Presentation introduces a new lecture Series made possible by St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Doylestown, PA

PHILADELPHIA (September 2000) - Pastor Robert Linders told a Seminary Amphitheater audience of current and future preachers that good sermons have the capacity to bring "magic" or "mystery" to the mundane matters of life. In a presentation entitled "Harry Potter and the Modern Preacher: The Homiletical Challenge" Linders suggested that imaginative and creative preaching uses language people can understand to give them fresh opportunities to see the evidence of God in their lives, when they otherwise might not have noticed. "The preacher shares what people already know," he said. And he noted it is critical not to underestimate the intelligence of listeners or overestimate their knowledge.

Linders, senior pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Doylestown, PA, was a keynote Convocation speaker September 19 at The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP).

Jargon and theological language have no place in sermons, said Linders, who appeared at the Seminary as the first speaker in a new Lecture Series on Preaching made possible by St. Paul's, a congregation he has served for 23 years. "But good sermons also avoid being overly sentimental. Sentimentality ignores the reality of accountability. Sentimentality mars the reality of an image….In a world where terrible things happen, just read the papers, God affords us minimal protection but maximum support." He said it is one thing to say that Jesus "died for our sins. But what does that mean? Love is not something you feel but something you do."

He said the indicative is better than the imperative in preaching. Rather than offering "authoritative teaching," an appealing sermon will likely enable listeners to "see a picture of goodness that is so alluring they will want to get on board as quickly as possible," Linders said. To develop a "big picture" perspective requires the preacher to regularly devour books, movies and the news of the community and world as well as taking time to understand the myriad concerns of their parishioners as their listeners strive to cope in their daily lives.

Linders graduated from LTSP in 1967 and holds a Master of Arts (English) from Monmouth College and Master's and Doctoral degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. His lecture was the second this Fall season to deal with the theme "Mission in the New Century."