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
=0