Preaching that gets through is a vital subject to consider. We need orthodox preaching that is filled with sound doctrine, but it needs to get through to the hearers. The church is not simply about the process of, as it were simply communicating the truth, but in communicating the truth in a way that the truth gets through to the hearers. There are several points that are necessary for this to happen. I am a preacher and I am aware that I need to constantly work at my preaching, its delivery and its preparation as well.
However, a key question I need to ask myself after preaching is: Did the message get through to the hearers? They should not be bored during the delivery or distracted by unnecessary comments or be side-tracked by irrelevancies made by me during the delivery. Of course we need the assistance and help of the Holy Spirit.
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Preaching is more than a human task and listening also requires diligence as well. From the preachers part we need to constantly evaluate if our preaching is getting through and if not, to ask the honest question: why not? Am I as a preacher needing to adapt my style, to pray more earnestly for the preaching or to make wholesale changes? The last thing we want is to bore people in the act of preaching?
I find this topic a searching one. A key question for me is: why does some preaching get through to people and some does not? I am willing to learn, so If you have comments on this matter, please make a comment on this blog to help me to improve by God's grace as a preacher.
3 comments:
Because different recipients learn through different teaching styles.Consider incoperating variety of styles in delivering sermon eg. Lecture, Object,Question. At the same time. Emulate the master teacher, Jesus! Amen?
Here is a comment sent to me and I have copied it because it is real wisdom by a mature Christian minister.
Thanks for initiating this subject. The LAST thing any preacher should do is bore people with God's Word. I'll stick my neck out and say that preaching is not formulaic, although a good introduction, well-timed and good illustrations, and a good conclusion help. These are the things I look for when I listen. (1) A preacher who earnestly believes his message MUST be heard because he himself has heard and been changed by its truth. This has the ring of authenticity and cannot be faked. We hear a LOT about making the Word relevant. For my money, if it touches the preacher's heart, it will strike the congregations as well. (2) Clarity of message. That is, what is he saying and what is he saying about what he is saying. There are three rules here: Be clear, be clear, be clear. (3) A message that aims, not just at my head, but even more at my heart. (4) This one should have been first: saturated with the person and work of Christ! (5) I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at this. If preaching an expository sermon, I much prefer a message that unfolds the text so that I clearly understand the author's meaning, not just the preacher's application. It frustrates me to no end when the preacher tells me what to do with the text without clearly explaining its meaning. Frankly, I feel a bit insulted. The spiritual power is in the word itself!
I agree. We need more of Christ in his word than one telling us what to do or not do. Thank you.... From Uganda
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