Description
Why do this?
The idea for this blog came from friends. After a career in teaching and service to the nonprofit community, I pursued seminary training to become a lay pastor. I started helping my local Presbytery with pulpit fill when a chronic pain condition put an end to these plans. But the urge to be of service to God stayed with me. Encouraged by friends to move forward, this blog is an expression of that service.
Sermons, commentaries, and tales I’ve heard over the years were instrumental in my becoming a Christian and growing in faith. It is my hope that perhaps the words the Spirit gives me will play a similar role for another. Even more, I hope the discussion that may break out about the posts will cause author and readers to grow in faith and feel part of a community.
Who is this for?
Followers of Christ.
Assumptions about the Bible
The sermons take the perspective that the Bible is the word of God. I believe the Bible is the source of truth for guiding our lives and all posts will reflect this theological perspective. Although the sermons may address places where the Bible seems difficult to understand in today’s context, I will never assume the word is false and needs to be updated. Although commentaries and stories are more freewheeling, the assumptions about the Bible are the same.
No time/space limits
Have you ever heard a sermon in church and left with some questions the pastor did not address? Likely the reason is because the preacher didn’t have enough time to go further during a church service. In this blog, there is no time limit. Thus, the name Take Your Time Sermons. I or any other authors who may join me down the road will try to present an interpretation of God’s word until it seems complete. This might be a 10, 20, or 40 minute read. What’s important is that content, not time, is the limiting factor.
No time limits, but there are time estimates
No time limits may seem like a refreshing notion in our very busy and “soundbite” rich world. While I am retired and have a lot of time, hopefully folks will read this who are busy. To help with that, each sermon/commentary will have a time to read estimate on each piece. Each sermon/commentary comes with major and minor headings to help orient folks should they have to leave and return.
Responses
Hopefully, a rich discussion will emerge around the posts. While I am a Presbyterian, any denominational perspective is welcome. Any comment about a post or its relevance to our lives are welcome. However, there will be times when the content or the responses will inflame someone’s political sensibilities. Please resist allowing politics to supersede the sermon topic of discussion. For example, the pronoun I use for God is he. If someone responds to a post and talks about God using the pronoun, she or avoids pronouns altogether that’s fine. However, if what pronoun we should use becomes the topic, that’s not good because we will have lost focus on the topic of the sermon which likely had nothing to do with gender pronouns. Please, let’s do our best to keep our focus.
Frequency of posts
Sermons or commentaries will not be posted following the normal once a week schedule to which churchgoers are accustomed. Not surprisingly given the blog’s name, me and any other authors who may join me, will take our time. Hopefully, that will work out well for everyone and the purpose of the blog can be accomplished.