Thoughts on Preaching
I've always known preaching in this day and age is difficult. We, as a culture, no longer have the attention span to listen as we once did. Preachers know that, so we add in visual aids (video, PowerPoint, etc.) to help keep people's attention. Some choose to have very short sermons or space the sermon out over the service...because preaching in this culture is difficult.
Over the last few days I've had occasion to talk to various people, in my own city and elsewhere, about what they expect or want in preaching, and I've come to realize the biggest challenge to preaching might not be attention span or listening at all. Maybe the biggest challenge is that we, as people who listen to sermons, don't know what we want or expect.
Some say, "We need to just teach the Scriptures...line by line, verse by verse. That's what I want when I come to church. I want to learn the Bible." Another says, "I don't want to be told Bible stories. I don't want to know what happened back then. I want to know how I can make it though another week." Still others say, "The preacher shouldn't tell us what to do." Or, "The preacher shouldn't get so emotional during the sermon." And still others: "I really want to hear about the preacher's own experience." Please preach about politics. Please don't preach about politics. Please preach about social issues. Please don't...you get the idea.
52 weeks in the year...how many times a year can a preacher meet all those needs/wants? Not often enough, which is why some go from church to church looking for what they want this week.
I know I don't always get it right, but I do have some convictions about preaching that would take a bright light from heaven to change.
1. Preaching must be based on the Bible. If it's not, then it's only my word and not God's Word. My word doesn't have the power to change anyone or anything. Only God's Word can do that. If you don't want to hear what the Bible says, don't bother listening to my preaching.
2. Preaching must relate to real life. Sometimes that relating comes in terms of the Scripture encountering a social issue or a political matter. Sometimes it comes in terms of how to get through the week. Sometimes it's a call to make a difference in our community. Sometimes it's in terms of a vision God is calling the church to pursue. But however it comes out, it must impact daily life.
3. I'm happy to share my screw-ups and the ways I've failed to live up to what I'm preaching. I freely admit I don't always get it right. (See number 1. It's God's Word, not mine.)
4. Preaching ought to be interesting. I believe it's a sin to make the Gospel boring.
5. Preaching ought to always extend grace. My pastoral care professor, Dr. David Seamands, told us that the last word in any sermon must be a word of grace, hope, healing, forgiveness. And I hope I can be forgiven for when I fail to do that.
6. Preaching must always lead people to Jesus. Without Jesus, it's not a Christian sermon. The primary text might not be about Jesus, but as preachers we have an obligation to lead people to Jesus.
7. Finally, the act of preaching is ultimately not about giving people what they want, but what they need. It's about calling people to change, to become more than who we were when we walked in. Most of the time, I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone!
So there it is. My thoughts for today. I'd be interested in yours as I prepare to preach tomorrow!
Over the last few days I've had occasion to talk to various people, in my own city and elsewhere, about what they expect or want in preaching, and I've come to realize the biggest challenge to preaching might not be attention span or listening at all. Maybe the biggest challenge is that we, as people who listen to sermons, don't know what we want or expect.
Some say, "We need to just teach the Scriptures...line by line, verse by verse. That's what I want when I come to church. I want to learn the Bible." Another says, "I don't want to be told Bible stories. I don't want to know what happened back then. I want to know how I can make it though another week." Still others say, "The preacher shouldn't tell us what to do." Or, "The preacher shouldn't get so emotional during the sermon." And still others: "I really want to hear about the preacher's own experience." Please preach about politics. Please don't preach about politics. Please preach about social issues. Please don't...you get the idea.
52 weeks in the year...how many times a year can a preacher meet all those needs/wants? Not often enough, which is why some go from church to church looking for what they want this week.
I know I don't always get it right, but I do have some convictions about preaching that would take a bright light from heaven to change.
1. Preaching must be based on the Bible. If it's not, then it's only my word and not God's Word. My word doesn't have the power to change anyone or anything. Only God's Word can do that. If you don't want to hear what the Bible says, don't bother listening to my preaching.
2. Preaching must relate to real life. Sometimes that relating comes in terms of the Scripture encountering a social issue or a political matter. Sometimes it comes in terms of how to get through the week. Sometimes it's a call to make a difference in our community. Sometimes it's in terms of a vision God is calling the church to pursue. But however it comes out, it must impact daily life.
3. I'm happy to share my screw-ups and the ways I've failed to live up to what I'm preaching. I freely admit I don't always get it right. (See number 1. It's God's Word, not mine.)
4. Preaching ought to be interesting. I believe it's a sin to make the Gospel boring.
5. Preaching ought to always extend grace. My pastoral care professor, Dr. David Seamands, told us that the last word in any sermon must be a word of grace, hope, healing, forgiveness. And I hope I can be forgiven for when I fail to do that.
6. Preaching must always lead people to Jesus. Without Jesus, it's not a Christian sermon. The primary text might not be about Jesus, but as preachers we have an obligation to lead people to Jesus.
7. Finally, the act of preaching is ultimately not about giving people what they want, but what they need. It's about calling people to change, to become more than who we were when we walked in. Most of the time, I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone!
So there it is. My thoughts for today. I'd be interested in yours as I prepare to preach tomorrow!
Comments
Post a Comment