Sermons

So I'm slowly getting use to this sermon giving thing. Last Sunday (the 20th) I gave my 4th ever sermon (I don't count two of them though, so I feel this was only my 2nd) and I'm slowly getting better...however I am still trying to figure out my "thang" (if you will).

My first "sermon" was rough. I spoke about the Adulterous Woman (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%208:1-11&version=31) and how we are truly each person in this account (outside of Jesus). I had about 2+ months to prepare for it...and I think it was too much time, for I changed my path on it numerous times. Everyone said it was a great sermon, and that it was "authentic" and "informative"...but there is nothing like claiming adultery....not once, not even twice, but THREE times throughout the sermon! Thankfully this church is encouraging and forgiving....and they just laughed it off each time when I caught my blunder (at one point one of the congregation members raised his hand and shouted out that I could "crash" at his place on his couch if I needed to tonight). All in all it was a good time.

Sermon number 2 was done this past Sunday and I changed a couple of things from my previous one. This time I didn't "dress" up. I was REALLY uncomfortable the first time (dress shirt and slacks), so I just wore shorts and a t-shirt...and felt really good. I also added PowerPoint to this sermon and tried to make it more of "me" than the last one (also video taped it so that I could watch and learn). Again, I'm using this time to truly figure out my style of sermons. Thankfully I didn't claim to have committed adultery this time.

The topic of sermon 2? Well, since it was the start of passover week (the night before actually), we looked at why the Jews don't use leavening agents in their bread during this week....and what we could learn from it. That is, we need to remove OUR "leavening" agents in our lives (arrogance and pride). It was good...but reflecting back (and watching it), there was definitely some things I could have done differently. But that's what this is all about...right? Learning.