As I mentioned yesterday, I think that our teaching as Pastors resembles TV writing in several ways.   Here’s another…

Great TV shows create discussion long after the TV show has aired.  The link I gave to Lost yesterday was the a site called www.the fuselage.com.  It’s a site where people can talk about the show and share their theories (Some intersting, others bizzare) and ideas about the show.  But the important thing is, it creates further discussion.  That’s why I like teaching messages that answer some questions and create new ones.  It forces us to think and further the conversation. 

When I taught a message on love a few weeks ago, it created a stir amongst the folks in our church and I ended up teaching another message on the same subject the next week.  But the dialogue was great.  Amazingly, those with more time logged into church got it less than those who were brand new in their walk with God.  The messages that have changed me the most are the ones that left questions for me to answer and didn’t connect all the dots. 

It’s like a quote I heard Clint Eastwood say about the average moviegoer.  He said that the audience is smart and that directors don’t need to give them all the answers.  That’s what makes his movies classics.  I believe it’s the mystery that draws us in further.  I remember reading Deuteronomy 29:29 for the first time.  "The secret things belong to the Lord…"  I remember the wonder and mystery of not knowing everything.  That God has chosen not to reveal some (a lot) of things to us.  But what He has revealed is for us and for our children.  The questions draw us closer and lead us to greater discussion and communion with God and others…