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| Scott Christensen, Renovo, Puyallup, WA |
Preaching in
a church plant poses a unique challenge as believers, seekers (those
considering belief), and non-believers will be sitting side by side. Good
preaching in the church plant must lead and grow the believers, to seekers it
must make the word of God accessible, relevant, and understandable, and for the
non-believer the sermon must present significant ideas and interest that allows
them opportunity to consider God as a credible source of wisdom and a reasonable
means for living.
Larry Moyer in
an article titled “Evangelistic Preaching” provides
helpful insight on the type of preaching most needed in a new church context (p. 11).
Moyer says the sermon in a new church should:
·
Provide a message with a clear, sharp focus
·
Be aware of the biblical illiteracy of the
audience
·
Present less of the exegetical work on the text
(backgrounds, language, history, etc.)
·
Have a simple organizational structure
·
Reveal life through relevant illustrations and
questions
·
Be humorous
Ed Stetzer places the sermon as a key part of what he calls
the seeker-comprehensible worship experience. Seeker-comprehensible worship
creates an experience of both ‘God-centrality’ and openness toward the needs of
seekers. “Seeker-comprehensible worship is a gathering that offers God honor,
through worship and the preaching of the Scriptures, while providing a relevant
atmosphere in which unbelievers are challenged to come to saving faith in
Christ” (Planting Missional Churches,
p. 263).
Resources:
Zack Eswine. Preaching To A
Post-Everything World. Baker, 2008.
Larry Moyer. “Evangelistic Preaching.” In
Leadership Handbooks of Practical
Theology, Volume 1: Word and Worship, James D. Berkley, gen. ed. Baker,
1992.
Ed Stetzer.
Planting Missional Churches. B&H, 2006.
Part 2 next week: Seven Characteristics of New Church Preaching
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