Dear Friends in Christ, I had the privilege yesterday of speaking to our Methodist theology students at Vanderbilt University. I was impressed with the caliber of people I met, both students and faculty. They asked me to talk about "The Process of Preaching." The topic itself forced me to do some reflection. It occurred to me that oft times we're so busy doing what we do, that we don't stop to

consider how and why we are doing it the way we are doing it. First, it occurred to me that preaching is a high-wire act with no safety net. The notion that pastors have 20-25 minutes every week to teach and guide a congregation ought to put the fear of God in us! What a privilege! And what a burden. I had not been in ministry very long when I awakened to the realization that Sunday does not simply come 52 days a year, it comes 365 days a year. Clergy are seldom, if ever, not working on a sermon. As disciples of Christ, we're all called to live in the text. We are a Word-centered people who don't simply interpret Scripture, we allow Scripture to interpret us. Fifty years ago Karl Barth (the renowned German theologian) said that he often advised young theologians "to take your Bible in one hand, and your newspaper in the other, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible." In an age where it seems that the Scriptures have lost authority, it is critical that we continue to be a people who are shaped by something greater than current events. We believe in the primacy of Scripture in the life of the church. However, it is also critical that we not only be students of the text, but students of the context. We are people of the Word, and the

Dr.  Davis  Chappell

world. The Gospel is a counter-cultural movement, but it is not anti-cultural. The Gospel, like leaven in the loaf, becomes the ingredient in the culture that redeems it. Therefore, we can never be isolationists. John Wesley himself said, "There is no holiness except social holiness." We are called to live in the world, without being of the world. We are "resident aliens." That's a paradox. We don't always deal well with paradox. We tend to be much more dualistic. In short, it is imperative (not just for clergy, but for all disciples) that we seek to understand our surrounding culture, so that we can be a vessel of grace, a conduit, a bridge between two kingdoms. I heard Gil Rendle (a mainline consultant) say something very convicting recently. He said: "We seem to be making disciples in churches that do not practice discipleship." OUCH! I don't believe that's true at Brentwood UMC! But I know it can be true in our faith communities. A community that proclaims the Gospel must live the Gospel. Otherwise we give a mixed message. And people tend to believe what we do, not what we say! As we continue to follow Jesus during these forty days, I pray that we will be the leaven that shapes, forms, reforms and transforms the environment in which God has placed us. And that our practice will give credibility to our proclamation. Finally, it was good to welcome new member Madelyn Bloomer at our Brentwood campus. Welcome to our church community. May the peace of Christ be with you all! Davis