PREACHING
A. BACKGROUND... Once Covid-19 hit, much of regular life shut down. Churches, Broadway, sports venues, schools, etc., no longer functioned in familiar ways – in person, with people, communal, together. As we slowly reopen, each institution is trying to figure out what makes it real, effective, authentic. Harvard without classes, baseball without fans, church without worshipers, restaurants without diners, Alabama without football – in person with one another – what are we? At our church, part of reconfiguring worship has been to think through preaching. What is it, and why, and how can it be done?
B. TODAY... Various scriptures about preaching.
C. SUMMARY. Once Christianity emerged, first as a movement within Judaism and then as a stand-alone religion, St. Paul was the main guide for church life. In his many writings (the Epistles) he prioritizes preaching as essential to good order and strong churches. To the Romans Paul wrote, “How can anyone be saved if they don’t believe? And they can’t believe without hearing. In order to hear someone must be called to preach” (Romans 10:12-15). To Timothy he wrote, “Preach the word always. Correct, rebuke, and encourage with patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2). And while in prison Paul rejoiced that he was free to preach and people were free to hear (Philippians 1:12-18). And in 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Paul says bluntly, “Woe to me if I preach not the Gospel”. Preaching is a calling. Communication is an art form. The purpose of all communication, including preaching, is to be understood. With understanding comes at least the chance to respond, change, put into practice – whatever outcome is needed.
D. KEY POINTS
1. CALLING. To be ordained requires proof that a person feels that God has singled them out for a particular purpose. Some things in life we fall into, or feel attracted to, or intrigued by. But sometimes we feel compelled, led, “called” to do or be or say something. My father and grandfather (both pastors) never talked to me about becoming a pastor. They left that to God. I would be called or not. If called, you learn early that preaching is key to a successful career. Even those who don’t like it better learn to do it. Preaching is part of the calling. That’s what keeps a sermon from being an opinion, an editorial, or performance. At it’s best, a sermon is a result of intense prayer and deep study, seeking to sense what God wants you to say. It is a daunting responsibility.
2. KERYGMA. What, you don’t know Greek?! Kerygma is Greek for “proclamation”, preaching. I was taught that a good church is built on four pillars: Leitourgia (liturgy, or worship), Diakonia (helping others, mission), koinonia (fellowship) and kerygma. The Protestant Reformation resurrected preaching as central to worship. That led to pulpits being prominent, hymns written based on scriptures, the push for Bibles to be in every language, a big Bible on the altar. In some churches the Bible is on the pulpit and the preacher places their sermon on the Bible. Kerygma is also used to describe an overriding theme in a particular church pastor. In some churches it’s all about the Holy Spirit, or social justice, or sin, or miracles and wonders. It’s safe to say that our kerygma is love: God’s love, for the whole world, that gives us Jesus, who teaches us to love, the whole world.
