What should the message of a pastor or priest be to the people

I think if you learn what the writers meant by their words, in the time and place they wrote them, you will have something that effects our daily lives. Human nature hasn't really changed all that much in 2600 years, or 6000 years for that matter. Pretty much since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, we have remained basically the same. So the problems and issues that the Bible writers wrote about in their time, are exactly the same as the problems and issues we face in our time. Now, obviously some parts don't fit. Explanations of how the sacrificial system is painfully specific detail, are hardly a pressing matter for today. But if you read about King Saw and King David, and don't learn a absolutely MASSIVE amount about lust, sin, evil, jealousy, pride, submissiveness, holiness, repentance, obedience, honor, murder, the human heart, and divine forgiveness... and not be able to apply any of that to our lives today... I don't even know what to say. You have much bigger problems than a Bible study. How you can't apply the lessons of Saw and David to today... I do not know.

Because a minister comes across as an authority figure on the Holy Bible, the pastor or priest should undertake a thorough theological & historical analysis of the verses presented in the context they were presented in originally, according to many centuries of scholarly thought on the matter, citing any other relevant verses & writings from any other sources in order to be fully conversant with what the readings were all about. These possible views should then be presented to the people, applied to their daily lives & empowering them to do good, be good & live exemplary lives towards themselves & others. It should not be about how the passage supports established church doctrine & dogma & if you don't agree with it, then - too bad! The minister should not insist that there is only one way to view the text & that it can only be implemented in such a way. This has been tried for centuries & just doesn't work well. There's only so much hellfire & brimstone the people can tolerate, after all. The final interpretation should be left open to the individual, which could make for some lively discussion afterwards! The minister should make more of an effort to speak with & to the people using language that they can understand, as Jesus did, but at the same time, elevating the people's level of conscience, as Jesus also did. It would also help greatly if the minister has personal experience to back his understanding of the passages presented, like Jesus did & stops using unaccountable, indirect & referent language. To deliver a lasting & effective & truly profoundly beneficial message to the people, the minister needs to take a good hard look at how Jesus did these things & apply Jesus own principles & practices to the minister's own daily life.

I think that a Priest and/or a Pastor has the responsibility to get the congregation to question and take in the Bible through that questioning and not to take his or her word for what the Bible means but to read it and take it in as to what it means and not just what the words on the page mean but the concepts and ideas that the words all point to. What the overall meaning and messages that is placed deep within the text to be build out and discovered and found by the reader.

i think a pastor or a priest should read something from the bible wich people can relate to in their mundane life. It is good when a a sermon is about something that is happening in the real life. Like each one should be loving and have concern for one another. We shall learn to forgive when someone do wrong and asks for forgiveness. We can help each other to be good listener and do small things to make a life happier for one another. We can appreciate each other. Be grateful for being alive, have a place to sleep, get education etc....

The sermon is about both of your point of views. The Bible has lots of interpretation so in order to understand it one must know the interpretation for if one knows the interpretation then one can apply it in his daily life. I recently started reading a book entitled Purpose Driven Life and since then I keep on acknowledging and accepting the wisdom of the Bible and how it affects our daily life. It teaches us a lot of things and by reading the book it helps me to understand the sermon of the priest during the Eucharistic Celebration and believing and receiving Jesus Christ.

Hi Bob. Jesus told his apostles that they would go around the world preaching the Gospel. Saint Paul was an example of this. In essence, the sermon should be about the word of God in the Gospels. The pastor or priest should always show the way of salvation to believers. He will tell us that we should implement the original shows, that Jesus gave us, and also that we fulfill the commandment of love He gave us. In short, the priest should feed our soul with the word of God.

What it means to us in our lives.

I think maybe about all the values that have been lost, and we need to be there more for other people other than ourselves, kids have no values anymore, nor do they have respect for anyone, least of all their parents. And I feel nobody is really taking the time to address these things because they are to busy with life.

Stand up and live your faith. Sure none of us are perfect, but gosh darn it none of us are really this pathetic either. We're all made of better stuff than we give ourselves credit for, lay hold on that and stand for something. Pick up the potential that God has given you and help others to do the same! That is the sermon that has been on my mind for a few weeks. :)