![\"hands](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2024\/09\/hands-voting-scaled.jpg\")
Before we look at the biblical texts for Oct. 6 and 13 in the lead up to the 2024 election, we have to first address an important question.<\/p>\n
Is it okay for preachers to mention the election in sermons?<\/strong><\/h3>\nSome will argue that the separation of church and state means that preachers cannot speak about the election in their sermons. However, this is not true.\u00a0 Preachers may speak about the themes and issues surrounding an election so long as they do not endorse a candidate.\u00a0 In fact, many parishioners actually want their ministers to provide biblical, theological, and ethical guidance for thinking about social issues that affect their lives, families, and communities.<\/p>\n
![\"Preaching](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2024\/08\/Preaching-and-Social-Issues.cover_-199x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
In my previous article<\/a>, I explained the do\u2019s and don\u2019ts of what clergy and congregations can say and do when it comes to politics. Remember that the biblical writers addressed the social and political issues of their day because God cares about the flourishing of all people.\u00a0 This means that not only is it acceptable for preachers to talk about the election, it\u2019s a moral and ethical responsibility for them to connect the Bible and theology to the issues that matter today, especially when it comes time for people to exercise their right to vote.<\/p>\nHowever, the way <\/em>in which a preacher talks about the election in their sermons also matters.<\/p>\nSo before looking at the biblical texts for the 2024 election season, I\u2019ll share a framework I developed for my book Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice<\/em><\/a> to help ministers choose which path works best for them and their context.<\/p>\nAssessment Tool for preaching and social issues<\/strong><\/h2>\nI developed an Assessment Tool for preaching and social issues which you can take here<\/a>. This tool will help you think about your approaches to preaching and social issues using a three-dimensional questionnaire that measures: (1) your own vulnerabilities and strengths, (2) the characteristics of the congregation you serve, and (3) the quality of relationships within the congregation and between the congregation and yourself.<\/p>\nGentle, Invitational, and Robust Approaches<\/strong><\/h2>\nBased on your score from the Assessment Tool, you\u2019ll see I suggest three approaches to a sermon addressing a social issue: Gentle, Invitational, and Robust.<\/p>\n
\n- The Gentle approach is for clergy who are in situations where there may be personal or congregational stress, the congregation is new to sermons addressing social issues, or there is vulnerability on the part of the preacher.<\/li>\n
- The Invitational approach is recommended for congregations that are ready for a more challenging message by way of dialogue and building bridges of listening, empathy, and understanding.<\/li>\n
- The Robust approach is for clergy and congregations who are ready to be fully engaged in public theology and to put their faith into action on social issues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I suggest three strategies for each, for a total of nine in all.\u00a0 You can read about these approaches in my book<\/a>. In the meantime, here\u2019s a graphic with a quick summary:<\/p>\n![\"3](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2024\/08\/09.Figure1.Three-Approaches-Nine-Strategies-scaled.jpg\")
3 approaches, 9 strategies for preaching and social issues, copyright Leah D. Schade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs I go through each of the Gospel texts assigned for the Sundays in the 2024 election season, I\u2019ll suggest sermon ideas for each of the Gentle, Invitational, and Robust approaches.<\/p>\n
This is the first installment covering Oct. 6 and 13. In the next installment, we\u2019ll look at the texts for Oct. 20 and 27. The final installment will be for Nov. 3, the Sunday before the election.<\/p>\n
Oct. 6, 2024<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\nTwentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 10:2-16<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nExegetical summary\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nChapter 10 in the Gospel of Mark is the hinge between Jesus\u2019s first three years of ministry and his last week, which is detailed in Chapters 11-16. The beginning of the chapter finds Jesus back in the Judean wilderness where his ministry began.\u00a0 Challenged by the religious teachers about the law concerning divorce, and then by disciples turning away children who had come for a blessing, Jesus rebukes patriarchal tradition in favor of God\u2019s grace. In God\u2019s kingdom, women and children have worth and value, regardless of the laws and opinions of adult men.<\/p>\n
Connections to election issues<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn the 2024 election, there are numerous issues regarding women\u2019s freedom, value, and worth in terms of voting rights, bodily autonomy, access to healthcare, and marriage status. Marriage equality for LGBTQIA+ folks are also being questioned.\u00a0 In addition, the safety and wellbeing of children are at stake in terms of policies around guns, book bans, and transgender youth.<\/p>\n
In any sermon approach, the preacher will need to explain that in ancient Jewish society, only the husband had the authority to decide on divorce.\u00a0 As well, men at that time had determined that children had no status and, therefore, no need for consideration. Overall, Jesus\u2019s concern was for those who were vulnerable and had little say over their personhood and agency in society.<\/p>\n
Gentle<\/strong><\/h3>\nName the issue, frame it biblically.<\/em> The sermon can name the issues around women and children and note that the Bible also had concerns about their acceptance, value, and worth.\u00a0 While we may be uncomfortable talking about these \u201cpolitical\u201d topics in church, the fact that Jesus had teachings about these vulnerable groups opens the door for congregations to think biblically, theologically, and ethically about these issues.<\/p>\nSuch a sermon could ask what it would be like for the church to listen to the stories of women, LGBTQIA+ folks, and children while affirming that God seeks the welfare and equal treatment of all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or age.<\/p>\n
Invitational<\/strong><\/h3>\nTell stories to create empathy. <\/em>Invite people who are married, divorced, single, and widowed to a discussion about this passage.\u00a0 This includes people who are gay, straight, and intentionally celibate. After giving them the historical context of the story, invite them to share their thoughts and responses to Jesus\u2019s teaching, specifically from their perspective.<\/p>\nIf they are willing, ask them to also reflect on the implications of this passage in relation to issues of gender, marital status, same-sex marriage rights, and women\u2019s rights.\u00a0 With their permission, share their different viewpoints, insights, and questions in the sermon. Affirm that your congregation, following the teachings of Jesus, is one that welcomes and affirms people in all walks of life.<\/p>\n
Robust<\/strong><\/h3>\nBe blunt, be bold.<\/em> In this sermon, the preacher could begin by highlighting aspects of Project 2025<\/a>, the conservative plan for a Republican administration that would limit women\u2019s and LGBTQIA rights. The plan contains policies that would enforce traditional gender roles, restrict reproductive rights, and reduce government oversight in protecting against discrimination and inequality.<\/p>\nThe preacher could then explain the Mark 10:2-16 passage and how Jesus\u2019s teachings counter the heteronormative patriarchal worldview that underlies the conservative vision for America. The sermon can conclude by sharing a vision of equality, equity, and flourishing for all people based on Jesus\u2019s teachings about the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n![\"Group](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2023\/03\/group-of-women.jpg\")
The 2024 election has centered the concerns and rights of women, LGBTQIA+, and children. Photo by RF._.studio on Pexels. https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/3-women-sitting-on-brown-wooden-bench-3811977\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOct. 13, 2024<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\nTwenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 10:17-31<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nExegetical summary<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe rich young man in this story has followed all of God\u2019s commandments, yet his wealth keeps him from experiencing the fullness of community and God\u2019s grace.\u00a0 Likely, his privilege insulates him from the difficulties of those who do not enjoy the protections of financial prosperity. Jesus invites the man to divest of his fortune and find a deeper, richer, and more meaningful life.<\/p>\n
The fact that the disciples are \u201cperplexed\u201d by Jesus\u2019s teaching that the rich will have difficulty entering God\u2019s kingdom indicates the commonly held assumption that wealth opens the door to heaven before all others. Yet, Jesus does not condemn the wealthy with finality. It is possible for God to change their hearts, habits, and hoarding of resources so that they can receive the blessings that money cannot buy.<\/p>\n
Connections to election issues<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn the 2024 election, issues around money, distribution of resources, and the fairness of the U.S. economic system are critical. As citizens consider the policies of candidates seeking elected office, it is important to consider their past and present policy positions on taxes, wages, healthcare costs, inflation and cost of living, Social Security, and climate and energy costs.<\/p>\n
Any sermon on this text will need to wrestle with what Jesus means when he says, \u201cMany who are first will be last, and the last will be first\u201d (Mk. 10:31).\u00a0 The implications of this teaching are far-reaching for Christians who consider how they will vote in the 2024 election.\u00a0 But a congregation\u2019s response to such a sermon will depend on the degree to which they identify with the rich man and his ethical and spiritual conundrum.<\/p>\n
Gentle<\/strong><\/h3>\nShare your own struggles with the issue. <\/em>This approach would work best in a church where the preacher and congregants are financially secure and have not experienced\u00a0 the realities of surviving in a low-wage or impoverished situation.\u00a0 The preacher can model what it\u2019s like to identify with the rich man. You might say something such as, \u201cDespite my belief that I am a \u201cgood person,\u201d I would likely go away \u2018shocked and grieving\u2019 because of my inability and unwillingness to relinquish my financial security.\u201d<\/p>\nYet, the preacher could wonder aloud what it might be like if Congress raised the minimum wage and required the wealthy to return to a tax rate that is more equitable. As a person with privilege, what would you lose?\u00a0 What would you gain? The congregation could vicariously participate in this struggle alongside the preacher, asking these same questions of themselves.<\/p>\n
The sermon could conclude by imagining what might be possible if they unburdened their camel, so to speak, while trusting God to open the aperture of the needle just a bit wider.<\/p>\n
Invitational<\/strong><\/h3>\nSermon-dialogue-sermon.\u00a0 <\/em>In the sermon-dialogue-sermon process, the first sermon would explain how the problem of debt is like a humungous burden on a camel\u2019s back.\u00a0 Our individual and national debt is so high, the camel couldn\u2019t even pass under an arched bridge, let alone through the eye of a needle.<\/p>\nThe preacher could then invite the congregation to a deliberative dialogue on debt using the National Issues Forum Institute\u2019s nonpartisan issue guide, \u201dA Nation in Debt: How Can We Pay the Bills<\/a>,\u201d following the sermon that day or during the week. The group would discuss the guide\u2019s options of enacting austerity measures, adjusting tax rates, or reducing the size of the government. Then the minister could preach a follow-up sermon for one of the subsequent weeks before the election drawing on the insights from the discussion and reflecting biblically and theologically on the implications for how Christians vote.<\/p>\nRobust<\/strong><\/h3>\nEquip for justice: <\/em>This sermon would be for a congregation that understands what it is like to live in a financially precarious situation either because of personal experience or because their mission and outreach work has opened their eyes to the realities of the systems that create poverty. The preacher could note that nothing changes with the rich young man.\u00a0 His heart towards the poor does not soften, and his wealth remains intact.<\/p>\nBut this does not mean that Christians must accept this ending to the story. Jesus\u2019s teaching urges us to push back against unfair financial and economic policies that protect the wealthy while the poor suffer. The sermon could suggest various ways that Christians can align themselves with God who is making the impossible become possible.\u00a0 These can include voting for candidates who are committed to financial equity, joining in interfaith campaigns for divesting of fossil fuels<\/a>, and supporting efforts to end predatory practices such as payday lending<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhat are your sermon ideas?<\/strong><\/h3>\nIn the comments, share your suggestions for sermons about the texts for October 6 and 13.\u00a0 What is your preaching context, and what do you think would work well in your congregation?<\/p>\n
With faithful study, listening, and discernment, preachers can provide biblical insights, theological perspectives, and ethical direction throughout the 2024 election season.<\/p>\n
Read also:<\/h4>\n
What Clergy Can Say (and Not Say) During the Election Season<\/a><\/p>\nPreaching 2024 Election \u2013 How will Clergy Navigate Issues?<\/a><\/p>\nIdeas for Clergy Dealing with Pre-Election Stress<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"Leah](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/764\/2024\/05\/Leah-Schade-headshot-150x150.jpg\")
Leah D. Schade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade<\/strong>\u00a0is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at\u00a0<\/em>Lexington Theological Seminary<\/i><\/a>\u00a0in Kentucky and ordained in the ELCA. Dr. Schade does not speak for LTS or the ELCA; her opinions are her own.\u00a0 She is the author of<\/em>\u00a0Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2024),\u00a0<\/em>Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019)<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit<\/a>\u00a0(Chalice Press, 2015). She is the co-editor of\u00a0<\/em>Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Her newest book is\u00a0<\/em>Introduction to Preaching: Scripture, Theology, and Sermon Preparation<\/a>, co-authored with Jerry L. Sumney and Emily Askew (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Preachers can offer biblical, theological, and ethical guidance during the 2024 election season. Here are sermon ideas for Oct. 6 and 13.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2929,"featured_media":12093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1552,43,14,1399,31],"tags":[2472,633,2532,6,1908],"class_list":["post-12090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-election","category-politics","category-preaching","category-religion-and-politics","category-sermons","tag-2024-election","tag-mark-1017-31","tag-mark-102-16","tag-preaching","tag-sermon-ideas"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/p>\nHowever, the way <\/em>in which a preacher talks about the election in their sermons also matters.<\/p>\n So before looking at the biblical texts for the 2024 election season, I\u2019ll share a framework I developed for my book Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice<\/em><\/a> to help ministers choose which path works best for them and their context.<\/p>\n I developed an Assessment Tool for preaching and social issues which you can take here<\/a>. This tool will help you think about your approaches to preaching and social issues using a three-dimensional questionnaire that measures: (1) your own vulnerabilities and strengths, (2) the characteristics of the congregation you serve, and (3) the quality of relationships within the congregation and between the congregation and yourself.<\/p>\n Based on your score from the Assessment Tool, you\u2019ll see I suggest three approaches to a sermon addressing a social issue: Gentle, Invitational, and Robust.<\/p>\n I suggest three strategies for each, for a total of nine in all.\u00a0 You can read about these approaches in my book<\/a>. In the meantime, here\u2019s a graphic with a quick summary:<\/p>\n As I go through each of the Gospel texts assigned for the Sundays in the 2024 election season, I\u2019ll suggest sermon ideas for each of the Gentle, Invitational, and Robust approaches.<\/p>\n This is the first installment covering Oct. 6 and 13. In the next installment, we\u2019ll look at the texts for Oct. 20 and 27. The final installment will be for Nov. 3, the Sunday before the election.<\/p>\n Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 10:2-16<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Chapter 10 in the Gospel of Mark is the hinge between Jesus\u2019s first three years of ministry and his last week, which is detailed in Chapters 11-16. The beginning of the chapter finds Jesus back in the Judean wilderness where his ministry began.\u00a0 Challenged by the religious teachers about the law concerning divorce, and then by disciples turning away children who had come for a blessing, Jesus rebukes patriarchal tradition in favor of God\u2019s grace. In God\u2019s kingdom, women and children have worth and value, regardless of the laws and opinions of adult men.<\/p>\n In the 2024 election, there are numerous issues regarding women\u2019s freedom, value, and worth in terms of voting rights, bodily autonomy, access to healthcare, and marriage status. Marriage equality for LGBTQIA+ folks are also being questioned.\u00a0 In addition, the safety and wellbeing of children are at stake in terms of policies around guns, book bans, and transgender youth.<\/p>\n In any sermon approach, the preacher will need to explain that in ancient Jewish society, only the husband had the authority to decide on divorce.\u00a0 As well, men at that time had determined that children had no status and, therefore, no need for consideration. Overall, Jesus\u2019s concern was for those who were vulnerable and had little say over their personhood and agency in society.<\/p>\n Name the issue, frame it biblically.<\/em> The sermon can name the issues around women and children and note that the Bible also had concerns about their acceptance, value, and worth.\u00a0 While we may be uncomfortable talking about these \u201cpolitical\u201d topics in church, the fact that Jesus had teachings about these vulnerable groups opens the door for congregations to think biblically, theologically, and ethically about these issues.<\/p>\n Such a sermon could ask what it would be like for the church to listen to the stories of women, LGBTQIA+ folks, and children while affirming that God seeks the welfare and equal treatment of all people, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or age.<\/p>\n Tell stories to create empathy. <\/em>Invite people who are married, divorced, single, and widowed to a discussion about this passage.\u00a0 This includes people who are gay, straight, and intentionally celibate. After giving them the historical context of the story, invite them to share their thoughts and responses to Jesus\u2019s teaching, specifically from their perspective.<\/p>\n If they are willing, ask them to also reflect on the implications of this passage in relation to issues of gender, marital status, same-sex marriage rights, and women\u2019s rights.\u00a0 With their permission, share their different viewpoints, insights, and questions in the sermon. Affirm that your congregation, following the teachings of Jesus, is one that welcomes and affirms people in all walks of life.<\/p>\n Be blunt, be bold.<\/em> In this sermon, the preacher could begin by highlighting aspects of Project 2025<\/a>, the conservative plan for a Republican administration that would limit women\u2019s and LGBTQIA rights. The plan contains policies that would enforce traditional gender roles, restrict reproductive rights, and reduce government oversight in protecting against discrimination and inequality.<\/p>\n The preacher could then explain the Mark 10:2-16 passage and how Jesus\u2019s teachings counter the heteronormative patriarchal worldview that underlies the conservative vision for America. The sermon can conclude by sharing a vision of equality, equity, and flourishing for all people based on Jesus\u2019s teachings about the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Mark 10:17-31<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The rich young man in this story has followed all of God\u2019s commandments, yet his wealth keeps him from experiencing the fullness of community and God\u2019s grace.\u00a0 Likely, his privilege insulates him from the difficulties of those who do not enjoy the protections of financial prosperity. Jesus invites the man to divest of his fortune and find a deeper, richer, and more meaningful life.<\/p>\n The fact that the disciples are \u201cperplexed\u201d by Jesus\u2019s teaching that the rich will have difficulty entering God\u2019s kingdom indicates the commonly held assumption that wealth opens the door to heaven before all others. Yet, Jesus does not condemn the wealthy with finality. It is possible for God to change their hearts, habits, and hoarding of resources so that they can receive the blessings that money cannot buy.<\/p>\n In the 2024 election, issues around money, distribution of resources, and the fairness of the U.S. economic system are critical. As citizens consider the policies of candidates seeking elected office, it is important to consider their past and present policy positions on taxes, wages, healthcare costs, inflation and cost of living, Social Security, and climate and energy costs.<\/p>\n Any sermon on this text will need to wrestle with what Jesus means when he says, \u201cMany who are first will be last, and the last will be first\u201d (Mk. 10:31).\u00a0 The implications of this teaching are far-reaching for Christians who consider how they will vote in the 2024 election.\u00a0 But a congregation\u2019s response to such a sermon will depend on the degree to which they identify with the rich man and his ethical and spiritual conundrum.<\/p>\n Share your own struggles with the issue. <\/em>This approach would work best in a church where the preacher and congregants are financially secure and have not experienced\u00a0 the realities of surviving in a low-wage or impoverished situation.\u00a0 The preacher can model what it\u2019s like to identify with the rich man. You might say something such as, \u201cDespite my belief that I am a \u201cgood person,\u201d I would likely go away \u2018shocked and grieving\u2019 because of my inability and unwillingness to relinquish my financial security.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet, the preacher could wonder aloud what it might be like if Congress raised the minimum wage and required the wealthy to return to a tax rate that is more equitable. As a person with privilege, what would you lose?\u00a0 What would you gain? The congregation could vicariously participate in this struggle alongside the preacher, asking these same questions of themselves.<\/p>\n The sermon could conclude by imagining what might be possible if they unburdened their camel, so to speak, while trusting God to open the aperture of the needle just a bit wider.<\/p>\n Sermon-dialogue-sermon.\u00a0 <\/em>In the sermon-dialogue-sermon process, the first sermon would explain how the problem of debt is like a humungous burden on a camel\u2019s back.\u00a0 Our individual and national debt is so high, the camel couldn\u2019t even pass under an arched bridge, let alone through the eye of a needle.<\/p>\n The preacher could then invite the congregation to a deliberative dialogue on debt using the National Issues Forum Institute\u2019s nonpartisan issue guide, \u201dA Nation in Debt: How Can We Pay the Bills<\/a>,\u201d following the sermon that day or during the week. The group would discuss the guide\u2019s options of enacting austerity measures, adjusting tax rates, or reducing the size of the government. Then the minister could preach a follow-up sermon for one of the subsequent weeks before the election drawing on the insights from the discussion and reflecting biblically and theologically on the implications for how Christians vote.<\/p>\n Equip for justice: <\/em>This sermon would be for a congregation that understands what it is like to live in a financially precarious situation either because of personal experience or because their mission and outreach work has opened their eyes to the realities of the systems that create poverty. The preacher could note that nothing changes with the rich young man.\u00a0 His heart towards the poor does not soften, and his wealth remains intact.<\/p>\n But this does not mean that Christians must accept this ending to the story. Jesus\u2019s teaching urges us to push back against unfair financial and economic policies that protect the wealthy while the poor suffer. The sermon could suggest various ways that Christians can align themselves with God who is making the impossible become possible.\u00a0 These can include voting for candidates who are committed to financial equity, joining in interfaith campaigns for divesting of fossil fuels<\/a>, and supporting efforts to end predatory practices such as payday lending<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the comments, share your suggestions for sermons about the texts for October 6 and 13.\u00a0 What is your preaching context, and what do you think would work well in your congregation?<\/p>\n With faithful study, listening, and discernment, preachers can provide biblical insights, theological perspectives, and ethical direction throughout the 2024 election season.<\/p>\n What Clergy Can Say (and Not Say) During the Election Season<\/a><\/p>\n Preaching 2024 Election \u2013 How will Clergy Navigate Issues?<\/a><\/p>\n Ideas for Clergy Dealing with Pre-Election Stress<\/a><\/p>\n The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade<\/strong>\u00a0is the Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship at\u00a0<\/em>Lexington Theological Seminary<\/i><\/a>\u00a0in Kentucky and ordained in the ELCA. Dr. Schade does not speak for LTS or the ELCA; her opinions are her own.\u00a0 She is the author of<\/em>\u00a0Preaching and Social Issues: Tools and Tactics for Empowering Your Prophetic Voice<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2024),\u00a0<\/em>Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019)<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/em>Creation-Crisis Preaching: Ecology, Theology, and the Pulpit<\/a>\u00a0(Chalice Press, 2015). She is the co-editor of\u00a0<\/em>Rooted and Rising: Voices of Courage in a Time of Climate Crisis<\/a>\u00a0(Rowman & Littlefield, 2019). Her newest book is\u00a0<\/em>Introduction to Preaching: Scripture, Theology, and Sermon Preparation<\/a>, co-authored with Jerry L. Sumney and Emily Askew (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Preachers can offer biblical, theological, and ethical guidance during the 2024 election season. Here are sermon ideas for Oct. 6 and 13.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2929,"featured_media":12093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1552,43,14,1399,31],"tags":[2472,633,2532,6,1908],"class_list":["post-12090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-election","category-politics","category-preaching","category-religion-and-politics","category-sermons","tag-2024-election","tag-mark-1017-31","tag-mark-102-16","tag-preaching","tag-sermon-ideas"],"yoast_head":"\nAssessment Tool for preaching and social issues<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Gentle, Invitational, and Robust Approaches<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Oct. 6, 2024<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Exegetical summary\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Connections to election issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Gentle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Invitational<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Robust<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Oct. 13, 2024<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Exegetical summary<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Connections to election issues<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Gentle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Invitational<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Robust<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What are your sermon ideas?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Read also:<\/h4>\n
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