Lectionary vs. Topic Based Preaching

Over the last year, I've been thinking about benefits of lectionary and "topic" based preaching.  I've reduced the number of readings from three to either the Hebrew Bible or the Letters, the psalm and the Gospel.  The reason I've done this is because I, myself, find it difficult to treat three readings fairly in the sermon, unless I try to force the readings.   And most pastors I know who preach well, choose a reading - or even a verse - to discuss and explore.   Usually the readings are thick enough to fit appropriate topics in. 

Some pastors don't preach from the lectionary.  Instead, the preacher goes a topic that moves him.  He is instinctively freer to use the entire corpus of scripture and tradition.   I've found that my strongest sermons more often are about topics I'm passionate about first - not first about the lectionary.    Granted, this gives some pastors an opportunity to talk about homosexuality every freaking week, but in principle, being topic focused allows for a deeper consideration of contemporary cultural issues.

I wonder if the difference between lectionary vs. non-lectionary based preaching is that lectionary based is like trying to write a villanelle -  you've got to spend some time working an idea with the words and form given you.  You have to spend some effort tying in the real world with the lessons that week.  The other is like going to a poetry slam, a stand-up act ["Cake or Death!"] or a one-act monologue.   You're preaching fully with the parishioners in mind.

Although preaching is, generally, a one act monologue.

I suspect that the answer has more to do with how we use the lectionary.  Topics might not come easily in a particular week - the lectionary becomes the source of inspiration.  Another week, the lectionary might be placed aside for a subject that the entire community is thinking about [I might, for instance, change tomorrow's sermon to talk about a Christian understanding of pluralism] and is placing some sort of spiritual demand on us.   

But there are even good reasons NOT to preach about issues immediately - we're often talking out of our ass if we're not really reflecting about a topic.   We simply diminish our credibility if we don't, at least, spend some time getting the story right. 

The question arises from the connection that many young growing churches have been jettisoning the lectionary in favor of topic based sermons - "useful" sermons usually about changing one's life in clearly written ways.  Usually there is some storytelling, a couple verses from scripture, and then sharing by the pastor of his own struggles and redemptions.  The examples are from Seventh Heaven rather than the Book of Daniel. 

And yes, I like Seventh Heaven.  I'm simply not its core audience, since I prefer amusement from television [and it's the best if it's dark, ironic or five hundred years in the future].

One issue with these sorts of sermons is that I always notice that there is a happy ending.  its important to always be successful - thus, the problem with the Book of Daniel, which ran counter to the natural optimism we expect from Christians.  With apologies to Colbert ["truthiness"] I call this "Christianiness." 

"Christianiness" is when Christians say one thing, and do another, or in this case, insist on stories that are delusional at the expense of those that are, say, accurate.   

I digress.

But I think tomorrow's sermon will be topical.  I have a lot to say about the Danes and Islam.  I will use, for the first time ever, the word "nomocracy."

Comments

[Jay]

"Christianiness"

You remind me of the Anne Lamott phrase "Jesusy bon vivant". "[T]hey think of me more along the lines of that old Jonathan Miller routine where he says, ‘I’m not really a Jew; I’m Jewish.’ They think I’m Christianish but I’m not, I’m just a bad Christian maybe."

Ergo, Christianiness describes the behavior of Christianish nationalists?

[Jared Cramer]

IMHO: I usually tend towards lectionary preaching. My own soapbox (which is what topical preaching usually has been for me) is a shaky pulpit. I find that when I choose one text of the lectionary for that day and stay with that one text, the message that results is powerful.