If sermon interpretation was all about interpretation, our job would be much simpler, and this training would have been much shorter. Thankfully, it’s not, which is precisely why it’s much more interesting, rewarding, and exhilarating as we endeavor to master this craft.
A significant component of our interpretation hinges on our knowledge of the Bible. If you are not one of the rare ones who have it memorized from cover to cover, this is a major hurdle to clear. Before you go brute-force your way through over 700,000 words, let me offer a tip: target the stories first.
I’m not saying stories are all the Bible is about or even the most important parts of the Bible. What I am saying, is that the Bible is rich in styles and structures and diverse in purposes and emphases. Rather than a wilderness that looks the same through and through, it’s more like a vast continent with mountains, valleys, rivers, and lakes. When we read the Bible, we are not hiking through an endless desert, but adventuring across a miraculous and fascinating realm.
In this way, stories are the most approachable and memorable entries to the Bible. The best part is that they tie together names, principles, and verses that would otherwise be difficult to digest or remember. Lastly, a typical sermon often refers to some of those stories. Having them readied in our arsenal makes that portion much simpler.
Imagine that you are interpreting a personal story of a speaker. You have no clue where the story is going, where is the emphasis, or when the punch line is coming. It’s difficult enough to get the story right, let alone replicate the impact of the story.
However, if you have heard the story before, you now know exactly where the speaker is taking the audience, what are the emphases and takeaways, and when the punchline is expected. You can lead the audience like a tour guide instead of someone else who has no idea what’s going on. Familiarity with common Biblical stories does that for you.
Don’t worry, we don’t have to remember ALL of the Biblical narratives. If you go through our sermon archive or remember our past messages, you may realize that we tend to gravitate toward certain stories more than others. It’s not particularly a short list but certainly fewer than 100.
The next time you reach a story in your Bible reading plan, treat it differently from your “regular” readings. Don’t rush it. Summon your innocent curiosity for stories. Read it as if you are reading it for the first time. Be fascinated. Be bewildered. And don’t worry for a moment about memorizing it. Let it work through your imagination and emotion, and it will come alive when you need it.
Photo by Klim Sergeev on Unsplash