Session 5: Rob Bell - The Fig Tree and the Failure of Language

This talk was probably the least relevant for me.  Rob mainly focused on practical matters related to preaching.  As you’ll see, I didn’t take great notes, mainly started reflecting on other things.  Here they are:

“Why do some sermons work and others don’t?”

“There must be something behind the sermon compelling you to preach it.”

Rob and Pete do not usually cite people who’s work they don’t use directly.  I like that in this context.

“Ambiguity and the story of Namaan - must not shut this down in simple ways.”

Rob is a performer.  A great performer.  And I don’t think this is bad at all.  He embraces what he is doing as performance - I appreciate this.

I’m less interested in Rob’s talk at this point, but I still enjoy watching how he performs the message.

“Pigs have a purpose.”  Quote of the night.

I think preaching within scriptural context is overrated.

Rob’s potential elements of sermons:

“Reading the passage : Information : Story : Question : Picture : Rant : Action : Insight : Observation : Statistic : Declaration : Invitation”  I like this.  Helpful.

“All the parts must be related to all of the parts, well.”

“Speed : intensity : tention : pacing : tone : posture : arc”  These are other elements to consider.  Rob is particularly great at posture.  I like how he uses posture.  He acts out so much of what he says.

“A sermon creates a picture, a space, and image, an experience, an encounter, a world, a place that allows people to find themselves in it.”

“Focused and yet open; said and yet unsaid; defining and yet imagining; resolute and yet unresolved.”

“We gather to be reminded that someone is in charge, and it is not us.”  Really?  Thats why?  Not sure about that…

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Reflections on Poets, Prophets, & Preachers

  1. Sunday Morning at Mars Hill
  2. Session 1: Rob Bell - The Original Guerilla Theatre
  3. A list of who is blogging at PPP
  4. Session 2 (part 1): Rob Bell - The Story We’re Telling
  5. Session 2 (part 2): Rob Bell - The Story We’re Telling
  6. Session 3: Peter Rollins - Introduction to Transformance Art
  7. Session 4: Shane Hipps - How Technology Shapes the Sermon
  8. Session 5: Rob Bell - The Fig Tree and the Failure of Language
  9. Session 6: Rob Bell - Fumbling Around With Your Radar
  10. Session 7: Peter Rollins - Parables and the Lost Art of Provocation
  11. Concluding Sessions (when I completely abandon my duties)
  12. Poets, Prophets, & Preachers: Twitter Highlights
  13. Poets, Prophets, & Preachers: Final Thoughts