With Ears to Hear

There are LOTS of websites to help pastors write sermons. Lots. Some of them are good, some not so much. A couple that I turn to on a regular basis are Working Preacher (from Luther Seminary) and The Text This Week, which serves as a landing place for all kinds of stuff related to preaching and worship planning.

Preaching professors know all about these sites, too. One professor, Dr. SD. Giere, Associate Professor of Homiletics & Biblical Interpretation, (Wartburg Seminary) looked for websites for those who listen to sermons week after week, but found none. As a response to this void, he launched WithEarsToHear.org - a website for those who listen to sermons. It provides accessible, biblically grounded information about preaching and tools to help orient the ear toward the gospel.  The website, which is free to all, also includes listening strategies for Bible study, call committees, internship committees, and confirmation classes. You're invited to "like" WithEarsToHear.org on Facebook and to be in touch with Dr. Giere with any questions or suggestions you have.

I hope this will be another good resource for families to use together, in doing devotions during the week, as a way to prepare for worship on Sunday, and to process what they've heard in the sermon.

Please let me know what you think, in the comments below.

Children in Worship

I haven't done scientific study, or even run the numbers, but just looking out at the congregation on any given Sunday morning, I think it's fair to say that the average age of folks in worship has been trending downward. I don't have any solid reasons as to why that is, though I suspect having had a pregnant pastor in recent memory doesn't hurt in that department.
I love that we have so many young (and young at heart) people in worship. I know there are plenty of congregations in which the expectation would be that the littlest ones all go to the nursery and the elementary-school aged children would head either to Sunday School or "Children's Church." I am thankful that the habit/culture of CtK is for as many children as possible to stay in worship as much as possible. (Yes, the screaming tantrums might necessitate a brief departure, but I am grateful the default position is "Everyone in worship.")
Here's a great blog post from another mom, on keeping kids in worship: Dear Parents With Young Children.
Enjoy!