Next level preachers let their living get in the way of their preaching.
Next level preachers let their living get in the way of their preaching.
Note: I mentioned last week how we are going to spend the next several weeks looking at a specific form of communication, which is preaching. For many of you who are preachers, I hope you will find these insights helpful; and for those of you who are followers of Jesus Christ, but are educators, or in some other profession, you should still be able to apply these principles, as well as seeing them as things to look for and encourage in a pastor. If you are not a person of faith, my hope is these posts will at minimum, stir a curiosity in you about the person of Christ, and the essential role he has in preaching.
Last week, I used a line from the early American pastor, John Shaw. Here’s the fuller quote, as he talks about the connection between living and preaching: “It’s true as one observes, God can work by what means He will; by a scandalous, domineering, self-seeking preacher, but it is not His usual way. Foxes and wolves are not nature’s instrument to generate sheep. Whoever knew much good done to souls by any pastors but such as preached and lived in the power of love, working by a clear, convincing light, and both managed by a holy, lively seriousness. You must bring fire to kindle fire” (The Character of a Pastor according to God’s Heart, John Shaw). Shaw lays his finger on the pulse of the issue. Does God need me to live a holy life to work through my preaching? Of course not. In fact, what has shocked me are the many weeks I have stood before people to open up God’s Word, not praying the way I should, and so swept away by the pace of life, I neglected to abide in Christ. On the other hand, what cannot be denied, is the depth of power I experience, independent of my clear outline, entertaining illustrations and laser focused applications. Homiletics (the science and art of preaching) has its place, but it must be an extension of the preacher's daily walk with Christ. Our living must get in the way of our preaching.
If I were asked by a new Christ follower to simplify the Christian life by reducing everything in the Scriptures to just a handful of verses, I would immediately, without hesitation, point them to John 15:1-8, and say, “If you live out of these eight verses, you got it.” The same is true for preachers. Jesus says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abid in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:1-8). There it is. That’s the Christian life. I try to husband out of an abiding relationship with Christ, parent, friend and yes, preach. The key word is, abide, which means to linger, to steep, to hang out. All of the Christian life begins and ends with our commitment to daily stay connected with Christ. Abiding in Christ is more important than preaching Christ. When the gift becomes greater than the relationship, sin will overtake us, and our ministries will come to an abrupt end.
I have found that cultivating a daily, abiding relationship with Christ, impacts preaching in the following ways:
Helps me display love in my preaching. One of my consistent prayers is that people would see two things when I preach: He loves God, and he loves people. When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he gave a two part answer, “Love God…love your neighbor”. All of the law, Jesus said, can be reduced to those two things. Notice, in John 15, Jesus connects abiding in Christ with fruitfulness. In Galatians 5, Paul begins his list of the “fruit of the Spirit,” with love. Just to be clear, love doesn’t mean I don’t tell people what they don’t want to hear- that’s more tolerance which is such a low ethic. Love is a sacrificial commitment which seeks the best in others, and to love people means there are times I say things to them they don’t like, but even in these moments, I say them in a kind, gracious way. Too many preachers lack love for God and people in the pulpit. Passion is needed, along with raising your voice where appropriate, but never is there a place to belittle, chide or be mean to your audience.
Shifts the focus from me, to Christ. The emphasis in John 15:1-8, is not on gifts, but on an abiding relationship with Christ, where he is our focal point, not the people I’m speaking to. Yes, we must be mindful of our audience, and do everything we can to employ principles to connect the ancient text of Scripture to their modern reality. But what abiding in Christ does is it keeps things in their place, where people are small, and Christ is big.
Keeps me from becoming a professional. When preaching is separated from living, we’ve become professionals. What we need is ethos. Ethos is how we live, and Aristotle said that ethos is the most powerful component of persuasion (confirmed by many studies since). The old preachers used to say, “Preaching will find you out.” That is very true, and what they meant by this is the Word of God we proclaim will reveal gaps in our lives. This is unavoidable, because all preaching is hypocrisy. The bible is a perfect standard, delivered by we, “jars of clay,” imperfect people. The problem isn’t the flaws revealed, but in our failure to respond, allowing the Word to do its own sanctifying work in our lives. Preaching backs the preacher into a corner, asking, “Now what will you do with this truth you are proclaiming?” If people and their affirmation and your reputation are foremost, you will become cozy with pockets of sin, excusing them away. But if Christ is your aim, where you cultivate an abiding relationship with God, preaching will become a means of grace, growing you in ethos and maturity in Christ.
What I am reading:
Black Like Me, John Howard Griffin (re-read)
