Comments on: O Pulpit Where Art Thou? http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/ Gospel. Culture. Life. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:21:18 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Leon Brown http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-516 Leon Brown Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:27:46 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-516 It was great to run across this site. Thanks! Leon It was great to run across this site. Thanks!
Leon

]]> By: Jane http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-427 Jane Mon, 20 Jul 2009 01:13:51 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-427 I think the pictures you showed are interesting, especially the big stage. I like to see the pastor in the pulpit sometimes and also sometimes walking around among us preaching. The Communion table is more important to me and also a place to kneel and pray. But I go to a small church. I also like to see our pastor sometimes in a robe, sometimes just in casual clothes. I like the new praise choruses and also the old hymns. It is blessed to have those options as we are stretching ourselves to be better Christians and not get in a rut or a skid in either direction. I thought the "pendulum" comment was good. Our pastor is emphasizing Unity as the most important thing of all. I like it when she reads passages from the Bible and we read along. She is not raise her voice or browbeat us, but always concludes by insisting we ask "how does this apply to my life?" Also reminds us not to get the "big head" (self-importance) and how smelly that is and I realize that applies to me (oh dear) I think the pictures you showed are interesting, especially the big stage. I like to see the pastor in the pulpit sometimes and also sometimes walking around among us preaching. The Communion table is more important to me and also
a place to kneel and pray. But I go to a small church. I also like to see our pastor sometimes in a robe, sometimes just in casual clothes. I like the new praise choruses and also the old hymns.
It is blessed to have those options as we are stretching ourselves
to be better Christians and not get in a rut or a skid in either direction. I thought the “pendulum” comment was good. Our pastor is emphasizing Unity as the most important thing of all. I like it when she reads passages from the Bible and we read along. She is not raise her voice or browbeat us, but always concludes by insisting we ask “how does this apply to my life?”
Also reminds us not to get the “big head” (self-importance) and how smelly that is and I realize that applies to me (oh dear)

]]> By: Erik http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-426 Erik Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:12:13 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-426 Todd, Solid point on the pulpit being 'born out of history'...biblical, Old Testament history? (Here's <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah%208:4;&version=49;" rel="nofollow">Nehemiah 8:4a</a> as my "proof text")...<em>just kidding!</em> ;) If anything the pulpit (however large or small) should give the impression in the minds of a person in the pew that he/she will be <em>hearing from God's Book through the preacher.</em> If a preacher gets up to speak and doesn't have a pulpit, please, just do as <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah%208:1;&version=49;" rel="nofollow">Nehemiah 8:1</a> says and <b>"bring the book."</b> Todd,

Solid point on the pulpit being ‘born out of history’…biblical, Old Testament history? (Here’s Nehemiah 8:4a as my “proof text”)…just kidding! ;)

If anything the pulpit (however large or small) should give the impression in the minds of a person in the pew that he/she will be hearing from God’s Book through the preacher.

If a preacher gets up to speak and doesn’t have a pulpit, please, just do as Nehemiah 8:1 says and “bring the book.”

]]> By: Todd http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-425 Todd Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:56:10 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-425 Interesting observations. Could 'the pulpit' be a traditional/cultural aspect of the church? My question would be, 'where in the Bible do we see a doctrine of the used pulpit?' Nowhere. However we view the pulpit... is a thought or tradition that is rooted in/from our experiences. Trying to identify what the pulpit 'signifies' is born out of history, not theology. Why don't we preach with 'hell-fire and brimstone' anymore? Because the culture has changed in accepting that as the evangelistic tool to reach the masses. Not to mention, in history, that is the era when many of the cults were born. So why not the pulpit? Because speakers have found that they can become closer to their audience. And that is probably also why you see more transparency and more personal stories in sermons. There is more eye contact, and more body language than ever... in order to communicate. Definitely, our focus has changed! I for one, like the pulpit, because it can house all my notes! But when I really prepare... all I need is my Bible in my hand... and the Spirit in my heart. Interesting observations. Could ‘the pulpit’ be a traditional/cultural aspect of the church? My question would be, ‘where in the Bible do we see a doctrine of the used pulpit?’ Nowhere.

However we view the pulpit… is a thought or tradition that is rooted in/from our experiences. Trying to identify what the pulpit ’signifies’ is born out of history, not theology.

Why don’t we preach with ‘hell-fire and brimstone’ anymore? Because the culture has changed in accepting that as the evangelistic tool to reach the masses. Not to mention, in history, that is the era when many of the cults were born.

So why not the pulpit? Because speakers have found that they can become closer to their audience. And that is probably also why you see more transparency and more personal stories in sermons. There is more eye contact, and more body language than ever… in order to communicate.

Definitely, our focus has changed! I for one, like the pulpit, because it can house all my notes! But when I really prepare… all I need is my Bible in my hand… and the Spirit in my heart.

]]> By: Dave http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-411 Dave Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:13:23 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-411 Since when did we stop sitting to preach? It seems that was the Jewish tradition. Maybe the bar stool has a future! Since when did we stop sitting to preach? It seems that was the Jewish tradition. Maybe the bar stool has a future!

]]> By: Erik http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-367 Erik Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:46:43 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-367 Sadly Debbie, you're <em>right on.</em> I too noticed that exact same thing while visiting other churches: <em>pew sitters listening to the sermons without Bibles in hand.</em> It's yet another indication of our Biblical illiteracy within the church and the dumbing down of preaching. I asked a Pastor following one of my visits why most people in his church did <em>not</em> bring their Bibles. His response was that he didn't want the new believers and non-believers sitting in the church to feel uncomfortable if they didn't know where a particular verse was when asked to turn to it. <em>Unbelievable.</em> Sadly Debbie, you’re right on. I too noticed that exact same thing while visiting other churches: pew sitters listening to the sermons without Bibles in hand. It’s yet another indication of our Biblical illiteracy within the church and the dumbing down of preaching.

I asked a Pastor following one of my visits why most people in his church did not bring their Bibles. His response was that he didn’t want the new believers and non-believers sitting in the church to feel uncomfortable if they didn’t know where a particular verse was when asked to turn to it. Unbelievable.

]]> By: Debbie http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-366 Debbie Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:13:26 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-366 Interesting observation, Eric. Oregon's culture is definitely not that of Connecticut, nor that of the Midwest. I know exactly what you are speaking of as we have had opportunity to visit several churches in the Portland area. Frankly, the piece of furniture referred to as a pulpit or its absence wasn't what grabbed my attention but rather the absence of Bibles in the hands of the congregation. We recently left our home church because that was the trend--no Bibles were brought. If the Bible is truly central to what we believe and how we are to live, we need to dig in! Not only is it an example to new believers, but quite frankly, we all need to be Bereans these days. We are now at a church that doesn't have a pulpit. The pastor sits on a stool and has a small table on which he uses to place his Mac and his Bible. Before he begins, he requests everyone who came without a Bible to raise their hands and then several people pass out new leather-bound Bibles to anyone without one. They are told to keep it if they don't own a Bible or to leave it on the chair when the service is over if they do. The bulletins have a clean sheet of paper for note-taking, and we are encouraged to do so. Expository teaching is the norm here. It's refreshing! Most importantly for me is that my kids are hearing God's Word and are being challenged to live it out. And it is taking root! Interesting observation, Eric. Oregon’s culture is definitely not that of Connecticut, nor that of the Midwest.

I know exactly what you are speaking of as we have had opportunity to visit several churches in the Portland area. Frankly, the piece of furniture referred to as a pulpit or its absence wasn’t what grabbed my attention but rather the absence of Bibles in the hands of the congregation.

We recently left our home church because that was the trend–no Bibles were brought. If the Bible is truly central to what we believe and how we are to live, we need to dig in! Not only is it an example to new believers, but quite frankly, we all need to be Bereans these days.

We are now at a church that doesn’t have a pulpit. The pastor sits on a stool and has a small table on which he uses to place his Mac and his Bible. Before he begins, he requests everyone who came without a Bible to raise their hands and then several people pass out new leather-bound Bibles to anyone without one. They are told to keep it if they don’t own a Bible or to leave it on the chair when the service is over if they do. The bulletins have a clean sheet of paper for note-taking, and we are encouraged to do so. Expository teaching is the norm here.
It’s refreshing! Most importantly for me is that my kids are hearing God’s Word and are being challenged to live it out. And it is taking root!

]]> By: Don’t Waste Your Pulpit « Kowalker.com http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-362 Don’t Waste Your Pulpit « Kowalker.com Sat, 27 Jun 2009 04:34:10 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-362 [...] 26, 2009 by Erik “The best way to waste your own pulpit is to preach your own thoughts instead of preaching God’s [...] [...] 26, 2009 by Erik “The best way to waste your own pulpit is to preach your own thoughts instead of preaching God’s [...]

]]> By: bbuudd http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-354 bbuudd Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:52:30 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-354 When I arrived, there was no cross - the pulpit was in the center, and the American flag and Christian flag were prominent symbols. We have moved to a split chancel - symbolizing that I am not the central figure, Christ is. We now have a cross in the center - behind the plane of the pulpit. And I have tried, oh how I have tried, to move those flags off the stage. Several conversations, several suggested alternatives, etc. - but it always comes down to one person - one "no" vote - that always is allowed to win. The problem I see in churches is not so much the centrality of the Bible, but the centrality of Jesus. A parallel problem is the inability to see the HUGE difference between the cross and the flag. When I arrived, there was no cross – the pulpit was in the center, and the American flag and Christian flag were prominent symbols.

We have moved to a split chancel – symbolizing that I am not the central figure, Christ is. We now have a cross in the center – behind the plane of the pulpit. And I have tried, oh how I have tried, to move those flags off the stage. Several conversations, several suggested alternatives, etc. – but it always comes down to one person – one “no” vote – that always is allowed to win.

The problem I see in churches is not so much the centrality of the Bible, but the centrality of Jesus. A parallel problem is the inability to see the HUGE difference between the cross and the flag.

]]> By: Tom Smith http://kowalker.com/2009/06/14/o-pulpit-where-art-thou/#comment-352 Tom Smith Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:10:27 +0000 http://kowalker.com/?p=1199#comment-352 In our church we have a medium size pulpit, not for any other purpose except to hold all the electronics and stuff I use as pastor. You see we are a very small church family, and we have none other to run all the things. The PA system and computer, wireless mic. recording system, and hearing assistance transmitter all are inside the pulpit. Try that WITHOUT STAFF and a separate place for the equipment. (I also am a bi-vocational pastor)! And yes I do preach expositorialy, and yes I do walk around some, (Wireless mic.) Oh yea, and sometimes I sit, not for emphasis, but I am usually tired. (Did I mention I am a Bi-Vo, and old)? My Bible readers and special music people, use the same piece of furniture too. We also prominently display The Bible on the Communion Table, FRONT AND CENTER, open to the day’s scripture. All in all it works OK, except on those infernal days, when the electronics has a mind of it's own. Then it is a distraction from preaching the word. Oh well, It works for us. I would mention in closing, the I would still preach The Word from the floor, the parking lot, the lawn, or from our family’s living room. “PREACH THE WORD” Brothers. Pastor Tom, Mountain View So. Baptist Church. In our church we have a medium size pulpit, not for any other purpose except to hold all the electronics and stuff I use as pastor.

You see we are a very small church family, and we have none other to run all the things. The PA system and computer, wireless mic. recording system, and hearing assistance transmitter all are inside the pulpit. Try that WITHOUT STAFF and a separate place for the equipment. (I also am a bi-vocational pastor)!

And yes I do preach expositorialy, and yes I do walk around some, (Wireless mic.) Oh yea, and sometimes I sit, not for emphasis, but I am usually tired. (Did I mention I am a Bi-Vo, and old)?

My Bible readers and special music people, use the same piece of furniture too.

We also prominently display The Bible on the Communion Table, FRONT AND CENTER, open to the day’s scripture.

All in all it works OK, except on those infernal days, when the electronics has a mind of it’s own. Then it is a distraction from preaching the word.

Oh well, It works for us.

I would mention in closing, the I would still preach The Word from the floor, the parking lot, the lawn, or from our family’s living room. “PREACH THE WORD” Brothers.

Pastor Tom, Mountain View So. Baptist Church.

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