Comments on: What Oprah 2020 tells us about the power of the spoken word

By: Eric Hatfield

Eric Hatfield — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 01:56:22 +0000

In reply to Michael Frost. Yeah, if a wek-in-week-out sermon has purpose, it must be something else, as you say.

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 00:00:34 +0000

In reply to ItalianGuy78. You might have failed to see that my article isn't an endorsement of Ms Winfrey. It is about the extraordinary power of public discourse. Read it again.

By: ItalianGuy78

ItalianGuy78 — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 13:37:54 +0000

So what does it say when she ignores rampant sexual deviance and fails to help anyone stop it or be punished for it for decades?

To me it says she’s full of crap!

By: Peter Chatfield

Peter Chatfield — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:46:08 +0000

Great article Mike with some brilliant quotes. Particularly from Brueggermann.
My mind took me to the powerful speeches of Hitler who motivated a country with false images & false hope.
“What Oprah Winfrey’s address on Sunday revealed yet again is the fact that when people hear a trusted voice speaking what they believe to be the truth, affirming them as ordinary people capable of great things, calling them on to create a better society than we have now, they will follow that voice.”
Isn’t that what happened with Trump. Clearly the American people did not buy his character & peculiar personality. They bought his new hope in contrast to Hilliary’s more of the same which had failed so many.
The media is flat out attacking the character & personality of Trump but while he delivers the hope he promised he will survive.

By: Joshua Goss

Joshua Goss — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 10:47:40 +0000

In reply to Michael Frost.

Interesting…. As a chaplain I speak a little bit in schools and not much is retained. Luckily most of my job is in the listening and the conversation. But I’ve heard it put this way.

Do you remember what you ate for lunch 12 days ago? Most likely not.

But did it feed you and sustain and keep you going at that time? Most likely did.

A good sermon encourages conversation and engagement which I think is more meaningful.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 00:30:35 +0000

We have a cute saying at our church – preach for transformation, not information. Thanks for the reminder!

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:06:21 +0000

Well written, thoughtful and timely Thank YOU!

By: Donald McMahon

Donald McMahon — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 13:24:41 +0000

Several things; most of which were touched on above. Primarily, God the Holy Spirit is the most significant factor in the delivery and receptivity. And yes, we have an adversary thwarting these efforts. Preaching once to a person is rarely effective. It is the cumulative effect of the body of work that makes the difference. BUT, even that may not be sufficient because it needs to be lived out in a Body of Christ. Transformation happens by deliberate effort and the practice of spiritual disciplines. Then there is the relationship between the speaker and the hearer, which is a real thing in a small church setting. When the preacher is living as a true disciple of Jesus, and the hearer knows this, the power of the word is substantially enhanced. Back to God: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Incidentally, this past Sunday my sermon was interactive-more like a classroom discussion. I will stand on my head if it serves the kingdom!

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 11:02:57 +0000

In reply to Eric Hatfield. That's only an issue if you presume that the purpose of every sermon is to transfer information that we must remember in total. Maybe sermons are meant to do something other than mere data transfer.

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 11:00:11 +0000

In reply to Kejdis. Maybe trying to preach a ground-shaking message every Sunday is the problem. Not even Churchill could do that.