Preaching the Role of Preaching Essay

Holmes helps to elucidate the connection between the message of faith in the scriptures and compassion required to convey this through the oratorical exhorting of observation.

This helps to highlight once key area of continuity between preaching in Paul's time and in our own. That is, preaching remains a powerful avenue through which to encourage social action, to discourse on political realities and to further distinctly Christian collective goals. In fostering these objectives today, preaching remains deeply connected to its own evolution. Accordingly, Knowles suggests that the evangelical drive to share the gospels is frequently received by those in the greatest need of social, political or economic advocacy. According to the text by Knowles, "in addition to heralding a clash of values between church and state, this is a significant observation in light of the way that evangelism and mission are sometimes conducted, with relatively disadvantaged listeners professing Christian faith in the hope of sharing something." (Knowles, p. 153)

This assertion points to the compassion and love that must permeate one's preaching if it is to truly reflect the Word. In fact, this points to what is surely the most important modern use of preaching. As to the disadvantaged described by Knowles, preaching has become an essential avenue to initiating community service and charity. According to Elysee (2011) an exemplary church or congregation will engagethe community directly by incorporating consideration of its needs into services and sermons. This also requires the church to reach out and open its doors widely to members of the community. This also points in the direction of yet a more effective way of reaching out to people. One of the most practical methods of evangelism is that which simply uses Christianity and the scriptures as a path through which to transmit genuine and tangible benefits to families in a given community.According to Elysee (2011), Outreach Programs can be extremely valuable in spreading the word of the Bible while simultaneously performing its work. Elysee asserts that the Church has a responsibility to reach out to its neighbors in need and that, in doing so, it has the opportunity to bring new members into the fold. According to Eysee, a "very powerful method of evangelism is to create and offer programs in the church that community members find useful. An example of that: the economic crisis all over the world have some families struggling to make end meets. Do you have people in the church that have a financial training? I am sure you do. Offer a free budget/financial planning course to help these families manage their budgets." (Eylse, p. 1)

This is only a single example with possible avenues for outreach varying depending upon each community's specialized needs. The Church can additionally play a direct role in such avenues as marriage counseling, drug and alcohol support groups, homeless feeding and sheltering programs, veterans services and a host of other areas that can simultaneously benefit the community and bring others the Word of god.

This speaks to the power of preaching, not just as a way of spreading the Christian faith to others but as a way of using this faith to bring practical support and compassionate charity to those in need. As the text by Holmes and the discussion here throughout denotes, the use of preaching in Christianity is informed by the scriptures but is ultimately most essentially as a way of forming community around the scriptures.

Works Cited:

Elysee, J. (2011). Methods of Evangelism. Methodsofevangelism.com.

Knowles, M.P. (2008). We Preach Not Ourselves: Paul on Proclamation. Brazos Press.….....