Last Tuesday I facilitated the final session of an educational event I called “Topical Tuesdays.”
When I started my current transitional (interim) ministry I learned that the previous pastor conducted a mid-week Bible study using the Sunday lectionary texts from which he would develop his sermon. Since I opted to preach more topically, I substituted a topical conversation for Bible study.
This year’s sermon series included:
- Fruitful Practices (inspired by Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Robert Schnase)
- Jesus Priorities (inspired by The Jesus Priorities: 8 Essential Habits by Christopher Maricle)
- Rebirthing of God (inspired by The Rebirthing of God: Christianity’s Struggle for New Beginnings by John Philip Newell
- Rethinking the Parables (inspired by Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi by Amy-Jill Levine)
- Back to Basics: Speaking Christian (inspired by Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power – And How They Can Be Restored by Marcus Borg)
So What?
Like most gatherings this weekly conversation attracted a core group of people (a group that differed depending on time of year since it is a seasonal congregation). It also welcomed many others who were interested in a specific series or a topic within a series.
Each and every session we had great conversation. Most weeks I prepared a one page guide for our time together and we sat in a circle in my office. On a few occasions (as in the image above) we relocated when a different space seemed to fit (for example, so that participants could write easily).
At the conclusion of this experience, I give thanks for all that we shared and all that we learned from one another. While I was always the facilitator, I often walked away learning as much or even more than the participants.
- Have you ever participated in a discussion group like this? If so: what did you most appreciate about it? If not: would such be of interest or not and why?
- After hearing a sermon preached, what do you find to be most helpful for the impact of the message to last well beyond Sunday morning?