This research, with its focus on liturgy as a field inside practical theology, investigates the role of encounters during the Sunday sermon as well as the sermon of our daily lives. Three encounters are identified and studied. Firstly, the personal encounter between the individual and God. Secondly, encounters between people (where individuals share in each others stories and realities). Thirdly, encounters with the world and society (the missional encounters with the world in need).
This research aims to study the impact of these encounters upon Christian identity and the subsequent way of life. The starting point for this research comes from the conviction that liturgy and life are deeply related to one another and that these encounters will therefore not only help maintain church members, but also shape their lives within a unique South African society which is in a continuous transitional phase. These encounters are not only necessary, but also needed to facilitate possibilities for new life realities, which in turn will help shape individual, congregational and societal lives.
The research also includes emperical research where the experiences (with regards to the identified encounters) of church members after a traditional sermon, as well as the impact (or lack thereof) on their lives are observed. The findings serves as a valuable resource in determining the possible impact of encounters during the sermon, with the goal of maximising the life-changing potential of church sermons.
Die navorsing wil vanuit 'n studie van liturgie as veld binne die Praktiese Teologie die rol van ontmoetings binne die erediens en daaglikse kerkwees verken. Die navorsing fokus op drie ontmoetings: Eerstens, die ontmoeting tussen God en mens. Tweedens, ontmoetings met mekaar (waar lidmate deel word van mekaar se stories en lewenswerklikhede). Derdens, ontmoetings met die samelewing (die missionale gerigtheid van ons gemeentewees, waar lidmate in aanraking gebring word met die nood in 'n stukkende wêreld en hulle gestuurdheid daarheen besef).
Die navorsing ondersoek die impak van hierdie ontmoetings op Christelike identiteit en gepaardgaande lewenswyse. Daar gaan vanuit die oortuiging te werk dat liturgie en lewe ten nouste verbonde is en die voorgestelde ontmoetings uiteindelik nie alleen lidmate wil behou nie, maar hulle leefstyl in Suid-Afrika wil vorm binne 'n voortgaande oorgangsproses. Dit is vanuit hierdie ontmoetings dat nuwe lewenswerklikhede moontlik word wat 'n impak op die individu, gemeente en samelewing kan maak.
Die studie sluit empiriese navorsing, waar die eredienservarings (ten opsigte van die fokus- ontmoetings) van lidmate vanuit 'n gemeente in die noorde van Pretoria, na afloop van die gemeente se primêre erediens en die impak daarvan op hul identiteit en lewe verken word, in. Met hierdie empiriese navorsing as hulpmiddel, verken die navorsing die belangrikheid van hierdie ontmoetings binne die erediens, met die doel om die lewensimpakterende potensiaal van die erediens en ons daaglikse kerkwees tot sy volle reg te laat kom.
