PREACHER TO PREACHER

From the Editors

The ordering of worship during the seasons of Advent and Christmas is one of the important pastoral tasks of the year. The formational implications of these seasons are significant because the lessons taught here are connected to a cycle that will be repeated annually during the life of the Christian. When children are led to experience the wonder of the Advent story through the careful worship of the church, it becomes a story they will connect to not only cognitively but also emotionally for the rest of their lives. Every time they hear a carol, read an Advent scripture, or see the colors and images of the season they will be taken back to the story in mind and heart.

Consequently, the ordering of Advent worship is something that deserves diligence. As we approach the season, everyone involved in planning and leading the worship of the church should be asking, “How will we help our people to hear the story afresh? At the end of this time, what do we want our people to know, feel, and do?” Advent provides a wonderful opportunity to engage the whole person in worship. We can say things, sing things, color things, smell things, make things, burn things, listen to things, see things, and perhaps even do “no-thing.” Some of this happens randomly, but it can also happen quite intentionally. There are many good resources available to help pastors order the worship of this season on purpose. At the end of this article are suggestions on some different ways to think about the Advent themes that may help bring creativity to your planning.

In this issue of Preacher’s Magazine the sermon material for Advent and Christmas is provided by Mike Jackson. His series of messages from Isaiah are rich with possibilities for meaningful and challenging preaching.

The balance of this issue is given to messages on Marriage and the Family. The approach to these sermons is different than has been typical of Preacher’s Magazine in the past couple of years. These sermons are topical, but they are also biblical. The move in this series is not so much from text to sermon but from “life need to Bible to sermon.” Preaching a topical message does not necessarily mean it is not biblical. One way to preach biblically is to take an assigned text and allow the text to do its work on the preacher and then on the congregation. Another way is to take a life need from the congregation to the Bible to discover what God says about it, then bring the answer to the congregation. Both approaches have value. In this series on family we are taking the latter approach. Therefore, the format is different here than the “need, answer, response” form we’ve been using previously. (Mike Jackson’s sermons, however, still follow this form). You will also find in this issue a listing of resources for preaching on marriage and family issues.

May God help you to preach with wisdom, clarity, and passion as you sound the biblical call for our familial relationships to be genuine reflections of the very kingdom of God.

Themes of the Advent Season

Week 1
Prophecy
Watch
Light
Expect

Week 2
Bethlehem/Holy Family
Prepare
Hope
Receive

Week 3
Shepherds
Rejoice
Joy
Worship

Week 4
Angels
Behold
Peace
Proclaim