Surviving the Sermon: A Guide to Preaching for Those Who Have to Listen

By David J. Schlafer

Book Overview

An informative guide for those who wish to explore the role of the sermon in the ongoing life and teaching of a parish. Provides instructions for how to lead a sermon discussion group and how to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561010642
• ISBN13: 9781561010646
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Cowley Publications
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Helpful Guide

Cowley Publications published David J. Schlafer's book, Surviving the Sermon: A Guide to Preaching for Those Who Have to Listen in 1992. This book is intended to serve as a resource for lay people in the pew that listen to sermons each week, but are seeking more knowledge about the process of preaching, and how to improve preaching in their parish. Schlafer structures his guide by identifying the issue at hand, which is to answer the question on so many people's minds, what is the point of the sermon, especially when it is often boring, and takes so much of the preacher's time to write? He reminds people why sermons are so important to our Christian tradition, and even shares the art of preaching with his readers in such a way that they can envision how a preacher can be effective if they put their focus in the right direction, which is to listen and have conversation with the world around them. After spending some time on this, Schlafer develops the last part of his book which truly serves as a resource to lay people. He provides helpful information on how to best listen to preaching, how to find a good preacher when ones church is searching for a new clergy, and even how to help ones current pastor to become a better preacher by learning to be a deep listener. His last chapter even includes some suggestions for group sermon discussions, which many churches may find helpful. Above all, he really makes the art of preaching- at its worst and best, relatable to the lay person. He identifies the struggles of writing a sermon, but then offers some easy and helpful solutions. While this book is beautifully written as a resource for listeners, with wonderful examples and stories, it is hard to imagine many people in his intended audience picking up this book to read it. It would mean an active lay person would be seeking out to understand preaching in their congregation or interested in finding an effective preacher for their congregation. I think it is far more likely that a seminarian that is struggling with learning how to be an effective preacher would pick up this book and read it, and still find it very helpful. That being said though, any church currently in the process of looking for a new priest will find Schlafer's book immensely helpful. One of the most helpful parts of the book is an actual guide on how to better listen to the sermons one hears each week. He offers some questions for people to ask themselves when they are evaluating sermons, such as how does this sermon manifest the preacher's ability to listen? Or what voices in scripture, culture, congregation, liturgy, and the preacher- has the sermon invited and enabled us to hear? If you are seeking to read a book that will help you better understand the preaching process, or are looking for a way to help your pastor preach better, this is a great book for you.

Taking preaching out of the closet

Letting parishioners in on the sermon process is something not enough of us do. Inviting response and critique that is more than "great sermon" or "I like what you had to say today" can be quite threatening...but the rewards are great!If we believe that the preaching act is trialogue (God, Preacher & People) and not monotonous monologue -- then inviting the congregation into the process will enrich the outcome.