One of the characteristics of the early church was powerful preaching. When the wind and fire settled down a bit on the Day of Pentecost, Simon Peter picked up the mantle of preacher and by the time he finished preaching about Jesus an estimated three thousand people had become new baptized believers. Reading about this preaching event does indeed raise the wonder level. It also raises questions about the preaching of today.
Of course, to preach on a day like Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was roaming all over the place would make even the most mediocre preacher an exceptional one. But, then we can make an excuse for mediocrity out of the unusual nature of the day, or we can make it a source of inspiration which does not let us be satisfied with the normal Sunday stuff. What we see immediately as we read Peter's sermon is that it was about Jesus. Nothing else. Jesus crucified and raised from the dead. It was also intentionally persuasive. It left people wanting more. No one was lamenting the amount of time given to preaching. "What should we do?" they asked. (Acts 2:37)
And, of course, it was also preaching that was birthed from a season of waiting and praying. If there is anything which today's pulpit needs it is more praying. The preacher needs to do more praying and the people who listen to the preacher need to do more praying for the preacher and the preaching. When either is lacking, the power of the preaching is bound to be diminished. The preacher should not complain about people not listening if the sermon has not been soaked in prayer. And, the people should not be looking for a better preacher until they have baptized the one before them in prayer. It is certain the church needs more powerful preaching. And there is a way to have it. Or, maybe it should be said that there is a price to pay for it.
Of course, to preach on a day like Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was roaming all over the place would make even the most mediocre preacher an exceptional one. But, then we can make an excuse for mediocrity out of the unusual nature of the day, or we can make it a source of inspiration which does not let us be satisfied with the normal Sunday stuff. What we see immediately as we read Peter's sermon is that it was about Jesus. Nothing else. Jesus crucified and raised from the dead. It was also intentionally persuasive. It left people wanting more. No one was lamenting the amount of time given to preaching. "What should we do?" they asked. (Acts 2:37)
And, of course, it was also preaching that was birthed from a season of waiting and praying. If there is anything which today's pulpit needs it is more praying. The preacher needs to do more praying and the people who listen to the preacher need to do more praying for the preacher and the preaching. When either is lacking, the power of the preaching is bound to be diminished. The preacher should not complain about people not listening if the sermon has not been soaked in prayer. And, the people should not be looking for a better preacher until they have baptized the one before them in prayer. It is certain the church needs more powerful preaching. And there is a way to have it. Or, maybe it should be said that there is a price to pay for it.
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