What makes a good sermon?
When I was teaching homiletics (preaching) in a theological college, I used to commencement past exploring the issue of what good and bad preaching look like. I did this indirectly—not by asking the question 'What does a good sermon look similar?' since this could easily have led to theoretical answers. Instead, I asked in turn for the group to call back of a sermon that, for whatever reason, they would consider a 'good' sermon, and then to describe what that sermon was like, before quite separately request them to think of a 'bad' sermon, and so describing what that one was like. (They were allowed, in either category, to think of sermons of their own or of others!)
Several striking things ever emerged. The start was that there was a remarkable and surprising unanimity around what both proficient and bad sermons look like—regardless of theological tradition, experience or temperament on the office of the listeners. This suggests that the characteristics of good preaching transcend the specific details of theological commitments on the office of both preachers and listeners.
The second was both mundane and as hit. No-i had whatever hesitation in beingness able to identify what 'good' and 'bad' looked like. For some reason, nosotros instinctively seem to know whether what we are listening to is worthwhile. Of grade, this will vary from person to person in relation to any particular sermon; within a congregation, people volition respond differently to the same sermon they accept heard preached. But over time, consequent things seem to emerge. This raises a profound question: if we know what a good sermon looks like when we are listeners, why is information technology that (to put it bluntly) when we stand to preach ourselves nosotros don't do a ameliorate job? This implies that self-awareness is a primal attribute for good preachers; a key challenge is to interpret what nosotros know when we are hearers into what we exercise when nosotros arespeakers. Nosotros demand to be able to imagine and understand how we sound to others—to run into and hear ourselves as others meet and hear us—if we are going to grow into beingness effective preachers.
The third event related to the detail of the answers given. Over nine years of asking and answering this question, a very clear tendency emerged. When talking near proficient sermons, people almost uniformly focussed on thecontent of what was being said—there was a good message, it was rooted in the Bible, information technology related to my questions, it gave me something to think virtually. There was very rarely any comment on the delivery of good sermons.
By contrast, when talking most bad sermons, the bulk of comments focussed on this event ofdelivery—it was monotone, the preacher had some abrasive habits, I couldn't hear conspicuously, it was repetitive and didn't go anywhere…and so on.
In other words, content and delivery role in quite dissimilar ways in relation to preaching (and probably in relation to other acts of communication). When commitment was washed well, information technology disappeared from view, so the focus and then was turned to the content. Simply when delivery was done badly, it drew attention to itself, and distracted from any content (message) was in that location.
This in turn implies something key about developing every bit a preacher:
- If I want to be aadept preacher, so I need to work on the disciplines which will permit me to achieve the point of having something worthwhile to say.
- If I want toavert being a bad preacher, and so I need to work on the disciplines that will permit me to deliver what I have to say in an effective way.
Quite a lot of discussion most and teaching on preaching focusses on the second issue lone—possibly in response to students' lack of feel in delivering this kind of formal oration. Only for my pattern of teaching, this realisation suggested two main focusses for the course. The outset sessions focussed on the effect of having something to say. What is preaching nigh and why are we doing it? What is the function of Scripture? How does the issue of hermeneutics (biblical estimation) chronicle to the function of homiletics (the task of preaching)? What kinds of illustrations are going to communicate content? The second set of sessions then looked at issues in commitment. How do we structure what we say? What is the office of rhetoric in preaching? How do we engage with bug of context? What special demands are made on particular occasions? How do we develop the core skills of project, modulation and choreography?
For assessment, this led to five criteria by which to evaluate preaching. The first two chronicle to content, the last two chronicle to delivery, and a center criterion relates to the bridge between them—how the content relates to context. I offer it hither every bit a resource—for assessment of preaching by others, and for reflection past preachers of themselves. If we are to hear ourselves how others hear u.s.a., one of the painful and demanding disciplines is to get into the habit of listening to ourselves—audio recordings or even video—and matching what nosotros hear with these aspirations for good practice.
I work freelance. If yous have valued this post, would you considerdonating £1.20 a month to support the product of this blog?
If you enjoyed this, do share it on social media (Facebook or Twitter) using the buttons on the left. Follow me on Twitter @psephizo. Like my folio on Facebook.
Much of my work is done on a freelance basis. If y'all accept valued this mail, you can make a unmarried or repeat donation through PayPal:
For other ways to back up this ministry, visit my Support page.
Comments policy: Good comments that engage with the content of the postal service, and share in respectful debate, can add real value. Seek start to empathize, so to be understood. Make the most charitable construal of the views of others and seek to learn from their perspectives. Don't view fence as a conflict to win; address the argument rather than tackling the person.
montgomeryyoucity.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.psephizo.com/preaching-2/what-makes-a-good-sermon/
Post a Comment for "What makes a good sermon?"