The hearers’ level of expectation is especially high on given occasions, such as a congregational anniversary. The dangers for the sermon are many; the victories few. Through the skillful interweaving of congregational history, the Church’s history, biblical history, the history of persons, and a knowledge and sensitivity of worship - always with the hearers in mind - this sermon forges a victory for the hearers.

The sermon focuses the hearers where the focus is to be - on the Lord of the Church and the response of the Church in view of....

The sermon suggests the aisle of the church building as symbolic in its power to illuminate accurately the life of the church. This symbol of the aisle gives the sermon a growing strength that consequently touches also those who are not an immediate pa…