Preach Magazine Issue 4 - Preaching in the digital age | Page 20

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FEATURE

SPOKEN-WORD SERMON
As an art form, spoken word has existed
for as long as humans have walked the
earth. But since the 1960s this dynamic
and poetic style of storytelling has had
a dramatic rise in popularity. Mirroring
its rise in the mainstream, spoken
word has become a popular form for
the ‘alternative’ Christian preacher
and has allowed for a new expressive
and performative form of preaching.
Many of these preachers are in their
twenties and thirties, so it is no surprise
that these sermons have ended up as
online videos, but it is not just culture
that has determined their appearance
online – it’s also their lyrical form that
makes them perfect for the digital
environment.
Without the energy that comes from
a live ‘in-person’ performance, even
the most dynamic preachers can come
across a little drably in the digital
environment. The distancing that
digital technology creates can alienate
the watcher from the speaker. As
such, when trying to share a message
through an online video it is advisable
to inject more energy and charisma
into the talk than you would when
speaking to a congregation sat in
front of you.
Spoken word has energy and
charisma already built in; they are
part of its DNA.
Rhyme, repetition, and slang are
woven into the performance, and
dynamic shifts in speed or tone
add emphasis at specific mom