The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

Effective Preaching: Is it Persuasion or Proclamation?

Many tens of thousands of books have been written by evangelicals on the manner and method of good preaching. One needs only to go to the local Christian bookstore to find a wealth of texts on preaching from every vantage point, from expository preaching (i.e., that which focuses on the verse-by-verse explanation of the Bible) to topical sermons and addresses (i.e., that kind of preaching that is built on developing themes and topics of interest to the preacher and the congregation). Whatever the strategy provided, most books focus on the goal of persuasion, that is, the preacher’s responsibility to persuade an audience through good organization, clear presentation, and passionate delivery. Others are convinced that a focus on persuasion only makes the preacher oriented around manipulation or coercion. They would argue that the preacher delivers the truth but leaves the repentance and obedience to the hearer. Less focus is placed on methods of persuasion than clarity in presentation. What is your view about the purpose of good biblical preaching: is it to persuade the hearer or merely to present the truth so the hearer can determine what they want to do with the message? Could it be both persuasion and proclamation? Depending on the Christian tradition you grew up in or currently worship within, you probably have your own opinion on the nature of preaching itself. Some see preaching essentially as a call, something that God grants to certain individuals whom he desires to declare his message of Christ. For them, the ground of preaching is divine selection and appointment. Others believe that preaching is the job of the minister or official persons charged with that task. In other words, it is the preacher’s job to preach, as it is a mechanic’s job to fix engines, and a doctor’s job to practice medicine. The focus of this view is the professional nature of the preaching task: ministers (professional religious persons) go to a professional school (seminary) in order to carry out their professional task (preaching). How have you conceived the role of preaching in the past? What is your current understanding of the nature of preaching itself? The Heart of the Matter: Is Preaching a Call, a Job, or a Task?

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