-
Should You Start A Chapter Of The Boring Preacher's Club?
By Michael Duduit on Sep 28, 2020
In a culture obsessed with activity and extremes, a little bit of boring can build character.
A recent Wall Street Journal (July 19, 2012) article highlighted the Dull Men's Club of Pembroke, Mass.—a weekly gathering of older fellows which celebrates their mutual…well, dullness.
The story cited one member "who knows all the U.S. presidents' middle names and can recite the alphabet backward. Another member, Frank Tobin, might bring a picture of an antique car and award a $2 bill to whoever guesses the make and model. Attendees have discussed hummingbirds and studied park benches around the world. They debated raking leaves versus letting them lie.
"Believe it or not, we spent two and a half meetings on which way to put toilet paper on the roll, over or under," says another regular, Ken Girten, a 76-year-old retired banker. "It was pretty much tied."
In a culture obsessed with activity and extremes, it's not surprising that some turn—slowly, of course—to the more mundane. "We're all supposed to be busy, busy, busy, but what's wrong with being ordinary?" says Leland Carlson, a retired tax attorney in Chappell, Neb., who runs the national Dull Men's Club website—a loosely organized online community for "good citizens who are not setting the world on fire," and which inspired the Pembroke club. The club, which started in the 1990s, now has 5,000 members, up from 3,000 five years ago.
Which got me thinking about the church…Surely in the midst of booming megachurches with their crackling-good communicators, there must be a place left for the ordinary. Did I hear someone say "Boring Preacher's Club"?
The Boring Preacher's Club never would meet at Starbucks—too trendy. More likely, it would gather at Cracker Barrel. While the Dull Men's Club has a T-shirt with the slogan "Dull but Never Boring," I don't think the Dull Preacher's Club would want to spend money on shirts. Besides, a little bit of boring can build character.
Imagine the fun you could have at the weekly meeting of the Boring Preacher's Club:
• Reciting the list of the kings of Israel—backward
• Analyzing the various types of seeds grown in first century Israel as a way to liven up sermons on the Parable of the Sower
• Discussing the positive aspects of the elder brother in the Parable of the Prodigal Son
• Reviewing the pros and cons of the Dewey Decimal System vs. the Library of Congress indexing system for the pastor's library
• Reminiscing about favorite church history lectures from seminary days
• Recalling the joys of old-fashioned typewriters
• Wondering whatever happened to the Jebusites
Let me know if you decide to start your own chapter of the Dull Preacher's Club. I might decide to join—when I find the time to be bored.
Related Preaching Articles
-
Just What Is Pulpit Plagiarism?
By Ron Forseth on Jan 1, 2024
Executive Editor of SermonCentral.com Ron Forseth answers the thorny question in defining pulpit plagiarism.
-
Why Preparing Sermons Takes Me So Long
By Joe Mckeever on Jul 31, 2020
Proper preparation is not for the faint of heart. It takes prayer, study, and practice.
-
Managing The Clock In Your Preaching
By James O. Davis on May 29, 2020
James O. Davis reminds preachers that the length of a presentation is not determined by the clock but by the crowd.
-
The Critical Relationship Between Pastor And Worship Leader
By Chuck Fromm on Mar 4, 2020
Worship Leader magazine editor Chuck Fromm discusses the key imperative in a pastor establishing a meaningful relationship with his/her worship leader and team.
-
Busting Out Of Sermon Block
By Haddon Robinson on May 28, 2020
Give your sermons new life every week with this timeless advice from Haddon Robinson.
-
Energizing Your Sermons With Multisensory Preaching
By Rick Blackwood on Jun 2, 2020
Rick Blackwood helps preachers communicate God's Word in a form that is engaging, crystal clear, unforgettable, and more fun for the speaker.
-
Why I Love To Preach
By Joseph M. Stowell on Nov 25, 2021
Joseph Stowell says he loves preaching, but it's not like anything else he loves. Read this article and remember why you love to preach.
-
Your Mother's Day Sermon, Pastor
By Joe Mckeever on Apr 30, 2020
Why is it so difficult for pastors of all ages to preach Mother’s Day sermons? Pastor-to-pastors Joe McKeever gives some assistance.