Flow 3.9.2023

    In preaching, flow is more than just a matter of working efficiently. Flow is a matter of cumulative effect. Flow allows the preacher to chain a series of sermons together so that each individual sermon enriches the whole series. This takes some hard work. Each sermon must function in two ways. It must stand alone and contribute to the broader structure of the year. It might happen by accident. It could even happen without premeditation.  It is not likely that you will get this kind of weekly flow without purposeful, intentional planning. 

    Flow helps the preacher to maintain context week after week when “working the angles” of Pastoral ministry and Church leadership. Flow helps to frame each individual sermon by what has come before and what is coming next. A well-considered sermon series uses key themes, words, concepts, and tropes to maintain a connection with the congregation. You, the preacher can preface a series by laying out the plan for your congregation. “This is our yearly theme. This is the theme of this series. Here are the connections, here are some keywords, here are some frameworks for understanding, etc.” The individual sermons might contain some “surprises”, but everyone ought to know beforehand where you are leading them and why. 

    Let’s compare it to a float trip down a river. Every time you climb in the canoe there is a potential adventure to be had; that corresponds to the individual weekly sermon. Planning the whole trip is what allows for the flow of these daily adventures. If every morning you had to plan what to take, what to wear, where to go, and what to eat, the trip would quickly become exasperating. Planning beforehand is what allows the flow of serendipitous discovery every time you climb on board. It works on canoe trips, and it works in preaching. If you start from zero every week you will get tired as will those who depend upon you to lead them upon the adventure. 

    “What about spontaneity?” What about it? Two observations; It’s 1. Over-rated. 2. Non-existent in most areas of life. A more accurate term for “spontaneous” is “unprepared.” Even situations and circumstances we think of as spontaneous are in fact highly structured, scripted, and planned. Another example. You get in your car to spontaneously “just drive” or “take a road trip”. Even if you don’t have an itinerary there are certain planned behaviors and specific parameters which help with the flow of driving. You drive in the correct lane at the right speed. You slow down when conditions demand it, you follow the traffic signals, and behave responsibly following the “rules of the road”. Rules you learned many years ago. In this context, following the logic of this example, “spontaneous” driving is more accurately called “reckless” driving. 

    I’m trying to restrain myself and not be so long-winded after a long post last week, yet we still need some exegetical meat on these bones. For your consideration.

1. The listing of the 7 Churches in Revelation 1 and 2 is as spontaneous as the Roman postal route that served each community. 

2. The plan for evangelizing the nations spelled out in Acts 1.8 was hardly spontaneous. It was organized geographically and conducted to precision as described in the rest of the book. 

3. Jesus Himself followed a specific plan for His mission as outlined in Luke 4.18-19. 

Pointedly--John, Paul, and Jesus worked from a plan, and you think you’ll just wing it? Perhaps You should rethink that strategy. 

    In addition to making life easier on your listener a plan, because it is predetermined and predictable allows you to sequence your studies throughout the year so that you have adequate time to acquire needed resources and the breathing room to actually use them. Beyond that, a long-term plan will help you refine your writing by providing weekly guard rails. You will be able to assess and accumulate illustrative material according to a specific plan which leverages all your reading and gives it structure.     Like the banks of that river, we were canoeing down earlier, your plan provides a channel for your preaching allowing you and your congregation the proper space to experience the serendipitous movement of the Spirit.