On Uncreative Preaching (and why we should all be less creative sometimes)

I’ve been following along with the American Bible Society’s daily Bible readings this year. Having a toddler and an infant makes it difficult to keep up with pretty much anything, so it’s been nice to be able to get it via email or website.

Today’s reading comes from Matthew 22:15-40, and includes the religious leaders trying to trick Jesus with questions (like should they pay taxes and what is the greatest commandment).  The truth is the latter question especially is a pretty bad question to trick Jesus. You don’t have to be all that familiar with scripture and the words of Jewish teachers, including those who preceded Jesus) to be able to answer as he does: (1) Love God and (2) Love neighbor. That’s it. Not flashy, not requiring deep theological knowledge, just basic.

The bar for preachers seems to be raised year after year. We often fall into the trap laid out by Ecclesiastes, that there is nothing new under the sun, and everything that can be said has already been said. We seem to reply with, “But…wait…wait till you hear my sermon THIS Sunday!” While it is a good and honorable goal to keep the Gospel fresh, to adapt the message to new people in new times, the reality is it’s really just the same message(s). Sometimes we just need to be okay with that. Sometimes it really is not only enough, but also preferable to stop trying to out preach ourselves or others and just say the same, abiding things.

This past Sunday, I’d struggled with a week that left little mental and emotional energy left. I need both of those to get my creative juices flowing. Faced with having to preach, and frustrated I couldn’t rock some great illustration or innovative interpretation I finally asked myself what the basic elements and illustrations are that I use all the time. All pastors have these. Most of us also have go to sermons as well.

For me, those go to elements include reflection on the Dana Carvey “Church Lady” sketch, and how the Pharisees missed the point…the latter piece I hadn’t even realized I used so much till a member at my last church quoted it back to me once!

This week, I will go to one of our local churches to preach as part of an ecumenical pulpit swap. The Gospel continues the themes of this past week, and I have to say, there was something very powerful in just saying what is so central to my own thinking. To use the tried and true ways to talk about who we are called to be as Christians. So, with some adaptations for the different passage, I’m working on some similar illustrations and points. Sometimes God doesn’t call us to be innovative, creative or unique. Sometimes we’re just called to share God’s message in ways that touch and connect with people. More often than not, that is not only “enough,” but is precise the very thing called for.