PaulCLawton
Puritan Board Freshman
Hello all, looking for any
- Resources
- Advice
- Tips
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Thank you Rev. Bredenhof. Do you (or any others) have any suggestions or tips for the elder leading the service? One thing I am concerned about is reading the sermon with enough expression to be followed easily and yet I am concerned about being too...theatrical for lack of a better word. Any tips would be appreciated.
I think I have been misunderstood. I am referring to the practice of an elder leading worship and reading a sermon prepared by an ordained minister when (for example) the minister is away or the church is vacant and appropriate pulpit supply cannot be arranged.
Thank you Rev. Bredenhof. Do you (or any others) have any suggestions or tips for the elder leading the service? One thing I am concerned about is reading the sermon with enough expression to be followed easily and yet I am concerned about being too...theatrical for lack of a better word. Any tips would be appreciated.
When I have seen this done, the man reads the same way he reads a serious book to his family. It is definitely not monotonous in tone, but has a serious gravity to it. However, in reference to Ruben's post, their church meeting place is extremely small, so that may be why it works. He does indeed get stirred while reading from time to time too. Also in reference to Ruben's post, so far as pacing one's voice goes, you can try reading and recording your voice to see whether you are speaking too quickly or have dropped to too soft a tone.Thank you Rev. Bredenhof. Do you (or any others) have any suggestions or tips for the elder leading the service? One thing I am concerned about is reading the sermon with enough expression to be followed easily and yet I am concerned about being too...theatrical for lack of a better word. Any tips would be appreciated.
Paul,
No, I'm sorry, I don't have a lot of advice to offer other than to suggest practicing at least once or twice until you're comfortable with it. Oh, and try to read at your own natural speaking pace.
Paul,
I think this is the best resource available for Reformed reading sermons: TheSeed.info
You'll find over 1400 sermons there, including a fair number from URC pastors.
P.S. I think what Dr. McMahon was trying to express to you was that, as an elder, you should be trained in how to prepare and deliver a sermon, so that it will not be a case of simply "reading" someone else's sermon. The resources that Dr. McMahon linked would be extremely beneficial in helping you to get to that point.
4-5. Churches without teaching elders ought not to forsake theassembling of themselves together, but should be convened by the Session on the Lord's Day, and at other suitable times, for prayer, praise, the presenting and
expounding of the Holy Scriptures, and exhortation, or the reading of a sermon of some approved minister. In like manner, Christians whose lot is cast in destitute regions ought to meet regularly for the worship of God.
In some traditions, a Ruling Elder should not prepare a sermon, but may read a sermon prepared by a teaching elder if there is no teaching elder available or provide an 'exhortation'.
The PCA (although you might not guess it from some of the practices) provides in its Book of Church Order:
Do those who hold such a view believe that ruling elders are exempt from the biblical requirement of being able to teach?
Or is preaching considered to be separate from teaching?