Several years ago, a promotional flyer announcing a conference on "preaching" at Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California, arrived in our office. As a layman, my reaction was positive. I had only one question--why did it take so long for this influential teaching church to offer resources on such an important subject?

My father, the late Rev. R. D. Bredholt, was a gifted pastor and preacher. He did not use sermon notes in nearly 50 years of ministry. The only things taken to the pulpit were his Bible and extensive memory. While blessed with certain talents, they were developed over time through deliberate practice. Preparation was largely by prayer, study of the Word, interaction with his parishioners and community. It’s the combination of these things that makes effective preaching possible.

In some traditions, Sunday morning was often referred to as "the preaching service." Today it's more commonly referred to as the "worship service." Coming from a background where Sunday school or church schools were the focus, you may remember how people gravitated in this direction but were encouraged to stay for the preaching service. Now, the situation is almost reversed. This is especially so in large churches, where individuals come to a worship service and are directed to small groups, including Sunday school classes.

Preaching is like art: the audience may not know much about its intricacies, but they know value and clarity, when they hear it. Content may be more of an issue than length, although appropriate timing is something to be considered. Even in an age of interactive technology and short attention spans, audiences tend to stay with a speaker, as long as the person speaking has something to say. Illustrations help. After all, our minds are wired for good stories. Is there a better story than the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

For too long, laity has listened to sermons that are less than what they could be. On the other hand, some church members have, at times, failed to appropriately respond when the Word of God was presented in a clear and compelling manner.

Expectation improves outcomes. Anticipation produces results. And results confirm the anticipation.

Do you prepare to hear, as the pastor prepares to speak?

Closing hymns, when they were sung, attempted to summarize the sermon in terms of its main points and doctrinal underpinnings. Hymns, after all, are a repository of biblical and theological expression. The right ones can be helpful in remembering the sermon’s narrative as the service ends, and people return to their places of work and service.

One of my favorite audiotapes is a lecture by the late Donald Macleod, professor of preaching at Princeton Theological Seminary. In this presentation, Dr. Macleod concludes that preaching has failed, because preachers have failed. He states, "They have little respect for preaching, because the only preaching they have known has been ineffective. Some preachers don't see results and give up. For others, it's the boredom and slump of middle years . . . Whenever there's a falloff in preaching it's often connected to a loss of identity and sense of who the preacher really is.”

Preaching continues to struggle to find its voice in a changing church. Generational and cultural changes certainly contribute to this dilemma.

What may be taking preaching’s place? Conversations among individuals and in small groups. Yet even these can be informed by Spirit-filled preaching.

A strong pulpit ministry is an overlooked factor in the spiritual development of lay leaders and the priesthood of all believers. And for all the emphasis on groups, the worship service remains the most populated gathering for most churches.

Bi-vocational pastors have something of an advantage when it comes to marketplace sensitivity, as they tend to be with non-churched people much of the time. Their networks are better for outreach, which in turn can impact their preaching ministry.

It's good to know there is an interest in placing preaching back on the conference agenda—however it is defined in the future. The church and world need scriptural teaching that comes by hearing the Word, not just our own words. Perhaps the goal should be anointed messages delivered consistently well.

Russ Bredholt, Jr. is president of
Bredholt & Co. Winter Springs, Florida.
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