Dear Church family,

            Going through some old files I came upon an article widely publicized around the time of my ordination more than 50 years ago.
The topic was “Is Preaching Outmoded?”  It is a question nearly  every minister I know and many church members have asked.  In this day of videos and TV streaming and youtube and podcasts and social media, can preaching still make  an impact? Preaching requires attentive listening in a world that cherishes entertainment.  Is this a form that can effectively carry God’s message?

It is a question you may be better prepared to answer than I am. At times I wonder what is being heard. And yet I confess surprise when someone will mention a story or point made in a sermon I have long forgotten.  I remain confident that God uses this very traditional manner of communicating to speak his truth.

I am well aware that some sermons speak better than others.  But I am helped by the perspective of the father of a friend of mine.  A Christian Reformed pastor, he commented “some of my sermons are steak, and some only baloney,  but I can take comfort in knowing they all provided some nourishment.”

I pray that my preaching provides spiritual  nourishment, and hope that by God’s grace, more offer steak than baloney!

The sermon this week focuses on anxiety and fear and is titled “ Can you by worrying?”  The  texts are Isaiah 41:1-10 and Luke 12:22-31

See you in church.
Rich