Am preaching at EMBC tonight. At the moment quite nervous and praying hard! Feel like I'm walking a tight-rope between my own rant and something that God has laid on my heart.
We were speaking this week in Creative Homiletics about trouble and grace. The idea that biblical passages can contain trouble, but that they also contain grace ... the trouble needs to be worked through though before grace comes. I fear that what is heard tonight will be more trouble than grace. To an extent I'm ok with that. Am becoming more and more convinced that in order to be disciples we need to engage in issues of social justice and a whole heap of other 'stuff' (or the powers and principalities), and that if we're not can we really call ourselves disciples. However, while to an extent I'm contented with the harsh sounding-ness (is that even a word!) I'm aware that part of my role tonight as a preacher is to come from among the people as one grappling with this themselves and speak God's words in a way that will mobilise the community and not stop them in their tracks.
And so this afternoon I'm praying hard ... for peace in my heart ... for the right words in my mouth ... for open hearts to hear from God ... and for open bodies to respond.
Lord, let it be Your words said in Your way that come out my mouth tonight and not anything of my rant and my issues. Let it be done to Your glory, that people would walk deeper with you, with justice and mercy being qualities that mark us out as belonging to You. Amen.
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