This
is one of the strong elements evangelicalism continues to insist upon. And it
becomes a scandal in discussions between evangelicals and others. There are
those who wish to leave matters of salvation to God and decline to deal with
these from the pulpit, but the Christian preacher is under mandate from God
to highlight the ministry of His Son.
Preaching:
As you think of the sermon in this Christo-centric context, how does the message
function within the Christian community to bear witness to Christ?
Massey:
The sermon becomes, first of all, an invitational word to consider Christ. Secondly,
the sermon becomes a means of expanding one's understanding of Christ. Sometimes
the understanding must come before a decision can be reached. The sermon becomes
a tool for helping a person consider Christ in the New Testament witness, and
then the sermon takes on a teaching function. According to the New Testament,
the preacher must be a teaching minister. The preacher has to lead the congregation
to understand the meaning of Christ for the whole of life and for the believer
to see all of life in the light of Christ. This tool we call the sermon is an
invitational means, but also a means for increasing our understanding.
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Preaching:
So the sermon should always place a decision before the congregation?
Massey:
Yes, and I as preacher must be persuaded to act upon the information placed
before me in the text. All information concerning Jesus Christ presents me with
a decision. As I receive this information, I must be persuaded to act upon it.
All New Testament witness concerning Jesus Christ presents implications —
and I must be persuaded to act upon the implications, to trust the implications.
It
is not only the preacher who must heed these implications but all those who
hear the preacher's voice. I might speak a word and lack the persuasiveness
to help the person who heard me to follow through. But I must leave that in
the hands of God — to send along someone else who might be able to bring
that persuasion, to build upon the foundation I have made. I do not expect always
to see everyone who hears me believe or accept this word, but at least I have
done my part in getting them ready for this decision.
Preaching:
How do you prepare your preaching? Beyond that, how do you teach your students
to prepare for their preaching?
Massey:
Two basic ways: either move from a human need to find what God has said with
reference to that need in Scripture, or move from Scripture to that need. Whether
one is sensitized by human need to move from that point to Scripture, or whether
one moves from one's study of Scripture to move to a human need which is highlighted
in that Scripture, either way God is honored and the congregation is helped.
