FEATURE
43
LET ’ S BE CLEAR , THE SERMON ISN ’ T ABOUT US AND WE MUSTN ’ T DOMINATE IT OR GET IN THE WAY . BUT THE PREACHER IS A HUMAN BEING , WITH RELATIONSHIPS AND EXPERIENCES
them of the need to be patient and gracious in their deep differences . Now , who doesn ’ t know of a congregation needing to be reminded of that ?
An example that appears irrelevant may hold within it a principle that is vital . Distance is reduced when the preacher recognises that , and relays and applies it clearly and sensitively .
We ’ re beginning to talk about application , but taking care to note that what is applied , and how it ’ s applied are key in terms of reducing distance . Donald English , himself a consummate preacher , used to say ‘ I ’ ve got to the stage that if I can ’ t “ so what it ” I don ’ t preach it .’ It might sound a bit routinised but I sometimes run through a mental list of how a text might impact the people making up a congregation . How might this teaching apply to individual living , life in a family , a workplace , in local church life , the local community , in relation to national and world affairs , etc ?
Apt illustrations , well relayed , remain good vehicles to reduce distance between a text and a congregation .
My own understanding of the role of an illustration has changed over the years . Time was when I , like many , sought to explain the passage , apply it , then illustrate the application , often with a ‘ moral ’ story . Writers such as Susan White taught me other ways to use story and illustrative material ; ways which seem to connect well with contemporary people who are so used to multiple modes of communication .
Try to start with story . Involve people , and names and faces rather than abstract ideas . A story can be told like this : ‘ I want to tell you about a person who is one of the kindest people I know …’. Alternatively , it can be told like this : ‘ Jane gets up early every weekday , drives across town to her friend , Jennie , where together they get Jennie ’ s children breakfasted and off to school . Jennie has severe MS and Jane has been helping her friend for nearly three years …’. In the first method I ’ ve told people what to think . In the second I ’ ve let them come to their own judgement , and they have met faces and names .
When I first trained to be a preacher it was frowned upon to include your own stories . But I think we shouldn ’ t be afraid to bring our own faces into the sermon alongside others . Let ’ s be clear , the sermon isn ’ t about us and we mustn ’ t dominate it or get in the way . But the preacher is a human being , with relationships and experiences . How we dealt with X or Y , whether there was a time when , grief stricken and bereaved , we sought God , and struggled , and waited , recounted honestly , warts and all , roots us in common human situations , and helps lessens distance . Which leads us to …
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CONGREGATION AND THE PREACHER
This distance is reduced by knowledge , sensitivity and trusting relationships . If you know a congregation well – or even belong to it – sensitivity is vital . Please don ’ t abuse your position or your knowledge . If you ’ re a visiting preacher , make contact , acquaint yourself with the context and situation . Not just ‘ are there any children ’? Find out what ’ s been happening . Is the congregation joyful at having a new family join or completing the refurbishment of the hall ? Or is it reeling because Frank or Felicity , stalwart of the congregation , godly and gracious , collapsed and died last Tuesday ?
An Early Church leader said to his students , ‘ preach to those in front of you ’. Effective preaching has always been , and remains today a life-changing engagement of text and context . Effective preachers seek to overcome distance , supremely because God ’ s way of revelation and communication is less by megaphone and more by incarnation .
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins is Superintendent Minister at Methodist Central Hall . He has previously been principal of Cliff College , President of the Methodist Conference , General Secretary of the British Methodist and Secretary of the Conference . He is chair of the board for Fresh Expressions Ltd .
Photo : © MCHW / Steven Creamer