Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Pilgrim's Road Trip

Home
Evangelical
Makin’ A List

Makin’ A List

Last updated on: January 4, 2009 at 6:53 pm by Michelle Van Loon

Makin’ A List 2009-01-04T18:53:00-06:00 Michelle Van Loon

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

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?

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 1, 2009

Today is the first day of the rest of your life

Next Post

January 10, 2009 Bad Hair (salon) Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Baggage Books Calendar Church and Ministry CVID Ecclesiology Everyday Christian life Faith Falling Upward From The Margins Housing Jesus Movement's Unintended Consequences Midlife Midlife Survey #1 Midlife Survey #2 Moments and Days Out To The Margins Pilgrim's Road Trip Regret Seminary Spiritual Formation Uncategorized What's A Nice Jewish Grandmother Like You Doing In Seminary? When The Heart Waits Writing

Select a Month June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What language was the New Testament originally written in?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hebrew Greek Latin Aramaic