Thursday Highlights (May 18)

It has been a joy to worship and learn together in person and online during this #Homiletics2023. On this final day, we received wisdom, insights and practical advice on craft from both well known and first-time preachers for the Festival of Homiletics. Carry back with you the promise of Barbara Lundblad’s closing sermon: “after it’s over, it isn’t over”! 

Will Willimon

"Jesus didn't save you to make you feel good or for some Purpose Driven Life crap. Jesus saved you to give you an assignment – to dash false hope & to give real Hope that lives beyond " this-life-only." Bishop Wil Willimon (@WillimonTweets) at @FestHomiletics #Homiletics2023

— Adam Gordon ☩ (@nodroglmada) May 18, 2023

Otis Moss III

OMIII speak that our crates need to be expanded- with foods, arts, film, poems, writings, music, and preaching from more than just our natural contexts. By having wider influence, we can speak more powerfully for each audience. #Homiletics2023

— Cana Moore (@CanaMoore) May 18, 2023

"If we can shout (or praise, or sing, or worship) for the broken body (of Christ), we can celebrate all of the broken bodies that walk into our lives and our churches." Otis Moss III at the Festival of Homiletics this morning. #Homiletics2023

— Troy Medlin (@troymedlin) May 18, 2023

Workshop takeaways: expand your crate (preaching not just on beats 1 & 3), practice, traffic in story, record a glorious mix tape!

Joy J. Moore

“I’ve heard ‘if you want to be a pastor you need to love people like cat people like cats. Cat people love alllll cats. Cute, young, old, grumpy, they just love cats’”

Cynthia Hale

“God is not into settling, and neither should we be”

“This is the atmosphere in which God likes to work—God loves to make something out of nothing.”

“Hope for what is [already] seen is nothing at all”

—@Sororcyn #homiletics2023

— Ben von 🐱 🏳️‍🌈 (@benvonfun) May 18, 2023

Cynthia Hale at #homiletics2023 “When you think you have nothing to work with, guess what, that’s the environment when God does his best work.” @GFMediaOrg @FestHomiletics pic.twitter.com/UtPLo7z2OL

— Mitch Randall (@rmitchrandall) May 18, 2023

Amy-Jill Levine

“You don’t have to make Jesus’ context look bad to make him look good.”- AJ Levine, on low or poor Christology and it’s effect on anti-semitism. #Homiletics2023 pic.twitter.com/AA8dsNAecq

— Cana Moore (@CanaMoore) May 18, 2023

“It’s hard to recognize anti-Jewish preaching.”

“Pray for me, people send me sermons all the time.”

“Help me to hear through your ears…”

“I don’t have time, don’t applaud.”

What a joy to hear Dr. AJ Levine! #Homiletics2023 pic.twitter.com/kowrTYjXyC

— Clare Sedlacek (@clarecsedlacek) May 18, 2023

Rosemary Bray McNatt

"We are encouraged to be co-creators with the Spirit. May we always live as though it's Pentecost." @revrosewest#Homiletics2023 #sermontweets

— Alexis Twito 🇺🇦 (@ATwitoRev) May 18, 2023

Samuel Cruz

Barbara Lundblad

“After it’s over, it isn’t over.” Maybe John gave us a model for continuing the story.