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I have been in the preaching ministry in the Christian church for more than 55 years. I felt and accepted a call to preach when I was 18 years old. I did not have any formal training at that time, nor did I know anyone who had.
The ministers around me at that time received most of their training through apprenticeship. Seminary was not available to most Black ministers and a few of them were starting to go to night Bible school. I learned to “get out a sermon.”
Different ministers use different methods in planning a sermon. Some start weeks in advance while others are getting it out while delivery is in process. Most are somewhere in between. Sermon content is important. There are classes/courses, books, videos as well as other methods on how to gather and organize the sermon.
Some ministers have a different thought and scripture each week. There are ministers that use the Lectionary (a group of organized scriptures put together that many ministers use weekly) to help with that while others have much of the same content week after week. Many ministers have a “burning” or passion that somehow enters each sermon. Some ministers even get greatly concerned about the actual delivery. Some cultures see delivery as much a part of the experience as the content of the sermon. That is why I think for many, a tall, handsome white man has historically made the best preacher. I could spend the rest of my time just talking about that one and the negative impact that has made on church and society. For most Christian worship, the sermon plays a central part of the worship experience.
While I have heard many good and a few great sermons, including ones from my pastor when I was growing up, I have to say that I do not remember many of them. While I consider myself a great preacher (and why wouldn’t I?) I dare say that most members of Union Chapel United Church of Christ where I have preached for the past 27 years will probably remember very few of those great sermons. What I think they will remember is how I have lived out those sermons. They will remember things like: Does he act like he is forgiven? Does he forgive others? Does he care about children, men, women, other races and cultures of people, LGBTQ people, justice and fairness for all, those who are single as well as those married, and the list goes on.
The Apostle Paul in II Corinthians 12:1-10 talks some about a dream or vision that he had. In verse 7, he talks about a thorn in his flesh to keep him from being “too elated” or to keep him humble. He asked God to remove it, but God did not. In verse 10, he goes on to say that in his weakness, he is made strong. That is the kind of sermon that I want to see in ministers and others.
Sermons are talk. Many people love to talk sermons. When people tell me that “they are not racist, sexist, homophobic …” I oftentimes feel that they are not being truthful with me or themselves. Just as in AA they teach that they are a recovering alcoholic, I feel that we should be teaching that we are recovering sinners. The hope is that we are trying to do and be better. That is living the sermon. Don’t tell me who you are, show me who you are.
I think my members and others will remember how I live out my sermons and how I have helped them to live out theirs. It is the grace that we have been offered and the grace that we offer others that can give us hope for ourselves and others in the world in which we live.
“And they will know that we are believers by our love.”
The Rev. Ervin E. Milton is pastor of Union Chapel United Church of Christ, Burlington. He can be contacted at eem5050@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on Times-News: The sermons we preach through our actions will make a lasting impact on others: Milton
