Looking over 2024 stats, I noticed something rather odd. Two of the top three posts I have are sermons. My initial reaction is one of shock. I mean, I never read other people’s sermons. I have opened up a couple of books of sermons of famous preachers. Sure, they may have been amazing to experience as an oral presentation. But putting a sermon into a book or a post is much akin to taxidermy. The sermon is lifeless… dessicated… and then pinned onto a paper or electronic page to be viewed. Perhaps it may be presented in a way that mimics life, but it is truly dead. Reading such a sermon is a chore.
So why are two of my top three posts sermons as far as views. I really have to assume that most of the viewers are preachers who are seeking sermons to share on Sunday. To some extent I get it. When I was young, our pastor would preach Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. He would also lead the Youth Group, and Choir. That is pretty crazy. I can understand why some want to cut corners and read sermons.
In my case, however, I don’t preach very often. As such, I really want to preach on topics that are meaningful to me. I have popped onto a website or two where sermons are collected and shared. The sermons are invariably awful. Or are they? Maybe they are okay… perhaps I did not search diligently enough. Or maybe because of my niche interests and desire for the sermons to connect to me in a personal way, they may be wonderful for others, but not for me. Many years ago, I did an internship in a church where the pastor did use others sermons. Because it was a multiple service church, I had to use his sermon as my sermon. Thankfully, he tended to choose well. He allowed me to personalize it… and would end up changing anywhere from 1/3 of the words to 2/3s.
Not sure how I feel about people taking my sermons and reusing them. However, if it REALLY bothered me, I suppose I wouldn’t share them at all. With that in mind, I will put links to some of my favorite sermons. These will include my “Top Two” as well as a few select others that I think are worthy to be valued. I make no promise that these sermons will be of value to others. As I said, I like to personalize my sermons. Anyone else using them would probably have to change a fair bit… especially illustrations.
#1. Beautiful Garden in the Desert. Isaiah 58:11-12. This has been my most popular over the years. Isaiah 58:11 is the theming verse for our ministry (Bukal Life Care and Counseling Center) so I find the passage especially relevant for reflection. https://bobandceliamunson.wordpress.com/sermons/beautiful-garden-in-the-desert-isaiah-5811-12/
#2. Every Christian is a Missionary? This has been my most popular new sermon. I am not sure how useful it would be for someone to use. It uses my testimony and that of my wife considerably, and also frames missions based on my own somewhat unique Missional theology. Still, perhaps some may find it useful. https://munsonmissions.org/2024/04/23/sermon-every-christian-is-a-missionary/
The following are a select few that I feel especially good about (for one reason or another).
#3. God of the Second Stone. I Samuel 17. This is about David and the five stones that he grabbed to fight Goliath. The sermon speculates on which stone was the one that killed Goliath. As I said, it is highly speculative. However, the applications are not at all speculative… and quite beneficial. I do think this one should have a lot more views. https://munsonmissions.org/2024/06/11/sermon-it-wont-be-the-first-stone-i-samuel-17/
#4. Tearing Down Walls. This is one of the older sermons I have online. I suppose I have to note here that this was not written as a political sermon. Rather, it was written as a missiological one. In recent years, the USA has become more isolationist and (perhaps) xenophobic so some may read this sermon differently than intended. Whatever. I think it is one of my better sermons. https://bobandceliamunson.wordpress.com/sermons/tearing-down-walls/
#5. Kintsukuroi— Beautifully Broken. This is a sermon I used while I was in South Korea. Kintsukuroi is an artistic innovation used by the Japanese as part of the aesthetic of Wabi Sabi. Despite it being topically Japanese, it did seem to resonate with the Korean audience. I do think it is somewhat profound… which is why I ended up writing an article based on the theme. https://bobandceliamunson.wordpress.com/sermons/kintsukuroi-beautifully-broken/
#6. Walking Forward with the Lord. This was a sermon or graduation address I shared at Union School International, in Baguio City. https://bobandceliamunson.wordpress.com/sermons/walking-forward-with-the-lord/
#7. A Better Land (Reflections on the Prayer of Jabez). I consider the sermon to be a bit of a contrast to the book “The Prayer of Jabez.” I do think it is a good sermon… even after these many years. https://bobandceliamunson.wordpress.com/sermons/a-better-land/
Of course, I have preached many sermons… but these are a few that I think are especially worth looking at again… even if only dried and strectched onto a piece of paper. I will be preaching at Spring Hill Baptist Church on December 8, 2024. I may share that one as well. We shall see.
