Posts from the ‘Videos’ Category
Preaching in the Crisis
I’ve wanted to share this message for a while now. Considering it deals with the same text (John 6) that I discussed in my last post, I thought it would be appropriate to offer it as an alternative perspective.
This sermon was delivered at Butler Chapel on January 19, during the first chapel service I had an opportunity to attend as a student at Campbell Divinity School. The guest speaker that day, Dr. J. Kameron Carter, set the standard high; other speakers this semester followed his precedent, making Tuesday morning chapel services an eagerly anticipated staple of my weekly spiritual diet.
Dr. Carter is an associate professor of theology and black church studies at Duke Divinity School. His sermon digs deep into the meaning of Jesus’s miraculous feeding of the 5,000, as recorded in the Gospel of John. Dr. Carter relies on archeological and historical research to move deeper into this text than I have witnessed any other preacher do, yet he still manages to bring it around to the heavy implications Jesus’s actions have for modern-day disciples. If you don’t believe sincere scholarship, extra-biblical sources and a fiery passion for the gospel can hold places in the same sermon, take a few minutes to watch this video and then we’ll talk.
Let me forewarn you, this sermon starts out slow — very slow. I think Dr. Carter knew he didn’t run the risk of having any of his audience leave the chapel early during the service, so he took some time to build up his message for effect. Stick with it and you won’t be disappointed. If you don’t have time to watch it now, bookmark this page and come back to it one day when you’ve got some free time or just feel the need to listen to some quality preaching. Or, if you prefer, you can download an MP3 of the sermon below and listen to it at your convenience. Enjoy!
In writing sermons this semester, I have been trying to find a balance between reverent and colloquial language; between reading an essay and sharing a conversation. I usually find myself erring too much to one side, and then overcorrect the message to the other extreme — either making it so colloquial I fear I may have offended my listeners, or so lecture-like that I begin to bore myself. I don’t think Dr. Carter’s sermon is the best I’ve ever heard, and I wouldn’t hold it up as a perfect model, but I do think he achieves a wonderful balance between the scholar and the friend.
Let me know what you think.
Does this make for an inspiring message, or do you think too much analysis of the situation kills the sermon? If this doesn’t work for you, what elements go into great preaching that you have heard?
Jump on the Crazy Train
I’ve always been an advocate of increased rail use. Unfortunately, most public discussion about trains comes in the form of a negative blitzkrieg attacking the industry after a freight train blasts through a family sedan. I used to think that 98.3 percent of these accidents occurred when some deranged motorist feels the need to prove himself invincible by “racing” the train. I’ve been wrong all along.
Apparently, some drivers suffer from the rare handicap of not being able to see trains at all. That’s right, locomotives, freight cars, passengers, even shiny red cabooses, are all rendered invisible to these poor, unfortunate drivers.
Seriously. Take a look.
This collision took place June 7 in Bonsal, a small town about 16 miles north of Sanford. The train involved was an antique steam locomotive carrying a load of tourists on a short circuit around the town at a blazing 10 mph. The driver of the station wagon — caught totally off guard by his invisitrainitis, despite the fact that the train was almost halfway through the crossing, lights were flashing, bells were ringing, passengers were screaming — was not hurt.
