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Helen Morris
Why are you taking part as a judge for Sermon of the Year 2021 ?
Life changing encounters with God through Spirit-inspired preaching have formed and inspired my walk with Jesus .
Biblical preaching is a powerful vehicle of transformation , as the Spirit who inspired the writing of the biblical text breathes its truths into our lives today . It is vital , therefore , that the gift of preaching is cultivated and sharpened so that Scripture is preached clearly and effectively .
The Sermon of the Year competition is a great way that preachers can hone this gift and I ’ m excited to be able to input into the finalists ’ development through my role on the panel .
What might you personally be looking for in the winning sermon ?
It is important that preachers come to the text in humility , seeking to hear God ’ s voice through it , and then preach with confidence trusting that , having sought the Lord ’ s counsel , God ’ s Spirit will guide and anoint their words .
In a winning sermon , I ’ m looking for a preacher who has dug into the text to hear from God for themselves so that they can then preach boldly what the Lord has laid on their hearts to share .
Tobi Olujinmi
Why are you taking part as a judge for Sermon of the Year 2021 ?
There has never been a more important time to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ with love and accuracy .
I was honoured to be asked and I look forward to listening / watching all of the great sermons .
How do you think Sermon of the Year benefits preachers ?
It reminds other preachers of the diverse make-up of the body of Christ , showcases the important work preachers do and reminds them they are not alone . It is a totally edifying competition which I encourage all preachers to get involved with .
Our Finalists
Katrina Clifford
My faith life is shaped and enriched by different Christian denominations and communities . The challenge of seeing a fresh message in familiar Bible texts is something I enjoy , and I am currently training to be a lay preacher in the United Reformed Church . Last year I learnt about Godly Play storytelling and look forward to when I will be able to put both sets of training into practice . It is an honour to be one of the finalists this year and I wish my fellow competitors every blessing .
Katrina is a member at Trinity URC in Wimbledon and also attends All Saints West Ewell ( Church of England ). She is currently training to be a Synod Recognised Lay Preacher in the URC and is attached to New Malden URC as part of that training .
Why did you enter Sermon of the Year ?
I entered the Sermon of the Year Competition last year and was delighted to make the top 10 . I really enjoyed the challenge of crafting the sermon and when the competition came around again I was intrigued to have another try . This sermon didn ’ t come to me as easily as the previous one , but as the closing date loomed it felt like it had to be written , even if I never used it again . I never expected to do as well as last year , never mind make the final ! Having seen the finalists last year , I ’ m honoured to have been chosen and wish the other 2 finalists all the very best ! continued on page 7
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