Smith receives laughs at chapel
Candice Schlaegel
Issue date: 2/22/10 Section: Student Life
The music was echoing from Seeger Chapel as students entered last Thursday. A full rock band was onstage, while the audience was awake and singing loudly.
But this was no rock concert; it was chapel.
Dan Smith, lead minister at Momentum Christian Church in Cleveland, Ohio, preaches in an unconventional manner. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, Smith rapped as students entered chapel, followed by Momentum staff member James Fruits leading with rock worship.
Smith, who received his masters of arts in storytelling at ETSU, delivers his sermons by means of story, known as inductive preaching.
"You have to understand the human mind in order to sometimes reach people," Smith said. "A story almost always does that."
Smith said the message of Jesus is always at the end of his stories. He explained how it catches people's attention quicker and for a longer period of time.
After worship, Smith started his speech with the story of Spiderman. He summarized the comic book story of Peter Parker. He then went over the different powers Parker has once he is bitten by the spider. He listed one as spider grip.
"Can't you just see him sprinting across the ceiling of chapel?" he asked students.
The next powers he listed were quickness and strength; however, the best power, Smith said, was "spidey-sense."
Smith explained "spidey-sense" as the strange sensation in the back of Parker's head when danger was around. Smith said it is almost like a radar-unit that guides Spiderman.
Smith tied the "spidey-sense" into the story of the disciples meeting with Jesus before he is betrayed.
Smith reiterated throughout his speech the Biblical passage, John 16:8 (NIV): "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment."
Smith said Jesus was finished being the disciples' guide upon his crucifixion.
"I've been holding your hand long enough," said Smith. He said Jesus told them of the Holy Ghost who would be their "spidey-sense," guiding them in everything they did.
But this was no rock concert; it was chapel.
Dan Smith, lead minister at Momentum Christian Church in Cleveland, Ohio, preaches in an unconventional manner. Dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, Smith rapped as students entered chapel, followed by Momentum staff member James Fruits leading with rock worship.
Smith, who received his masters of arts in storytelling at ETSU, delivers his sermons by means of story, known as inductive preaching.
"You have to understand the human mind in order to sometimes reach people," Smith said. "A story almost always does that."
Smith said the message of Jesus is always at the end of his stories. He explained how it catches people's attention quicker and for a longer period of time.
After worship, Smith started his speech with the story of Spiderman. He summarized the comic book story of Peter Parker. He then went over the different powers Parker has once he is bitten by the spider. He listed one as spider grip.
"Can't you just see him sprinting across the ceiling of chapel?" he asked students.
The next powers he listed were quickness and strength; however, the best power, Smith said, was "spidey-sense."
Smith explained "spidey-sense" as the strange sensation in the back of Parker's head when danger was around. Smith said it is almost like a radar-unit that guides Spiderman.
Smith tied the "spidey-sense" into the story of the disciples meeting with Jesus before he is betrayed.
Smith reiterated throughout his speech the Biblical passage, John 16:8 (NIV): "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment."
Smith said Jesus was finished being the disciples' guide upon his crucifixion.
"I've been holding your hand long enough," said Smith. He said Jesus told them of the Holy Ghost who would be their "spidey-sense," guiding them in everything they did.
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