SNAKE 87: What is a Sermon Session?

In this episode of *Snake on the Table*, we explain and demonstrate what we call a **sermon session**—a weekly practice where recent preaching and teaching opportunities are brought to the table for honest, brotherly critique. Rather than tearing down, the goal is sharpening: evaluating faithfulness to the text, clarity of structure, theological precision, and pastoral effectiveness. This episode walks through feedback on open-air preaching, classroom teaching, and pulpit ministry, showing how sermons are refined outside the pulpit through thoughtful analysis, theological discussion, and disagreement handled in charity.

*Chapters*

*Chapter 1: Introduction to Sermon Session and Open Air Preaching Feedback*

An explanation of the sermon session format, followed by feedback on recent open-air preaching, including observations on first-time preachers and the importance of publicly reading Scripture.

*Chapter 2: Biblical Theology Lesson Feedback and Scriptural Connections*

Critique of a biblical theology lesson spanning Genesis through Deuteronomy, highlighting covenantal continuity, narrative patterns, and poetic themes that point forward to a promised King.

*Chapter 3: Jonah Sermon Feedback and the Progression of Sin*

Evaluation of a sermon on Jonah chapter 1, focusing on how sin progresses from inward disposition to decisive action, mirrored by Jonah’s physical descent away from the presence of the Lord.

*Chapter 4: Debating Jonah’s Death in the Fish*

A substantive debate over whether Jonah literally died inside the fish, engaging questions of typology, poetic language, and Jesus’ own use of the Jonah narrative.