Homiletics

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the preacher is on his way to a well-prepared sermon. In the book “My Homiletic Swimming Pool”, Rev. Timothy Tow wrote: “To prepare a sermon one is all at sea until one has hit on a theme and an appropriate text… Without a theme, you will fumble around when you preach. You will reel to and fro like a drunken man. Did I hear you retort, “With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will open my mouth and preach”. If you do that without serious preparation, He will fill your mouth with sand” (p. 21). While we acknowledge the Spirit’s role in sermon preparation, it is not to say that one can do away with the serious and diligent study of the Scriptures.

It is through the efforts of reading, studying, meditation and prayers that the Holy Spirit works upon the preacher. Thus, he must take effort to engage himself in all necessary preparations. It is part of the preacher’s responsibility to do so as steward of the Word. The Holy Spirit in the Proclamation of the Word From the sermon preparation, the Spirit’s role continues in the actual proclamation of the Word. In addition to illumination, the Spirit empowers the preacher in the actual delivery of the sermon. It is the enabling work of the Spirit upon the preacher that allows him to preach with power, passion and conviction. Many preachers today have undermined this work of the Spirit, in favor of so-called human factors like eloquence, diction, personal charisma, the ability to persuade, etc., thus ending up having a pragmatic and a low-view on preaching. All these so-called human factors (which are actually spiritual gifts) would not be effective without the Holy Spirit’s enabling and empowering upon the preacher.

The Apostle Paul stressed this specific work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel ministry when Preach the Word 18 Bible Witness he wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:4, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” And in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” Far from putting down the importance of the elements of effective speech, the preacher must carry on with preaching, relying not on human prowess but in the enabling power of the Holy Spirit! The appropriate use of illustrations, testimonials as well as clear and simple language enhances the sermon. Likewise, good delivery is important so that people will listen and understand what is said. Nevertheless, it is the Holy Spirit that makes preaching effectual. Quoting the answer to WSC Q. 89: “The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.” Without the work of the Holy Spirit, people may hear what the preacher says, and may even enjoy it; but they will never be convinced and be converted! Conclusion The Spirit’s role in relation to preaching is one that is invaluable and indispensable. For the minister of the Word to be effective in preaching, he must acknowledge the Spirit’s work in its fullness, for without an understanding of the work of the Spirit, the task of preaching is robbed of its power. Praise and honor be to our Triune God for the Spirit’s effectual work in the ministry of the Word!

Interpretation

So, what’s the problem with sermons? Part of the problem is in the method itself. Most truths are better conveyed when those present can take part by touching, reading, speaking, seeing and creating images, and singing or hearing in music those truths, so that they may even discover some of this for themselves rather than just being told. Or for another example: in today’s world, it’s possible for the gathered to go to their mobile phones or laptop computers to check what the speaker’s saying with its supposed Scriptural sources, or to discover that the story used in the sermon is actually an ’urban legend’. Shouldn’t they be able to write comments when reading a posted draft of the sermon on-line before it’s preached? Or have a way to give immediate feedback? A back-and-forth exchange with the preacher? Or ask questions? In some ways, effective preaching is the art of leading others into the process of learning what the New Testament is saying.

Part of the problem with Homiletics is today’s people. Unless they arrive already interested, most of them shut their minds off after a few minutes, deciding that what they’re hearing does not matter or is the same old blah blah blah. It’s a way of passing quick judgement on someone, a reflex action in people who think they have no time or mental energy to ’waste’. But no one can listen, learn, grow or experience anything when they’re in a shutdown mode. (Really, many of us don’t even know how to listen anymore, much less bother to actually do it.) There’s no personal growth or time savings when you’re just sitting there numb. Then, there are those who assume from the start that they already know more than the speaker, or that they’ve so ’freed’ themselves from stale ideas that they can safely ignore anyone who speaks of such stuff. Thus, they ignore any true testimony or practical wisdom which comes from the mouth of the ’foolish’ preacher.

Part of the homiletic problem is with the presenter. Very few have real skills and gifts for effective preaching or speaking. To be honest, many preachers don’t really believe much of what they’re saying, it’s just a part of their job. This is made worse by reliance on re-run sermons, and sermons that are mostly stolen from other preachers or bloggers or from web sites (like this one). Some of these are classic old sermons which were effective in their day, or were originally from a really good minister who was more than just a ’preacher’ to those who heard the sermon. Many ordained clergy see themselves as part of the class of tell-ers, who know the faith better than the ones they’re sermonizing to. How will their sermons ever connect to those who they think have so much less religious knowledge or understanding? Or those whom they aren’t around long enough to understand? Worst of all, how can they be selfless enough to rely on the Spirit to make it all work, when they don’t really live in an active relationship with that Spirit, through devotions, Bible study, spiritual disciplines, and a lot of listening and thinking and acting on it?

Of increasing interest in Homiletics is the matter of culture. Cultural studies can be divided into two categories: ancient culture and contemporary culture. The word cannot be fully understood without reference to the culture from which

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