When it comes to preaching, content is king but energy is the ace of spades. I'm not sure exactly how to define it. And it manifests itself differently in different personalities. But if you really believe something it'll animate you. The more you believe it the more energetic you'll get when you're talking about it. I think this is the pathos part of persuasion that Aristotle talked about. People need to feel your energy as they listen to your words.
I love the way John Wesley said it: "When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn."
I love the way John Wesley said it: "When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn."
6 Comments:
Could it be that preachers do or do not become animated largely because of their personality and/or temperament. I've heard some VERY persuasive arguments that were based on facts (content) not on how animated the presenter was. I've seen plenty of heretical teaching which was very animated, yet I didn't buy it. The content was wrong.
Aristotle may have talked about pathos and persuasion, but lets not forget its God the Holy Spirit, giving people the gift of faith that persuades people to become Christ Followers, not the preacher. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" Eph 2:8
Content is not king...content is everything.
If content was everything then every preacher would be alike. We wouldn't have been created with different personalities.
There is no doubt great content is the foundation of a great sermon without it truthfully whats the point, However, to say excellent information and facts alone are everything is a terrible mistake. Preaching is an art more than a science and requires several components to achieve its unequivocal potential, information, inspiration and entertainment. If our listeners, learn something valuable, feel motivated to go out and live it and have a great time while its being deposited, you have struck gold. If my wife sends me to the store to buy the best grade A eggs money can buy but I break everyone of them on the way home, no matter how incredibly delicious and life changing the eggs could have been they were lost in DELIVERY. We should spend as much time on the art of delivery as we do the preparation of content, for the sake of the people we lead and the souls we are called to reach.
In my experience, the anointing equals increased energy. And that energy isn't human in nature!
I think the anointing also enhances content--more prophetic, greater insight, etc.
But I think it's both/and.
makes me think about music - since God gave me the gift of music...
Imagine a song with great words (content) but all the notes were sung in a monotone.
Now think of a song with awesome words and sung with 1000% passion.
Kinda like a sermon. Content first, then delivery. We need both, not either/or.
Just a thought!
As a fellow preacher I would like to ask the question: If content is everything then why don't I just preach a Billy Graham sermon and just expect Billy Graham results? Do you really think that His content was the most effective part of his ministry?
Good post, Mark. I think some may have taken your observation too far. I hear you.
Post a Comment
<< Home