Live Blogging at Rob Bell's Preaching Conference 2

Rick,

In my comment #2 I should have phrased the response a bit differently. Why do I go to church? - many reasons, but the sermon isn't one of them for the reasons I gave in #4.

However, the preaching and teaching is often quite good for others and this may be an important part of the reason for many people to go to church.

Still, I would like to see a move away from sermon as performance. I would like to see a move to a more interactive form for most teaching.

Karl,

I think that you are right that a decent chunk is from past sermons, which is why I backtracked a bit in #9. It is also why I don't really fault the sermon itself - or the preacher.

I wonder if the "Sunday sermon" is becoming obsolete? With the emergence of high quality on-line preaching / teaching / theology discourse, of what value is physically proximate information transfer? I carry the world's finest sermons with me in my pocket while I workout at the gym or on my morning walk. Why would I spend my time sitting in an audience every Sunday to hear a comparatively mediocre religious talk? In the last few weeks, I have absorbed well over ten hours of great spiritual monologues and conversations with people like Tozer, Yancey, and Fr. Rohr.

This is an exciting time of transition for the church. Instead of "attending" stage-centric activities, we can use our gathering time to really be present with each other. Pastors can be released to really pastor. Gifted teachers (who may or may not have pastoral gifts) can teach in smaller groups where true interactivity can take place.

We all have something to contribute, together.