The most important thing for my preaching is feedback. I like feedback. I need it. At least it gives me some confidence that preaching is a dialogue.
The worst kind of feedback is nothing at all. The second worst kind of feedback is too much feedback from the same person.
Negative feedback is the best. "I had an issue with..." or "I feel like you were railroading me when you said...." That kind of feedback really helps. I think it helps me understand how I've been heard, but it also helps the person giving it stake out a strong position vis-a-vis what they believe. Negative sermon feedback is great.
Positive feedback is also good. If something resonates with you, tell me. I like to know that. Faith is a personal thing that we haul out for public viewing on Sundays. It's nice when two or more people say "yes" to the same rendering of God.
Most of the sermons I've preached since I started at North Decatur Presbyterian are up now on the church website. Please listen... and give me some feedback at david (at) ndpc (dot) org.
uh-oh---I hope I'm not one of those "too often" people---b/c I don't think I've disagreed with anything you've said yet! In most cases you lead us to clarify our own views---or nudge us into thinking about something in a new light.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree that negative feedback is more useful. As a teacher, I learned way more from disgruntled parents than I ever did from supportive ones, though initially, I liked the supportive comments better :-)