The Problem/Mystery of Preaching: Part 1—At a CrossroadsPosted on February 3, 2014 by David LoseI’ve been preaching now for nearly twenty-five years and teaching preaching for a little more than half that time, and the refrain I’ve heard from preachers from across Christian traditions and from every generation is the same: preaching is broken. This is usually followed by an earnest plea: Fix it! …
Posing Questions—Part I: Better a Good Question than an Answer!Posted on October 18, 2013 by David RhoadsWhat is it about a good question? What happens when the question itself becomes a fascination?It may be a question that names a puzzle to be solved or a conundrum to be contemplated. It may put the finger on a piece of evidence necessary for understanding. It may point to a contradiction that problematizes or complexifies our thinking. It may challenge our fundamental assumptions. It may be a question to which there will be no certain answer. It will probably be a question that leads to other questions. But when you get a good one, it is clearly better to have a good question than an answer!…