Chewing on a Sermon
Recently I heard a sermon that was, I think, influenced by the thinking of the Swiss theologian, Karl Barth (1886–1968).
Some of its big themes included: the ‘eternal breaking in to the temporal’; the need for those present to decide! in the here-and-now; the unbreakable love that exists between the Father and the Son in the Trinity – and how we can eternally participate in this by becoming sons of God; our solidarity with Adam, its tragic consequences, and the possibility of being incorporated in a new head, Christ; plus much more that I can’t remember.
Yes, these themes are biblical, but the way they were presented was novel.
I found the sermon titillating, engrossing, and perplexing. As the minister spoke, I was wondering: how can he be saying such huge things in so few and such interesting words? And: what exactly does he mean by what he is saying?
I’d be interested in others’ musings on and responses to any Karl-Barth-influenced talks.
posted by Sauntering Walker at 6:41 PM
3 Comments:
Chris, my curiosity has got the better of me! Who gave this sermon!? If you don't want to reveal it online, perhaps you could email me (rory.shiner@gmail.com)
On Barthian-style preaching, Kenneth Kantzer (who was a fan of Barth) used to say that Barth-influence normally resulted in preaching that was satisfying for the theological literate, but beyond the grasp of ordinary church attenders.
Rory: I'll email you.
Kantzer's comments fit with my experience, as an ordinary, theologically semi-literate, church attender!
If it was influenced by Karl Barth, it would have had to have been the thinking; it certainly couldn't have been the language and been short and comprehensible!
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