The Power Of A Good Question: Evaluating The Sermon Before You Preach
What
do people hear when they come to that portion of worship we call preaching?
Do they hear a word of grace (Col. 4:6) or a word of condemnation? Do they leave
feeling more mauled than mended, more rebuked than reborn, more hurt than healed?
Was there a word of grace in the sermon that echoed the healing words of God,
"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely . . . " (Hosea
14:4)?
What
questions do those of us interested in a healing, strengthening message ask?
Does this sermon diagnose, or merely prescribe? Am I aiming at causes or symptoms?
Will the listener feel better when they leave? Will they understand the disease?
Will they know the cause of their weakness? Will they have something practical
they can do? Will they have a realistic solution? Do they know how much and
how often? Have they been warned of the side effects? Do they have a sense of
how long it might take to heal? Do they know it's okay to hurt? Are they aware
that some sickness is self-induced? Will they be stronger? Do they sense the
physician cares?
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Ezekiel
speaks of shepherds failing to "bind up the broken" (vs. 4). Undoubtedly
he has injured sheep in mind. Rather than leave the injured to fend for themselves
(vs. 8), God promises to "bind up" the broken. He will see that they
are able to continue the journey. They are not to be left behind nor forsaken.
Shepherds
were responsible to watch the sheep. They were to notice when one of the sheep
appeared to be having trouble. Shepherds looked for wounds from thorns and attacks.
They checked to see that hooves were in tact. They monitored the terrain to
short circuit any attempts by the enemy to separate the weak. Shepherds carefully
assessed every sheep to ensure it was able to continue.
Preaching
that is worthy of the name enables listeners to continue, to go another day,
to take another step. Preaching, pastoral words from a pastoral heart, binds
up the broken and gives them the power to continue the journey. Preaching addresses
the multiple issues in every audience and recognizes that no two sheep are exactly
alike. Preaching takes into account the varied needs of the injured. Preaching
warns of the dangers inherent in leaving the pasture or the path. Preaching
provides adequate direction for the journey.
Every
Sunday people enter community worship with hearts broken by unfaithful spouses,
unfair employment practices, inhumane business dealings, unbelievable life circumstances.
They come hobbling into worship victimized by unfortunate miscalculations on
their own part. Some have suffered injury due to no responsibility of their
own, while others have been their own worst enemies. Yet they come, looking
to the Great Physician's assistant for some sense of hope and courage.