Monday morning quarterbacking happens around the brunch/lunch table on Sunday, at the watercooler on Monday, and in so many other social gatherings throughout the week. Many sports fans engage in conversation about how they, in hindsight, would have done things differently in the big game (assuming they had been the coach). Likewise, many worship participants like to critique their minister’s sermons in some form of post-worship conversation that often suggests a different preaching path would have been preferred.
At its best Monday morning sermon quarterbacking can be an opportunity for various perspectives to be shared in a safe space leading to a better understanding of (and, at times, appreciation of) the original message. At their worst these experiences can become hostile environments targeting the minister more than her/his message in an effort to diminish that person’s role (and, at times, to begin a process of terminating a pastoral relationship with the congregation).
So What?
As a pastor, I welcome conversations about the content of my preaching. In fact, if I didn’t hear stories about some degree of Monday morning quarterbacking I would assume I was preaching something so bland that it made no real difference to anyone. It is my hope that these conversations are constructive. Everyone benefits when these conversations are encouraged (within healthy boundaries) and other types of feedback about the sermon (as well as the entire worship experience) are solicited by congregational leadership.
- How often do you talk to friends or family about your pastor’s message/sermon?
- Share one example of how your initial criticism about or frustration with a sermon/message was transformed into something different as a result of a conversation with others.