Whether it’s discussed under the subject of worship wars or of what the exact nature of preaching is, this is a good question. Let me just go ahead and state the obvious. I believe preaching matters, not just because I’m a preacher but because the Word of God teaches, endorses, and encourages the proclamation of the gospel.
THE ROLE OF PREACHING
In 21st-century Christianity, we are redefining preaching. What has been called “preaching” for the last 2,000 years is now being called by different names in an effort to be relevant. There is nothing more relevant than the Word of God. Preachers are now coaches and communicators. I’m just a preacher. I find it hard to see Spurgeon, Wesley, Luther, Knox, or Moody calling themselves a “life coach” or a “communicator.” You may be a communicator, but what are you communicating? Who are you reflecting? Where do your messages point people, to your latest bestseller or to the Bible?
Preaching has nothing to do with being cute, although there is nothing wrong with humor used appropriately. In fact, humor can soften up a congregation to make a strong point that might hurt otherwise. A pleasing preacher is too often an appeasing preacher. I’ve heard some preaching that reminds me of the old adage, “He who thinks by the inch and talks by the yard deserves to be kicked by the foot.”
Preaching should draw attention to the Lord, not the preacher. When a congregation leaves, they should be more impressed with the Word of God than the man of God. The man of God is called to proclaim Christ, not himself. Leonard Ravenhill said, “I would sooner expect a frog to sit down and play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata than expect to see some of the slick preachers of this hour preach with an anointing that would cause godly fear among the people.” Some preachers, to be honest, lose God in their sermons.
Preaching should exalt Christ. The best way to exalt Christ is to expound and exegete the Scriptures. A text taken out of context can often lead to an unbalanced or even unbiblical view of Christ as revealed in Scripture. Christ is the central figure of history, humanity, and the Scriptures. He is everything man needs. His person outstrips His promises. He delivers every time.
Preaching should be empowered by the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that breathes life into the Word and makes it come alive. The author interprets, illumines, and impresses on our hearts the things God desires for us to hear and obey. I hear preaching today that lacks the unction of the Holy Spirit. E. M. Bounds called unction the “indefinable in preaching that makes it preaching…it is the divine in preaching.” J. I. Packer said, “Preaching has authority only when the message comes as a word from God himself.”
Preaching should have appropriate illustrations. A story for the sake of telling a story is a waste of time. Ivor Powell said, “Scintillating eloquence may captivate people, but it is the power of God that changes lives.”
Preaching should be engaging. The preacher should draw people to the text and the time in which it was written. He should tell them why it was written and then lead them to the “what now” of why it has application for today. Too many sermons today are long on application and illustration to try to make God engaging. God Himself and His Word are engaging if handled properly.
Recently, we had a gentleman take an entire worship service to do nothing but quote the entire book of Revelation from memory. It was amazing. People were captivated, not by the person, not by powerpoint slides, not by videos, but by the pure spoken, unadulterated Word of God. There is power in the Word, not in our words.
Preaching should be done without trying to manipulate results. The results belong to God. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts and convinces. I remember Ron Dunn telling of a time when he was preaching, and he said it was as if God spoke to him and said, “Now, step back and watch what I can do.” That night dozens were saved. Preaching is God’s work in the final analysis. The consequences are at his disposal. A. C. Dixon said, “Every preacher is, or ought to be, a prophet of God who preaches as God bids him without regard to results.”
THE ROLE OF THE PEW SITTER
Surely there is more to listening to a sermon than listening to a sermon. Vance Havner said that too many people sit, soak, and sour. They think they are growing mellow with age, but in reality, they are about to rot.
The role of the pew sitter is to come prepared to hear. It means, among other things:
1. Getting to church early. Rushing in and huffing and puffing your way to the pew in a sweat of frustration does not prepare you to hear from God.
2. Coming to church prepared to hear. The preacher has every right to expect people to come prepared to hear—to come prepared to obey what they hear and to do something tangible about it.
3. Staying tuned in and not trying to anticipate what the next IMAG slide will be or what word will fill in the next blank on the note sheet. Listen with your eyes, your ears, your head, and your heart.
4. Taking notes. The preacher should EXPECT people to take notes. This is where I’m going to camp and where I’ll close this blog.
Why in the world do people expect a pastor to study all week when they have no intention of writing down one word the preacher says. If you are going to approach the Word of God and the delivery of a sermon like that, you have greater respect and awe for first grade English than you do for God the Father. You were expected to take notes in school and to study. Why is it when people come to things eternal, they put their brains in neutral, their arms are folded, and they stare at the preacher with a look that says nobody’s home?
I expect people to bring their Bibles and to take notes. Why? The Word of God and the souls of men are the only things that are going to last throughout eternity. Why? Because you forget over 90% of what you hear in the first 24 hours if you don’t write it down. Why? Because you may need that truth somewhere down the road. Why? Because if it’s worth your time to be in church, it’s worth your time to jot down a few things that God says to you in that hour.
I’ve often wondered why it matters to people that I have a “fresh” Word from God each week when their lives are as stale as bread from an abandoned bakery. They couldn’t tell you one text I’ve preached from. They couldn’t give you two truths or principles I’ve laid out for them if their eternal security depended on it.
I know—I see it everywhere I go. People sit, never open their Bibles, never take a pen or pencil out to write down a note. There is little wonder why our churches are so callous, carnal, and casual. We’ve lost all respect for the Word of God. We aren’t moved by it or interested in it, and we certainly aren’t going to engage ourselves in the study of it or apply it to our daily lives.
Does preaching matter? Yes, but only if you let it. As Howard Hendricks said, “You are responsible for what you hear. Not only what you heard, but what you would have heard if you had been listening.”
Jesus said it this way, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear…” Are you paying attention? Preachers? Pew sitters? If we were, we might have a revival. How can I say that? Because most of the great revivals have been the result of a return to the Word of God and the preaching of the Word with power.
Great word today. I have been reading PREACHER AND PRAYER, by E.M. Bounds, 1907 Only book of his published during his life time.
He quotes Alexander Knox, 18th Century Christian philosopher, and personal friend of John Wesley. Although this academic was no convert to Methodism, he was aware of the deficiency of powerful preaching in hallowed halls of the great cathedrals of his day. He was especially impressed by the Methodist men who were more impressed with God than they were in themselves. He called their preaching, “a cordial communication of vitalized truth. I say vitalized because what he declared to others was impossible not to feel he lived on himself.” E.M. Bounds follows this up w the observation, “This unction is the art of preaching.”
Recently have felt very old as I have attended services where creativity is the new mantra and media is the new god. Can’t help but wonder if focusing entirely on creativity as the means for communicating with the crowd, can often crowds out the time it takes to get alone with God and let him do a creative work in us. Maybe the times have passed me by, but I think Knox and Bounds have a word for us today. Just sayin’
Proud of you for preaching it and keepin it real.
GM
I want to print this out and give it to everyone I know! Good advice!
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I have just finished reading your book on revival and read through a few posts on the blog as well. Your book was my reading during vacation this week and it helped bring revival in my own heart. I look forward to preaching on this Sunday and appreciate your encouragement and challenges in your books and posts. God bless.
i love yall,s movies the church i am a member of is in deridder,la bro.ROGER GILL IS OUR PREACHER UNITY BAPTIST
Bro. Catt gives us so much common sense, with inspiration. A preacher, yes, and a communicator. [ Hope you don’t mind the reference] This is another article using plain words which are refreshing and very helpful.
Thanks.
I really appreciate the thoughts you’ve made about the importance of the role of preaching. The exact work of the preacher is perhaps not discussed as often as it should be. I recently studied some principles Paul shows us about the work of a preacher at http://alivewithchrist.com/howtopreach/ that can be really helpful to this topic as well.