The pulpit. Your local church may have one, it may not. Those that preach in your local church may use the pulpit, they may not. Yet, the formal proclamation of the Christian faith, rooted in the Holy Scriptures, is a mainstay of most Christian congregations.
I use the word pulpit to distinguish the kind of preaching that happens during a service from other types of Christian proclamation that may happen outside of worship.
There is a particular power to this kind of formal preaching. A power rooted in the Holy Spirit, the authority of the Scriptures, and the dynamics of a particular community of Christians gathering at a particular time for worship. 🙏
Dr. Thomas Long, long time professor of preaching writes in one of his books,
“God calls the whole church to proclaim the Gospel, and every disciple of Jesus Christ is a part of this calling. The whole church proclaims the gospel, and the preaching of sermons is but one part of this larger ministry.”
The Witness of Preaching
It is important to remember that preaching is one part of the Church’s larger ministry of proclaiming the mystery of God. Still, preaching can inspire, equip, and energize individuals and congregations in the way of Jesus. A way that can transform lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. 💨
Here are four ways to harness the power of the pulpit for consideration by listeners to sermons, preachers, as well as lay and ordained leaders of congregations.
1. Take preaching seriously as an individual
Preaching is important not because of the preacher, but because of you. If you are part of a local congregation preaching is one of the most regular forms of instruction and inspiration you receive in the faith. Are you taking advantage of the sermon? Do you give it serious attention and consideration? Are you reflecting on it later that day or week?
Here are some ways for you as an individual to harness the power of preaching:
Read the Scriptures that will be preached ahead of time. This could be the night before or before the service begins. Strive to pay attention. Ask God to help you stick with the sermon even when the preacher does not hold your attention.
You may discover a truth about the faith, an insight into a Bible passage you would have missed had you not made the effort. Find opportunities to discuss the sermon with others. The discussion could be two sentences on the way to lunch. The discussion could be a lively conversation with your family at home.
⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Talk to the preacher about their sermon. (Wow. I know talking to a preacher. It will be ok. Try it!)
2. Take preaching seriously as a congregation.
As a congregation takes preaching more seriously, preaching will become more helpful to individuals. If the proclamation of the Word of God is important then congregations will organize themselves in ways that highlight the importance of this ministry. Certainly, this is not the only ministry that should be highlighted but it should be one of them.
Here are some ways for your congregation to harness the power of preaching:
Post the assigned texts for a given sermon ahead of time. Point people to a webpage that lists the readings for the coming Sunday. Provide some instruction and discussion about sermons.
People are not always clear about the purpose of sermons or what they should be listening for or doing in response to them. If our congregations do not provide this sort of instruction then we are limiting the power sermons could have in our individual and collective lives.
⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Invite your congregation to respond to a sermon within the service itself. (This can work with smaller churches and larger churches.)
3. Allow your pastor to take preaching seriously
Parish pastors and preachers know they should take preaching seriously. A serious commitment to studying the Scriptures and proclaiming them are explicit in most vows of ordination. No doubt a small number of pastors choose not to take preaching seriously, yet two challenges confront even the most diligent of preachers. The challenges of time and encouragement.
Here are some ways to allow your pastor to harness the power of preaching:
Have an expectation as a congregation for a solid, thoughtful, and faithful pulpit ministry. Then support your pastor in taking significant time each week for prayer, study, and preparation. Give your pastor positive and constructive feedback.
Many preachers become discouraged because they deliver sermons week after week and receive little meaningful feedback. “Good sermon, Father,” is nice but not always meaningful. Also, allow others to preach occasionally so your pastor is not on every week. These breaks will improve their preaching.
⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Have a continuing education fund for sermon workshops, books and resources. (Also, encourage your pastor to use the fund!).
4. Take preaching seriously in candidates for ordination
Not every minister, priest, or pastor is gifted in preaching and teaching. Yet, every minister, priest, or pastor should have proficiency in preaching and teaching.
The knowledge and skills used in sermon preparation and delivery are used by all ministers, even if they are not regulars in the pulpit. A candidate’s potential as a preacher should be explored early in the ordination process.
Here are some ways to harness the power of preaching through ordination:
From the beginning of the process encourage potential ministers to develop their public speaking abilities. More opportunities for ministers in training to receive positive and constructive feedback about their sermons is essential.
Give sufficient time and attention to preaching in the curriculum, whether in an academic institution (e.g. seminary, theological college) or an alternative program (e.g. diocesan school of formation, local pastor program, etc.)
⚡ Shocking Suggestion: Encourage future pastors who are proficient but not gifted in preaching to allow others to regularly preach in their congregations, including developing an in-house preaching team. This will often mean well prepared lay preachers. (In fact, a team approach can benefit any congregation).
The Dominican friar, Humbert of Romans, writing in the 13th century, declared:
The sound of preaching must have as many different tones and variations as singing does.
Treatise on Preaching
May it be so in Jesus Name. May we by faith, with the gift of grace, harness the power of preaching as a symphony of praise to God. Let the Holy Spirit use our preaching as an orchestra of instruction and inspiration for ourselves and our congregations.
May the preaching from our pulpits sound through our lives, in word and deed, far beyond the doors of our churches, “to the ends of the earth.”
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