Preaching in a Communication Revolution
Re-imagining Preaching as a Process Part 2
This article forms part of the Lausanne Global Conversation check it out
All of us are living through what can only be described as the greatest communication revolution in the history of the human race. Technology allows us to communicate in ways that were only before dreamt of or written about in science fiction novels. This revolution has changed the way we understand communication and has influenced the style and aspirations of information technology. In the light of this extra ordinary advance in communications there is an undoubted case to be made to re-evaluate the way preaching is carried out in our churches. Congregations in this brave new world may discover themselves sinking in the Tsunami of change or discover a new found confidence in being empowered to contribute to the over all worship experience including the sermon through the creative use of technology.
How Can We Engage Interactive Preaching
How can we engage with the idea of interactive preaching? Can we use technology to help that interaction take place? In my last article entitled, ‘Re-imagining Preaching as a Process', I was seeking to find a way to express the function of preaching as more than just a performance by an individual but rather as a process of interaction by the Holy Spirit between preacher listener and scripture. In this article I'm going to try and attempt to understand each of these roles and perhaps reflect on how technology and the creative arts are being used and can be used to further enhance this interaction.
What I'm saying of course is not new. It was always part of the reformed tradition that preaching should not be separated from worship as a kind of ‘stand alone' performance but rather seen as part of the whole contribution that makes worship itself a process rather than an event. There is no place in the reformed tradition for a Eucharist to take place without the Word first being preached.
Within the Scottish Presbyterian tradition the preacher also has the role of being the prophet. When you take time to think about the roles that the prophets in the Old Testament played, quite often they were willing to engage with the creative arts, not only speaking forth the Word but acting out the Word. Jesus of course is the fulfilment of all the prophets for that is exactly what he did. He was the Word made flesh. ‘Salvation lived out" He not only spoke forth the Word, he brought forth the Word in action.
Worship as Active Learning
Last Sunday morning on retuning from church my wife, who is an educationalist, said to me, "I see you used the ‘Active Learning Model' in worship today, it worked well!" She was referring to the educationalist theory which suggests that people learn as they participate and understand more as they become involved.
This then must be the challenge for the preacher to engage the people of God with the great theological truths of the scripture in such a way that they learn from a kind of ‘incarnational Model ‘ in which we live out the encounter of the preaching and teaching through engaging with the message in the moment. In order to capture a glimpse of the eternal. This in my book is what theology is all about. All doctrine must have a practical application for the daily moments and be pointing us beyond ourselves to the eschaton.
All this sounds rather grand, and I know it is easier to say than do, but it is more possible than we sometimes think. This is what liturgy is all about., engaging theology. It must go beyond words and begin to engage all our senses indeed our lives and lifestyles, so that they themselves become part of the liturgy. John Zizioulas one of today's leading Orthodox theologians, and at one time my Professor at University writes:
"Theology is the liturgy, and the Christian caught up in it. Through listening to the liturgy and the scripture, the Christian Community learns to see the whole world as this liturgy ,and watches God at work, creating, judging and providing for all creation."
Learning to understand the process of revelation in all of our lives is a wonderful liberating experience. Understanding how this process flows out of our worship encounters, our scripture reading, and the role we and all of creation have to play in worship is indeed challenging but also affirming.
To realise that my presence in the world and at worship is enough in itself to bring blessing and encouragement to another is humbling but it is also to remind me that I am one and the many in Christ. In other words I am connecting with others because i am part of the Body of Christ.
Engaging with the idea of worship taking place beyond the walls of church has become one of the most pressing and important pursuits for the church today as we seek to create new emerging models for worshipping communities. How we go about teaching and preaching within these new models will be highly strategic to ensure the truth of the Gospel is passed on to the next generation of Christians.
What concerns me is that in an attempt to be relevant we speak of the gospel as emerging. This is to suggest that what has been delivered down to us by the saints is incomplete for a changing world. i want to suggest that we need to engage with what it means to receive that which as been instituted by Jesus and proclaim that which has been constituted by the Spirit.
In my next post I'll address these two important road maps as we seek to understand the nature of preaching in a Changing World of communication and technological innovation.
Here in St Andrew's Bo'ness we have been experimenting with technology and worship for many years. You may find it of interest to see how we are linking a daily worship website with a monthly interactive worship experience, which we are franchising out across Scotland and the world if people are interested. Check out Sanctuary First just click on the URl below this article.
