Bob Hyatt has an excellent post about the Death of Preaching. There is a lot to think about there.
When I was preaching on a regular basis (for about three years, 1995-1998) I had a different take on the problems with preaching. I think I did a fairly competent job, but I didn’t see much fruit from the activity. If I preached on morality, then immorality abounded. If I preached on stewardship and serving, then volunteers quit and giving went down.
If you think about it, the act of preaching is pretty unique in today’s methods of “information-sharing.” Where else do you go, other than a political rally, where it is your intention to sit and listen to one person speak? I know it happens in school assemblies where attendance is required, but where else?
So, I guess I am not so worried about the death of preaching. There is a possibility that with the death of preaching we might see the rise of something that might have greater impact in the lives of congregations and individual believers.
AMEN!
Church gatherings have come along way since they gathered in homes to hear read, the letters of the Paul, Timothy and others. To share their stories of faith, miracles and abuse and to help each other.
Then the dynamic nature of the increasing number of believers, the lack of literacy or even obtain a copy of the letters themselves, created a natural need to hear and understand.
In today’s modern organized church, the Preacher and the whole church “service” culture has taken on an entirely different function. Maybe it’s what the modern Preachers are doing during their time in the pulpit that is causing it’s death???
Years ago in Bible college I studied under a Christian education professor who constantly reminded us “What’s the worst method of teaching? The one that’s used all the time!” Given the decline of Christianity in this country, and especially Christian living even among churchgoers, I think we need to face the possibility that the effectiveness of the traditional sermon is very highly overrated.