Here’s How to Do Us All a Favor, Preacher

***NOTE: If today’s title doesn’t sound familiar, please scroll down to Tuesday, September 13 on here and read “Do Us All a Favor, Preacher” first.***

Mary Anna Elliot DeForest-Pierce is a long-time friend and colleague who wrote the following in response to my blog of 9.13.16, and it’s with her gracious permission that I share it with you now. As usual here, I’m the one who highlighted certain parts — 

It’s more comfortable to sit and listen to the pastor’s personal stories, and in so far as those stories connect to the day’s scripture, they are fine.

However, we are called to preach the Gospel, not to entertain.

The Gospel isn’t necessarily fun and comfortable.

We are appointed to churches to be, among other things, the theologian-in-residence. That doesn’t mean speaking from the ivory tower, but we aren’t excused from that role because our congregations would rather hear about something else.

— Great reminders, Mary Anna; thank you.