A century of preaching can teach preachers a lot. The two of us have been best friends since college days. When our experience is taken together, we have preached for more than a hundred years now.
We became pastors as teenagers, have served congregations of all sizes across the eastern and southern two-thirds of America and have worked in nationwide denominational assignments as well.
From sanctuaries, river banks and classrooms, we’ve learned a few key lessons about the process of preaching. Since we’ve preached and listened to many sermons, our insights are drawn from both pulpits and pews.
Five convictions
• Preaching is a rich relationship. During sermons, three personalities interact — preacher, a community of worshippers and God’s Spirit. Preaching isn’t a solitary performance. All three personalities participate actively and respond to each other when the gospel is being shared and lived.
• Timely, supportive feedback on sermons is a gift of love. Feedback from the pew can revolutionize preaching. Bill recently repaid a debt for an insight that has shaped his preaching ministry for more than 50 years. Here’s his story.
“It was the spring of 1961. I was a 20-year-old college sophomore at Oklahoma Baptist University and pastor of Pearson Baptist Church. Harry Feldman was completing his freshman year and could play the piano. I needed a pianist and asked Harry to fill in one Sunday. I knew Harry was bright (he later became a Rhodes Scholar). On the ride to church, I asked him to evaluate my sermon and give me honest feedback. I thought my morning sermon was a home run and was anxious to hear from Harry.
“As soon as I started the engine of my car for the return to campus, I asked Harry what he thought of my sermon. He was honest with me. ‘Bill,’ he said, ‘you criticized about everything you could think of and had very little positive to say about anything. Why don’t you read the Gospels this summer and criticize the things Jesus criticized and brag on the things he bragged on?’
“That conversation changed my life and my preaching. I discovered Jesus basically criticized two things — hypocrisy and lack of love. When I’ve felt the need to express ‘righteous indignation,’ I’ve tried to filter my preaching through Jesus’ model. Harry’s suggestion has probably had more influence on the direction of my preaching than any other single factor.
“That was more than 50 years ago, and I’d never thanked Harry for his suggestion. I reconnected with Harry recently and finally arrived in his driveway in Wilmington, Del., in August of 2012. He met me with open arms. At last, I had the chance to thank him for revolutionizing my preaching. As I recalled the incident to Harry, I was surprised that he didn’t remember the Pearson conversation. But I did and repaid an old and important debt. Thank you, Harry, for pointing me to Jesus. If I have pointed others to Jesus over the past 50 years, Harry Feldman is partially responsible. Thank you again, Harry Feldman.”
• Prayer creates a hospitable atmosphere for worship. Some church gatherings may feel a bit like debating societies or shooting galleries. But when preacher, worshipper and God’s Spirit meet prayerfully, we all can hear each other at heart-levels. Prayer leavens our faith communities.
• The discipline of taking notes while listening to sermons keeps our minds from drifting off into next week. Then, when Scripture catches fire in our imaginations, we can preserve some reminders for the living of these days.
• Scripture is the mother lode for preaching. God’s word is always richer and more basic than our best thoughts or strongest arguments. Soak your mind and soul in a text. Let it prepare you for the pulpit. Then, as the old preacher counseled, “Read yourself full, pray yourself hot, and let go!”
More to learn
Stay tuned. After we’ve spent another century or so preaching sermons and listening to them, Bill and I may have more lessons to share.
Bob Dale is a leader coach in Richmond and a retired seminary professor and Virginia Baptist Mission Board staff member. Bill Bruster is a retired pastor and former Cooperative Baptist Fellowship staff member.