James’s Blog: Ironical Preaching.

I preached a sermon this week; the main thrust of which was the message that God does not demand perfection of us. Afterwards, I sat down, feeling flat and disappointed because I felt like the sermon hadn’t gone perfectly.

I must be growing, because it only took me a few moments to realise the irony of the situation.

Anyway, it made me think about other ironic post-sermon moments. Here’s a short list that I came up with. They are, of course, all fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental etc. etc. I deny everything.

Preaching a sermon on how we need to get our approval from God, and then hanging around at the back of the church looking pitiful so that someone will come up to you and tell you that your sermon was good.

Preaching a sermon about bearing patiently with one another, and then picturing what it would be like to slowly roast over an open fire the particular member of the congregation who has come up to you to pick holes in your talk.

Preaching a sermon on the centrality of worship, and then spending the closing songs thinking about how glad you are that the sermon is over, and wondering what you’re going to spend the afternoon doing.

Preaching a sermon on the need to have the courage of your convictions, and then sneaking out of church before anyone can ask you any difficult faith-related questions.

Preaching a sermon on humility, and then not listening to the closing prayer because you’re too busy reflecting on how well the sermon went and what an exceptionally brilliant preacher you’ve turned out to be.

Preaching a sermon on being honest with other people and God, and then telling anyone who asks that your week has been ‘fine’.

See, it’s easy. I bet you could come up with a few of your own. Feel free to post them in the comments if you do.