Over my long church life I have gained from being under the instruction of many astute pastors who through their sermons have been great teachers to me. Often pastors will use the “sermon series” approach to preaching, and usually that is a meaningful way to preach and teach. (We won’t say anything just now about those sermon series which become so rigid that they can’t be interrupted by special events such as Christmas and Easter).
Regardless, sermon series can be an excellent approach. Having had a close working relationship with hundreds of pastors, I often hear comments about how their series is going. Many say this approach can be helpful in creating continuity, others find it can become a grind. But one topic/area that seems to be fairly universally problematic is a series on the last book in the Bible, Revelation. I remember a dear pastor friend of mine saying, “please talk me out of ever doing another series on Revelation.” Another said he could count on more “napping in the pews” with Revelation sermons than with any other book of the Bible.
Recently I was asked to write 4 sermon starters for a Revelation preaching series. Now when I go to write a drama script I “over-research” the subject, primarily, but not at all exclusively, using the Bible as the reference basis. And what I found, in spite of the dragons, beasts, horses of every color, trumpets, thrones, crowns and seals . . . was . . the last book of the Bible is incredibly readable, and amazingly instructive!
I have found to my delight that . . the last book of the Bible is no longer . . the last book of the Bible I want to read. Try Revelation with an open mind, you might find the same thing!
