October 21, 2024

I ran across this quote in Fred Craddock's book "Preaching" a while back, and I can't seem to shake it. Those 20 minutes (or 40, for a few of you!) behind the pulpit on Sunday morning are a huge privilege--and an even bigger responsibility. The image of "many ears" tuned in to what comes out of "one mouth" drives home that point in ways that make my stomach turn.

Like I said: what a responsibility.

Because we realize what a responsibility and privilege it is, we spend hours each week studying the Scripture, organizing points, and refining material for the sermon. We look for ways to engage the listener's head, heart, and hands with the message we are convinced God has for these particular people on this particular week. We ask (again and again) for the Spirit's guidance to be more compelling than our own personal agendas.

Figuring out WHAT to say is important--and it takes work.

Figuring out HOW to say it is important, too--and it also takes work.

Like it or not, our voices, dear preachers, are integral to the art, craft, and practice of preaching. 

How much time and attention do you give to your preaching voice? How about spending a few minutes on it right now?

In one sense, your "preaching voice" is the motivating gift that energizes your preaching. It's the "WHY" beneath your sermons.

Does your preaching tend to be evangelistic, or are you an exhorter at heart? When you exegete a text, are you more likely to focus on its prophetic aspects or is your perspective more pastoral in nature? Are you a poetic preacher or a practical one?

Apologist? Story-teller? Teacher?

No one perspective is better than the others; and there are appropriate times and places for them all. 

Knowing where your tendencies lie can help you move intentionally out of your comfort zone when the text demands it--and preach with confidence when your "preaching voice" and the text line up well.

If you want to dig a little deeper, check out this short article from Preach & Lead about how two particular (and very different) ways of preaching are connected.

No one stands behind the pulpit as an "empty vessel." Your experiences, personality, skills, theological priorities, hopes, fears, faith, dreams, and  disappointments all have a bearing on the message you preach--and on the way the congregation receives that message.

Be yourself in the pulpit--not an imitation of another preacher or a hollow likeness of the "ideal" preacher. God called YOU to preach from the life of faith that YOU are actually living.

Trust God's calling, and do just that!

"But preaching isn't about me," you say, and I agree whole-heartedly. 

However, there is a huge difference between talking about something you've learned and sharing something you've lived. The most compelling preachers share the Truth of scripture from a place of experience, not just knowledge.

When's the last time you listened to (or, better still: watched) yourself preach?

If you can't remember, then now is the time!

Yes, it's uncomfortable (and yes, lots of us can't stand the sound of our own voices), but we'll never become better communicators if we refuse to watch and listen to our own sermons.

What we preach matters, but how we present it matters, too.

Your volume, tone, inflection, cadence, and speed can enhance the words you say or work against them.

And since most communication is nonverbal (even when we preach), your gestures, facial expressions, eye contact, and movement (or lack of it) during the sermon matter, too. Those nonverbal messages can distract your listeners or capture their attention in ways that make them listen even more closely to the message.

Grab the antacids, find a quiet place, say a prayer, and do it: sit through your own sermon, and offer yourself some constructive criticism. If you find areas of weakness, look for resources to help you improve--or reach out to a mentor who has strengths in those areas.

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few questions to get you started:

How fast do you speak? The average American says about 150 words per minute. Take this quick test to see how fast you speak.

(FYI: I took the test three times. The first time I just read the sentence, and clocked in at 165 wpm. The second time I emphasized a single word in the sentence, which slowed me to 145 wpm. The third time, I slowed down on purpose and emphasized multiple words--and logged 119 wpm!)

Congratulations, Rev. Barry Craddock (Gasper River CPC, Cumberland Presbytery): you won last week's drawing for a 3-month subscription to The Art of Preaching's Deep Dive!

If you didn't win, but are interested in this lectionary-based resource, sign up for the free weekly newsletter from The Art of Preaching by clicking here.

Between now and noon on Friday (10/26/24) you can register to win a $100 Visa Gift Card as a "thank you" for Pastoral Appreciation month.

Click here to put your name in the digital "hat." We'll announce the winner in next Monday's email!

The Louisa Woosley Preaching Initiative is a grant-funded program of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our goal is to equip ministers and candidates for ministry to preach compelling sermons to today's diverse and often divided world. 

For more information about the initiative and our programs, visit our website.