The Holy Conversation of Preaching

Homily (from which we get our area of study, homiletics) is a word at its most basic definition meaning discourse, dialogue, or conversation. This is what preaching is. It is discourse, dialogue, and conversation. But the question needs to be asked, who is engaged in the conversation?

When we encounter a sermon or preach one, we are so often tempted to think that this is a conversation between the preacher and the audience. That is why preachers have so many tricks up their sleeves. In this understanding of preaching, it is my job as the preacher to engage the audience in the hearing of God's word. So I must be charming or condemning, creative or logical, funny or serious, and so on.

As a listener, I expect to be engaged by this preacher. He is to make me think or laugh or bore me or whatever I might expect him to do with our conversation. And not only is there just one of these listeners, but many. They all bring their various expectations and desires to the conversation. Some are broken inside and need to be lifted up, others are joyful and just want to be encouraged, and even others are confused and need answers. What a complicated mess this conversation has quickly become. How is the preacher to know all the needs of his listeners? And when does the listener get their chance to engage in the dialogue? Maybe by text messaging?

Let me suggest this for our thinking. The conversation of preaching is not two way. There is a third party involved. This is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit acts as comforter, teacher, guide, and power supply for both the preacher and the audience. When the preacher has spent time with the Holy Spirit, the conversation lines will be open from his side. When the audience has been held captive by the work of the Holy Spirit, then they will be ready to hear the power of the Gospel. Consider the implications of that for our preaching. The Holy Spirit is the force in the room when the preaching begins to speak. It is a power that flows and is felt.

Two things to consider. One, as preachers, are we speaking in the Spirit? Have we opened ourselves up to the power of the Holy Spirit wherever that may lead us? I'm willing to bet that if we did this, we would enter the pulpit with a sense of the "numinous." The awe-inspiring greatness of God. We would find ourselves amazed at what God can do with a sinner like us. Secondly, as an audience, are we listening in the Spirit? Are we prepared to hear the words of God spoken to us? If you feel that power is missing from the preaching in your church, don't immediately blame the preacher. What if he's tapped into the Spirit and you're not? Community is not God, but God is communal. You are involved in this sermon just as much as the preacher by the power of the Holy Spirit. Examine yourself for power outages in your own life.

Wherever preaching lacks power to transform lives, I am almost certain that at least one member of the conversation is not tapped into the Holy Spirit. If only our churches would reconnect with the power of God's Spirit and allow Him to draw us in to Himself, what amazing conversations we might have!