In last week’s follow-up post about community (‘Can we just hang out?’), I mentioned the advantages of teaching our people about the important subjects we want them to know about. But how well do we do this kind of thing?
Each week during school terms we have a formal 'question time' during church, at which I spend ten minutes answering up to ten questions that were submitted via response slip or email/SMS, which I then edit/curate, and answer in church. The congregation (often the teenagers!) set the agenda, and I get to further explain stuff from last week's sermon, along with all sorts of other topics. It's been a gem for us all, as we get to think about ethics, systematics and lots of "will I be a vegetarian in heaven" type questions! I don't preach on topics much at all, but between the expository preaching and plus question time, we cover loads of stuff... and we keep talking about it over our meal together after church, too!
This is great to hear Jodie. A good way to keep thinking systematic as well as 'exegetical' thinking as part of the mix. Hard, I guess, to lay out the whole Bible's teaching or teach on any subject with any depth in this context -- not that you're suggesting this. We need other contexts for that. TP
Each week during school terms we have a formal 'question time' during church, at which I spend ten minutes answering up to ten questions that were submitted via response slip or email/SMS, which I then edit/curate, and answer in church. The congregation (often the teenagers!) set the agenda, and I get to further explain stuff from last week's sermon, along with all sorts of other topics. It's been a gem for us all, as we get to think about ethics, systematics and lots of "will I be a vegetarian in heaven" type questions! I don't preach on topics much at all, but between the expository preaching and plus question time, we cover loads of stuff... and we keep talking about it over our meal together after church, too!
This is great to hear Jodie. A good way to keep thinking systematic as well as 'exegetical' thinking as part of the mix. Hard, I guess, to lay out the whole Bible's teaching or teach on any subject with any depth in this context -- not that you're suggesting this. We need other contexts for that. TP