What has Issues, Etc. taught me? That's simple. One word. Preaching.

What has Issues, Etc. Taught me?
That's simple. One word. Preaching.

As a preacher I fall into the prideful trap of all preachers. I want to leave my listeners crying in their seats. I want my listeners to say, "he's the best preacher we've ever had in this church." I want my listeners to remember me and my preaching. But that's not what preaching is about is it Todd? If I do all these things but leave out the cross I've missed my purpose for standing in the pulpit. I learned much listening to Todd's analysis of preaching on the program. I still may not preach perfectly ;-) but my preaching has certainly become more Christ-Centered / Cross Focused.

The Issues, Etc. Sermon Diagnostic (My paraphrase)

• How many times was Jesus mentioned? (simple count)
• Is Jesus the one doing the actions in the sermon? (is Jesus the subject of the verbs)
• What did the pastor say Jesus did for me? (what are the verbs)

The Issues, Etc. Sermon Diagnostic is so simple, so straight forward, so right. As Todd always said it doesn't cover everything a sermon should be, but it hits the heart of the matter dead on. I use it for my Confirmation Class sermon notes and I wrote a simple bible study for my Sunday morning bible class.

This is not all I learned as a preacher listening to Issues. But this one stands out.
Thanks Todd and Jeff!
Rev. Jonathan C. Watt

I've attached a pdf file containing the "Sermon Evaluation Study and Form"
And a PowerPoint document "What Makes a Good Sermon" I used in the morning bible class.

Mollie Ziegler Hemingway former member of the Board of Communication Services interviewed on the White Horse Inn

Issues Issue hits GetReligion.

"tmatt" a writer at the GetReligion blog (A blog that studies how religion is represented in the media) chimes in (http://www.getreligion.org/?p=3328) on the Issues controversy with an entry about MZ Hemmingway's feature in the WallSteet Journal. He talks about his connection to the show.

This is especially interesting to me, since this was one of the only radio shows that I used to agree to appear on (for free) to talk about trends in religion news. It offered intelligent hosts and very fine listeners with good questions. It was worth the time and effort to hook up with them. It was not a shouting show.

He finishes with an interesting observation.

Welcome to the worship wars and the post-denominational age. This is the kind of conflict that is quietly developing on the right, while the left draws more headlines battling over the creeds, salvation and, of course, sex.

Any thoughts that this issue isn't a big issue should soon evaporate!

Issues, Etc. (updated 3/27)

On Tuesday of Holy Week, the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod canceled the radio program Issues, Etc. on its Radio Station KFUO AM. This program was a lifeline of Lutheran Theology to many people all over the globe. Host Pastor Todd Wilken and Producer Jeff Schwarz were dismissed and the program ended without notice. I have struggled with the reasons that may have prompted this decision and will not speculate here. This is a great loss to the whole Communion of Saints. (see http://www.bookofconcord.org/largecatechism/4_creed.html Article III, paragraph 47ff)

Update!
Read the Official statement by the LCMS.
for Reaction see:
http://bringbackissues.blogspot.com/
http://weedon.blogspot.com/

And the Wall Street Journal: By MOLLIE ZIEGLER HEMINGWAY
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120667366412170875.html?mod=taste_primary_hs



If you care to sign a petition in protest of this decision and ask for the return of Issues, Etc. to the air please visit http://www.petitiononline.com/Issues/petition.html.

Some blogs to follow for more information:
http://bringbackissues.blogspot.com/
http://weedon.blogspot.com/

For now the program can be heard in archive: http://www.kfuoam.org/IE_Archive.htm

(some trouble accessing the archives has been reported)

The online resource page for Issues Etc is http://web.archive.org/web/20070809141032/www.issuesetc.org/links/guide.htm

At Convention -- July 14-19.

I will not be preaching this week, as I am a delegate to the 63rd Regular Convention of the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod this coming week.

I'll try to post an update or two while I'm gone.

There are several ways to get news about the convention.

• The Convention Web Page will be updated on a regular basis.
• You can also subscribe to LCMS eNews. Goto www.lcms.org/eNews follow the instruction to sign up for "LCMSNews".

The LCMS on You Tube.

The LCMS on You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFAzuvncY4k