Friday 1 November 2013

Time Commitment To Sermon Preparation

One of the essential qualifications of expository preachers is surely toughness of hide to take the persistent criticism of not spending enough time with the congregation. His whole week seems to be taken up with study. But the preacher must be well-disciplined so that he can take such criticism graciously, and go on with the ministry to which God has called him. If Christians want good preaching, they must be prepared to give their minister time and freedom to study so that he can feed their hungry hearts. Only when the preacher himself receives from God can he give to his people. If he does not take the time to feed his own soul, he will have nothing worthwhile to give to others. If he does not labour to prepare a good meal for his guests on Sundays,he cannot complain if they have no appetite for what he has for them! A well-prepared dish is most appetising; but an ill prepared one, even though its all the necessary ingredients, will turn them off! Preachers must pay the price for their preaching. They must keep themselves fresh. 

Preparation for preaching is the most laborious thing the minister will do, therefore, it is so important that both people and pastor have a  right grasp of what preaching is all about. Only then will they be able to submit themselves to the rigorous demands of that preaching.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Do Theological Seminaries and Colleges Destroy Preaching?

Dr Henry Drummond thinks that seminaries are doing an inadequate job in the training of preachers because, firstly, teachers have so given themselves to the historico-critical method that it has suddenly undermined the authority of the Word of God. Preachers now do not have confidence in the Scriptures, therefore they do not believe that the unfolding of the Word of God is where the power of preaching really is. Secondly, the homiletical departments of seminaries and colleges have generally failed to emphasise expository preaching. Since Fosdick, life-situation preaching has been emphasised. The climate in many congregations today is such that it dictates a low priority of preaching, where preaching is not seen as significant in ministry at all. So often, Christians prefer to sit in judgment on the preaching, and even say such things as this: "if a man cannot say what he has to say in15-20 minutes, he shouldn't be a preacher." Today, preaching must be ultra-brief and go over us and hit our neighbour. This anti-preaching climate has a destructive effect on the preacher himself, for his very call is under question, his raison d’tre is challenged. And if such a climate tends to destroy the preacher, then the congregation has little or no chance of surviving. What many congregations want today is, not a preacher of the Word of God, but an office manager, (Ravenhill).