Rob Bell At Fuller

Rob Bell spoke at Fuller last night. It was good, it was inspiring, it was challenging. Everything I expected from the man, really. He took us through the exodus - from Egypt to Sinai, to Jerusalem, and finally to Babylon. He noted that Israel's history repeats itself in the lives of His people today, he placed Jesus within this story, and he revealed more of our own story through it. His talk seems to have been an abridged version of a series of four sermons he gave at his church in Grand Rapids called "The New Exodus" - you can find them here.
Hearing him speak made me long for more teachings like this. It made me think about the role of sermons, and the role of teachers within a church community. In my church community, we do not have "sermons". In fact, we rarely have any real "teaching". I am beginning to miss it. And it's not necessarily hearing a person preach from the pulpit that I miss, as much as just learning from someone who knows more than I do about following Jesus; someone passionately sharing what they've learned or how God has been challenging them.
I realise a sermon will rarely change my life - it will not transform me overnight. But solid teaching is good. It is biblical. It is one of the ways I am encouraged to grow. I need it. So without idolising the sermon, let me just state that I miss it...