Altar
Call – Opelika-Auburn News
Walter
Albritton
January
29, 2012
Preaching today involves much more than
the spoken word
Preaching presents an interesting
challenge these days. Less than a
hundred years ago it was not uncommon for a preacher to pound the pulpit for
two hours or more. But that does not
work today. A generation brought up on
the sound bites of television has a limited attention span. Image has become
more important than substance. People who are satisfied with a few words and a
couple of pictures are no longer willing to listen patiently to a long sermon.
So today’s preacher resorts to the use of
visual images on a screen plus platform scenery linked to a sermon that
consumes about 30 minutes. A cross, two candles and a vase of flowers are no
longer enough.
An
example is what we have been doing at our church for several weeks. Our lead
pastor and I have been preaching on the theme, “Giant Slayers.” Each Sunday we
focus on one of the spiritual “giants” that seek to destroy us in the common
battles of life. Thus far we have offered biblical help to people in their
fight with the giants of fear, family, finances, and failure. Our scriptural
basis for the sermons has been the story in First Samuel of David slaying the
Philistine giant named Goliath.
One
good thing about this new plan is that it brings many new people to the table.
Each week many creative people work hard to design scenes for the stage or
pulpit area that capture the essence of the pastor’s message. These scenes
utilize lights, curtains and art work. All of this is done in an effort to
communicate the gospel through the eye as well as the ear. A creative worship design team can greatly
strengthen the impact of the preacher’s sermon. And the team can share the joy
of reaching people with a message that speaks to the real needs of people.
What we call “contemporary worship” has become
more popular today than “traditional worship” though most churches recognize
the need for both forms. But traditional worship today is much different from
traditional worship a generation ago. Nowadays traditional worship usually
employs the effective use of a screen that enables people to see as well as
hear what the preacher is saying. This increases significantly the capacity of
the listener’s memory.
Music
is a huge element of meaningful worship. It helps us to sing our faith and it
helps even more to sing with gusto. Instruments play a larger role in worship
now. In years past a worship service might have utilized only a piano or an
organ. Now the use of both piano and organ – and other instruments as well –
help worshipers to enjoy praising the Lord. A spirited choir makes a huge
difference in the quality of any worship service. And I like having soloists
added to the mix especially when the singer sings with heart and soul as well
as the voice. Singing together strengthens and encourages believers.
Though
I am an old man I welcome the innovations that younger people have brought to
worship. Within reason we should use every method we can find to convey the
good news to hurting people. The one thing we should never forget is that
though the methods may change, the message does not. The stage may look
different, sometimes strange to old eyes, but the message of God’s redeeming
love must remain the focus of the sermon. If the preacher begins chasing
rabbits in his preaching, it will not matter how beautifully the platform is
decorated. + + +