
Preachers are often
discouraged by the low-levels of faith literacy among their congregants. Preachers
(especially ordained ones) sometime complain about the lack of attendance at
educational offerings and special services. We complain because we care. We
wonder if our work is contributing to the growth of Christian disciples or
whether we’re perpetuating an institutional form of Christianity that is doomed
to fade away in the foggy future of post-Christendom and post-modernism. Advent
is an opportunity for each of us as preachers to trust that despite the fog,
hope is coming.
What better way to
proclaim this hope then to challenge our people to observe Advent at home. If
we could restore observance of the liturgical year to the home, we would see
faith-literacy increasing organically in our congregations. If we could restore
observance of the liturgical year to the home, we might find there is greater
interest in educational offerings and special services. If we could restore
observance of the liturgical year to the home, our preaching would be heard in
the context of Christian life and practice instead of being heard as a strange
blip on the ordinary radar of popular culture.
How do we do this? I’d suggest three starting points:
How do we do this? I’d suggest three starting points:
1.
Preach about it
in general
Preach boldly and
repeatedly on the key themes of Advent. Scripture is rich in resources here (including
the Lectionary readings for those who use them). Make sure to explicitly link
the themes of Advent (judgment, repentance, restoration) with the season of
Advent.
2.
Provide resources
People’s lives are so
rushed that they don’t always have time to research ideas on their own. Provide
your people with web links, ideas, and other practical resources to observe
Advent at home. Sunday school, adult forums, committee meetings and any other
gathering could be used for this purpose.
3.
Preach about it
in particular
Be specific in your application.
Don’t only tell your people that need to repent or have hope, but how they are
to embody repentance or hope in their lives.
Advent is near.
How will
you encourage your people to weave the observance of this season into their
ordinary lives?
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