Preparing Preachers to Preach
I just returned from three days in Malibu, CA talking with preachers about how we become better preachers. This was our first Compelling Preaching Initiative cohort gathering since Pepperdine University received a $1,250,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. Our second cohort gathering is next month. And I am honored to join my friends, Mike Cope, Sara Barton, Wade Hodges, and Josh Graves as coaches for a stellar group of preaching professionals for a year.
Preaching is at a crossroads.
Why? For starters, the public failings of so many well-known and well-regarded pastors has rightfully diminished the standing of preachers. Second, the decline of church attendance has given rise to anxiety in both preacher and church members. Third, there is a growing antagonism toward preaching itself by pastors who want to lead, but are poor preachers. Even though many ministry professionals can nail a conference talk or two, preaching regularly is not their gift. Because churches have conflated the preaching gift with leadership, some pastors are stung by the fact that their leadership skills are often marginalized or diminished because of their lack of preaching skill or interest in preaching. And fourth, congregations rightfully want more diverse voices and perspectives in their pulpits. Often, many of those voices have little to no training to preach. After running out 2 or 3 decent sermons each year, their lack of training is revealed and they simply run out of gas. When that happens, the general power and effectiveness of preaching begins to drain, thus offering the church poorer and poorer preaching.
All to say, churches are conflicted about preaching.
My hunch is that this will not last long. When the confusion about preaching lessons, Christians will want and need what people of faith have always wanted and needed, a faithful, artful proclamation of the gospel. As that day approaches, wise pastors and caring churches will invest in preachers and preaching.
God has lead me to spend last year, this year, and, at least next year, to pour into preachers. It’s a humble calling, because the is to say what “good” preaching is. All I can offer is all I can offer. Not only am I walking with preachers through Pepperdine’s initiatives, but also learning and growing with other preachers at the National Preaching Summit, as well as continuing to write my monthly column for Preaching Today. And I hope to release some tools for pastors inn the early summer.
If you are a preacher, please take advantage of all of these, and other initiatives to grow and a communicator. And if you’re not a preacher, please support and encourage your pastors. It’s worth your time and energy. Remember, faith comes by hearing.