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7.2 TD-A Biblical Approach to the Church Calendar
UNIT SEVEN INTRODUCTION
In this unit, we will give attention to how to properly approach the preaching of holidays, those both on the Church calendar, and on the national calendar. The people of God get their primary identity in just that – the fact that they belong to Him. Because of this, we celebrate those days marking our identity – Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, etc.
That said, we also have a lesser affiliation with our nationality, and the celebratory days it brings- Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, July 4, Labor Day, Memorial Day, etc.
The emerging preacher can ignore these days, or see them as interruptions in his/her preaching schedule. Either of these would be a mistake. Special days on the Church calendar are a time to remind the people of God what these days meant in Scripture, and so, what they mean to us in the Church today. Special days on the national calendar are a time for us to make the Church’s imprimatur on national culture as it is expressed in these special days.
UNIT SEVEN OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Illustrate the proper approach to preaching holidays
2. Examine a biblical approach to the Church calendar
3. Examine a biblical approach to the national calendar
4. Write a sermon focusing on either a Church or national holiday.
UNIT SEVEN RESOURCES
Textbook: The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching
Media Clip: John Piper’s Father’s Day message entitled “Dads and Daughters” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4aip8zkfhk
7.1a PowerPoint: An Approach to Holiday Preaching
Course Resources: How to Create a Vimeo Account
Course Resources: How to Create a YouTube Account
Course Resources: How to Upload a Video to Vimeo
Course Resources: How to Upload to YouTube
The Internet
Your Bible
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UNIT SEVEN ASSIGNMENTS
7.1 TEXT/MEDIA: TEXTBOOK; MEDIA CLIP; POWERPOINT
INTRODUCTION AND ALIGNMENT
This assignment will have us examine our course text for the thought of the author regarding how to approach special days in the Church and/or national calendars.
Upon completion of this assignment you should be able to:
Illustrate the proper approach to preaching holidays.
RESOURCES
Textbook: The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching.
Media Clip: John Piper’s Father’s Day message entitled “Dads and Daughters” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4aip8zkfhk
7.1a PowerPoint: An Approach to Holiday Preaching
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
While there is only one chapter specifically dedicated to holiday preaching, the chapter has some practical tools, and if used correctly, will help the emerging preacher grow into the expectations of holiday preaching. Beukema makes the following points: If we ignore a special day, we may suffer the consequences of disappointed people.
• People may focus on the holiday rather than God
• The celebration may push the sermon off to the side
• We must make sure to use scripture correctly in addressing the holiday
• We may be prompted by the Holy Spirit to go a different direction
• We dare not run out of fresh things to say
• We should plan and study ahead
• We should learn from other preachers
• Look for special day content year around
• Preach topics related to the special day
• Expand your style
• Use uncommon texts
• Speak for different viewpoints
• Clarify your objective
• Use the special day as a bridge
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read chapter 176 of the course textbook.
2. Read the PowerPoint regarding holiday preaching.
3. Watch the brief YouTube excerpt from John Piper’s Father’s Day message “Dads and Daughters.”
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7.2 THREADED DISCUSSION: A BIBLICAL APPROACH TO THE CHURCH CALENDAR
INTRODUCTION AND ALIGNMENT
This assignment is meant to foster discussion regarding a biblical approach to the church calendar. This aligns with the course in that it helps the student think about how to deal with the foci of the special days of the Church.
Upon completion of this assignment you should be able to:
Examine a biblical approach to the Church calendar.
RESOURCES
Textbook: Robinson, Haddon, and Craig Brian Larson. The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching
7.1a PowerPoint: An Approach to Holiday Preaching
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Once the emerging preacher becomes accustomed to the rigors of a regular preaching schedule, he or she may begin to plan the preaching several months out. About the time the preacher gets part way through a series, the calendar shows us that there is a church holiday (holy day?) approaching. What do we do? We can ignore it, but that is not being true to the Church calendar, which stresses yearly emphases for good reason. Consider the following:
1. The church calendar reminds us of important events of the past that must be remembered, and probably will be forgotten, if we do not remind our people of them on a regular/yearly basis.
2. The church calendar connects us to the church eternal, those of the Body of Christ who have gone before us, and are now with Him in Heaven. The Great Cloud of Witnesses have celebrated these days long before us here below.
3. The church calendar helps us continue to give biblical framework of holidays to a culture who is constantly trying to impose a secular redefinition on the church calendar.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Review chapter 176 in the textbook and the 7.1a PowerPoint.
2. For your initial post, please reflect and respond to the following questions:
a. Taking a look at the church calendar, choose any one of several holy days mentioned on the church calendar throughout the year.
b. What are its origins in Scripture? How do you know that?
c. What do the scholarly sources in your library have to say about this Church holiday?
d. How does this church holiday impact our secular world today? In other words, why does this holiday matter; why should we preach about it?