Dead or Alive Preaching

In a recent article by Dave McCellan in Leadership magazine he writes about sermon preparation.

One of the more recent trends is to preach without notes. I like what he had to say at the end of his article:

"When a sermon is properly prepared and delivered, it is likely that its preacher will not be fixated on the issue of notes: either their presence or their absence. The goal becomes to be so consumed by an urgent message that we forget ourselves and our methods for a short while to concentrate on communicating with those in the room.

When that happens, we probably won't be looking down to find the next phrase. Something much more alive will be happening. Newman refers to this as well: Nothing that is anonymous will preach; nothing that is dead and gone; nothing that is of yesterday, however religious in itself and useful. Thought and word are one in the Eternal Logos, and must not be separate in those who are his shadows on earth. they must issue fresh, as from the preacher's mouth, so from his breast, if they are to be 'spirit and life' to the hearts of his hearers.

Whether we use or don't use notes, I trust every preacher's desire is that our sermons reflect the kind of personal acquaintance with the sacred text that can't help but reanimate it for the pe0ple of God." David McClellan @ Preaching Today.com

Good words!