Makin’ A List | Michelle Van Loon

I’ve been attending church services for over 30 years. Here’s a list of the books of the Bible – and a few front-burner topics I’ve never heard preached in any substantive way. Some of them might surprise you:

Leviticus

Numbers

1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles

Psalms

Job

Ecclesiastes

Lamentations

Obadiah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Hebrews

Jude

Turning The Other Cheek

The Dignity Of Work

Birth Control

Living As Exiles

Balancing Theologies of Suffering and Healing

Here are a few books and topics I’ve heard preached a number of times. In some cases, too many:

Genesis

Joshua

Ruth

Ezra-Nehemiah

Esther

Proverbs

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1-2 Corinthians

1 John

James

Revelation

Finances

Church Organization

Spiritual Gifts

Small Groups

Helping Others

How To Get Saved

Finances

I’ve heard lots of stuff that fits between both extremes, of course. But today, I’m thinking about the poles entitled “Too Much” and “Never”. Whether its a Big Box church with a reliance on felt-needs message series, a House Church where the teaching tends to be driven by whatever doctrinal or relational hot buttons the group is feeling, or a lectionary-based congregation walking through the church year proclaiming the gospel (a great thing) – there are some yawning gaps for all of us.

This past fall, the seminary chapel services at TIU featured a message series on the book of Amos. Though the quality varied wildly (to put it mildly) because different profs each took a section of the book, it was the first time I’d ever heard the book preached in 30 years of following Christ.

So it got me thinking about the stuff I’ve heard over and over again (and how repetition doesn’t always make the heart grow fonder) – and the things I’ve never heard. It isn’t about novelty – but I do wonder if we’re inbibing a balanced diet when we’re together, gathered.

What about you? What books/topics have you heard again and again? What books or topics have you never heard addressed in church?