What Kind of Preacher Are You?

What kind of “preacher” are you?  That is an interesting question.  When I posed that question to ChatGPT, the answer I got was not very enlightening.

Expository Preaching: Focuses on explaining the meaning, context, and application of a specific passage of Scripture, often verse-by-verse.

Topical Preaching: Addresses a specific theme or issue (e.g., forgiveness, finances) by drawing from various, relevant biblical texts.

Narrative Preaching: Communicates truth through storytelling, focusing on the stories within Scripture to engage listeners in an experience.

Textual Preaching: Focuses on a short passage or single verse, seeking to draw the central truth directly from that specific text.

Prophetic Preaching: Challenges the status quo, calling individuals and society to align with God's justice and values.

Conversational Style: A modern approach that is conversational, relational, and frequently used in online or casual settings.

African-American Preaching: Known for its rich cultural, musical, and rhetorical tradition. Often involving a "scholar and holler" cadence to encourage engagement and hope.

While those are styles of preaching, I was looking for something deeper and simpler at the same moment.  I am not sure I would include African-American, since I would not include Old White Male, as a style of preaching. I would also remove Prophetic preaching from that list, and will explain why later.  Maybe the more appropriate question would be – what is the goal of your preaching.

Even that question heads us down a number of rabbit holes as I imagine most of us would say: “to convert and disciple followers of Jesus”.  But that doesn’t tell me much.

I would suggest that most pastors have one of two overarching “modes” of preaching, that may use the different styles and yes, have the goal of conversion and growth.  Those two modes of preaching are Prophetic and Pastoral (pejoratively it is often called chaplaincy, but I think that is harsh).  I do not believe these modes are exclusive, but I also believe that we (pastors) tend to gravitate to one mode or the other.  I believe we do the same with the various “styles,” but many pastors are more fluid in their “style” than in their “mode”.

Pastoral preaching is the preaching I hear most Sunday mornings, and my hunch is, it is the preaching heard in most churches, on most Sundays.  I believe pastoral preaching can use any of the styles above to communicate their message.  Pastoral preaching seems to have some overarching qualities — its main attempt is to offer care, hope and healing to the situation the church  and its members find themselves in.  It often comes across with empathy and is seen as encouraging and relational.  This is what most modern Christians seem to want — they come to church to feel better and to be led toward emotional healing and peace.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this mode of preaching.  We do need to feel support and encouragement.  My concern with it, is it tends to become all about ME.  Sure, the preacher often slips in a call to care for others, but even that is often couched in terms of how that benefits ME and my tribe.  

Personally, I find this style of preaching dull.  I, often, do not leave challenged, or feel that I am a part of something that is bigger and grander, and desires something radically different from the status quo.  Instead leave with that same warm feeling, but lack of true inspiration when I attended Rotary or the Optimist club.

I find that challenge; and am personally lifted up, when I encounter a Prophetic preacher.  Occasionally I will hear a prophetic sermon from the pulpit, but not very often.  The hallmarks of prophetic preaching are: calls to repentance and an acknowledgment of the corporate sins of society.  This preaching is often passionate, and some no doubt, would say that it is often confrontational.  The goal of Prophetic preaching is to motivate action and to help people to see what could be, rather than what just is.  Prophetic preaching can also be found using any of the styles above; hence, why I think it is different than simply a style of preaching.

Prophetic preaching is HARD!  It is hard because there is a fine line between being prophetic and being a nuisance.  Certainly, a person who comes to church to “get fed”, finds this style of preaching off putting.  But I think the key to being prophetic is self-reflection.  Richard Rohr in his daily meditation wrote this:

A time of national introspection must begin with self-introspection. Without our own inner searching, any of our quests for solutions and policy fixes will be based in shifting sands.

Not only are the sands shifting if we are not careful,, but we are also failing to understand our own inner biases and sins if we do not engage in a deep dive in personal reflection.  You must become extremely vulnerable to be a compelling and effective Prophetic preacher.

My style has always bordered on the Prophetic, whether preaching or teaching a class.  The best thing someone could say to me after a sermon was; “you really made me think.”  The worst thing you could tell me was: “that was a nice sermon.” It is probably why I titled my blog “wrestling with God” because my entire life has been filled with one question after another.  And if I am fully honest, it is why I retired early from pastoral ministry.  I got tired of the pushback from certain people within the church.  When parishioners complain that the beatitudes are too political, something is wrong with the institution.

When I got to seminary, people would ask: “What is your life verse.”  To be honest, I had no idea what they were talking about.  In the youth group that I grew up in (and changed my life), we never talked about having a “life verse”.  So I began seeking that verse that could represent me.  It didn’t take long to find it, although there were many possibilities.  But the verse I chose (or did it choose me?) is found in the Hebrew Bible:  Joshua 1:9

I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

That simple verse has sustained me for over 45 years.  Through the deepest valleys and the highest mountains, that verse reminds me that I am never alone, and that I should not compromise the prophetic voice that God placed within me.