On Preaching
Several years ago I read a story about the famous nineteenth century pastor, Dr. Henry Ward Beecher. Beecher was well-known for his use of dramatic effects in the delivery of his sermon.
Early one Sunday morning Dr. Beecher called the church custodian into his study before the service and handed him a dove. “Near the end of my sermon,” he said, “I will look up to heaven, raise both hands and call out, ‘And the dove descended!’ I want you to be waiting in the belfry. When you hear me say those words please release this dove and let it fly about the church.”
In the service that followed Dr. Beecher developed his sermon with great power and finally arrived at his climatic point. He lifted both of his hands toward the sky and in a loud voice cried, “And the dove descended!” Much to Beecher’s surprise nothing happened. So he cried out again, “And the dove descended!” Still nothing happened; so once again Dr. Beecher lifted his hands, and in a voice that thundered impatience and anxiety he cried out, “And the dove descended.”
In the silence of the moment that followed, a soft voice spoke from the belfry. “Dr. Beecher, the dumb cat has eat the bird. Shall I throw down the cat?”
I love preaching and take the task of preaching seriously. Each week as I prepare to preach I look for creative ways to engage my listeners. Sometimes my creativity works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes when I preach it seems as though a dove has descended from the heavens. At other times it feels like the sermon has dropped to the floor like a fat cat. In the end, I’ve learned that my best crafted words are powerless unless they are fueled by power divine.
Throughout the years I’ve also discovered that preaching is a team experience. What happens in the pulpit is often affected by what is happening in the pews. A warm, caring, attentive congregation can turn a nominal preacher into a great orator; while a cold, insensitive congregation can diminish the finest preacher in town.
The first verse of the hymn, “Brethren, We Have Met to Worship,” has always carried special meaning for me as a preacher. That verse depicts a preacher who faces the congregation and pleads, “Will you pray with all your power while we try to preach the Word? All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down. Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.”
As the hymn writer explains, preaching is a collaborative experience. It is not “I” who preaches the word; it is “we who try to preach the word.” Yes preaching, at its best, is the sum of a preacher’s preparation, a congregation’s prayers and the empowering work of the Holy Spirit.
Who knows what will drop from the heavens this coming Sunday as I stand to preach? Will a dove descend or will I end up throwing down the cat? Much depends upon a combination of my preparation, my congregation’s prayers and the Holy Spirit’s empowering. When those three elements come together “holy manna will be showered all around.”
