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Let's jump back into our new blog series Yea or Nay? We've already covered preaching with notes and preaching politics. Let's take aim at something else.

When I was a kid, every church building I ever visited had at least one thing in common: a pulpit. Some were made of wood, some were made of marble, some were made of a thick plastic that seemed like glass. But the essential fact remained: there was a pulpit.

Well, my discussion of finding preaching opportunities in the current elevation of the antihero in television sure hasn't taken off. Such is life at times. It appears we're getting some really great traffic on my introductory article, so I'll trust we're all thinking about it—albeit quietly.

The good news is that some other entries on the blog have stirred some really great conversation. A lot of you had a lot to say about the dilemma of notes. And more and more of you are starting to open up about the role of preaching in a season of politics. Keep your thoughts coming. I think these are important issues.

With this in mind, I've decided to kick start a new blog series that's sure to be provocative. I'm calling it, "Yea or Nay?"

Every Friday, the Preaching Today Blog takes a look at the week that was—what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about…

Top Five Movies
1. Lakeview Terrace (PG-13)
2. Burn After Reading (R)
3. My Best Friend's Girl (R)
4. Igor (PG)
5. Righteous Kill (R)

Once more, let's continue our conversation about finding preaching opportunities in the current elevation of the antihero in the world of television…

If you ever catch my Dad in a particularly nostalgic mood, you can bet he'll talk about two childhood heroes that cleaned up the streets and kept the world safe: Superman and Roy Rogers. You might even get him to quote the stirring introduction of the former ("Faster than a speeding bullet…") and sing the sign-off of the latter ("Happy Trails, to you…"). After that you'll inevitably have to endure a running commentary on all the collectibles in his study. And when the hero worship comes to an end, he'll offer a sigh that says, "Those were the days."

Let's continue our conversation about finding preaching opportunities in the current elevation of the antihero in the world of television…

Two friends are sitting on a couch, watching the latest episode of The Shield. Vic Mackey has just finished beating a little "intel" out of an Armenian mobster. One friend turns to the other friend and asks, "Did Vic really need to beat the guy to a bloody pulp to get the information? I mean, that was a little extreme, don't you think?" The other viewer replies, "Well, you might not like how he did it, but at least he did something!"

One of the goals of Preaching Today—and one of the ever-increasing goals of this very blog—is to help the preacher engage in cultural exegesis. We agree with the likes of Tim Keller, Kevin Vanhoozer, and countless others: some pretty spectacular moments occur when the preacher allows some space for the biblical text at hand to interact appropriately with a cultural text (a movie, a television show, a song, or something that's become so normal that we've missed that fact that it's actually quite abnormal). such interaction should, at times, be contentious, while other times, playful or even supportive.

Every Friday, the Preaching Today Blog takes a look at the week that was—what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about…

Top Five Movies
1. Burn After Reading (R)
2. Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys (PG-13)
3. Righteous Kill (R)
5. The Women (PG-13)
5. The House Bunny (PG-13)

*Update: The Leadership journal article I reference in this post ("Does Your Preaching Touch Politics?") has gone live. Click here to give it a read.

The last time I checked—which was just this morning—70 of you had responded to our recent poll. The question: Will you address politics from the pulpit in this election year? The possible answers: Yes, No, Not Sure Yet. Of the 70 who replied: 37 percent said yes; 40 percent said no; 23 percent said not sure yet.

With my bringing attention once again to the poll, perhaps those numbers will change. But for now, let's move forward into some conversation about the matter. I would love to know why you answered how you answered.

Since most who visit the site are a bit quiet, maybe this will help guide the conversation…

Beginning this Sunday, I’m going to preach a three-week series on “Caring For God’s Green Earth.” Care for the environment has been a politicized issue, and it has often been framed in terms of worshipping the earth. So why preach on this topic?

Every Friday, the Preaching Today Blog takes a look at the week that was—what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about…

Top Five Movies
1. Bangkok Dangerous (R)
2. Tropic Thunder (R)
3. The Dark Knight (PG-13)
4. The House Bunny (PG-13)
5. Traitor (PG-13)

To use or not to use notes? That is the (homiletical) question! My preaching profs taught me to avoid using too many notes, so I don't. In fact, I don't even take an outline to the pulpit with me, save a few lines or phrases sketched here or there in the margins of my Bible. I've tried to preach from a manuscript or a detailed outline or even a general outline, but I feel I personally lose much more than I gain.

What has me talking about notes so early this morning?

Every Friday, the Preaching Today Blog takes a look at the week that was—what people are watching, reading, listening to, and learning about…

Top Five Movies
1. Tropic Thunder (R)
2. Babylon A.D. (PG-13)
3. The Dark Knight (PG-13)
4. The House Bunny (PG-13)
5. Traitor (PG-13)

I think Walter Hooper is right! He says that The Weight of Glory, an essay by C. S. Lewis, “is so magnificent that . . . I dare to consider it worthy of a place with some of the Church Fathers.” If you want to do something to boost your preaching, read this address today!