Sermon - menu, appetizer, or main course?

[Billy Cox]

Using a restaurant meal as a metaphor (something we Nazarenes have a great affinity for), what aspect of the eating out experience would be most analagous to the sermon presentation?

I think that the most common way of thinking would see the sermon as the main course of the meal. What think you and why?

[Ryan Scott]

I'm not sure I like the restaurant metaphor all that much, but to stay in the food realm, can we think of the worship service as an episode of Iron Chef?

Each service presents a few different expressions of one theme; the sermon is one of these.

[Jim Franklin]

Billy, I have often thought of the service as an individual sport with the music and prayers as the warmup and cheerleading worship in preparation for the main event. If we are to be people of the Word then the presentation of the Word should be the main course or event.

[Susan Unger]

Using a restaurant meal as a metaphor (something we Nazarenes have a great affinity for), what aspect of the eating out experience would be most analagous to the sermon presentation?

I think that the most common way of thinking would see the sermon as the main course of the meal. What think you and why?

I had a pastor one time that when he lead worship and did the pastoral prayer, it was like Heaven had come to earth. The sermon was like the dessert course - I could take it or leave it.

I haven't ever encountered that since or before. In those cases, the sermon was the main course.

[Billy Cox]

I'm not sure I like the restaurant metaphor all that much, but to stay in the food realm, can we think of the worship service as an episode of Iron Chef?

Each service presents a few different expressions of one theme; the sermon is one of these.

It is a limited metaphor that could certainly be used to propagate consumerist evil. :eek: So let's just say I'm not going for the what's-in-it-for-me angle.

[Ryan Scott]

It is a limited metaphor that could certainly be used to propagate consumerist evil. So let's just say I'm not going for the what's-in-it-for-me angle.


The judges still eat all the food; they don't pick and choose.

[Paul Whitaker]

I had a pastor one time that when he lead worship and did the pastoral prayer, it was like Heaven had come to earth. The sermon was like the dessert course - I could take it or leave it.

I haven't ever encountered that since or before. In those cases, the sermon was the main course.

You words remind me of one of my favorites - many times after the led the worship and pastoral prayer - people started going forward to pray.

Priceless!

However, the way worship seems to be these days is that the message must be the main course.

[Susan Unger]

You words remind me of one of my favorites - many times after the led the worship and pastoral prayer - people started going forward to pray.

Priceless!

However, the way worship seems to be these days is that the message must be the main course.

Yeah, I miss those services.

BTW, the pastor I am refering to has told me that Nazarenes belive that in the times in worship when we sense that we are entering Heaven's Temple we stop, as if we are satisfied with that little bit of taste of heaven. While he believes we shouldn't stop but keep pressing on until we are in the actual Holy of Holies. :fav12

[Billy Cox]

Using a restaurant meal as a metaphor (something we Nazarenes have a great affinity for), what aspect of the eating out experience would be most analagous to the sermon presentation?

I think that the most common way of thinking would see the sermon as the main course of the meal. What think you and why?

As far as partaking in the spiritual food, I wonder if the sermon might represent someone standing up, reading the menu and extolling the virtues of each dish - especially pointing out how much better *it* is compared to the tripe that can be easily had elsewhere.

If the people in the restaurant leave without partaking, it's not out of ignorance at least.