At present, the churches in China are facing problems and challenges in transforming from traditional Sunday services to multi-gathering points of service. One of them could be how pastors prepare for sermons and how future pastors should be trained.
Pastor Song Enkuan (pseudonym), in his forties, is from southern China, and he has been serving for nearly 20 years. The Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper, recently interviewed him.
Christian Times: Why is it so difficult to serve on the podium at present?
Pastor Song Enkuan: Since media-related short videos have proliferated and network technology is so advanced today, people are prone to find them appealing. Because of the pressure of life and work, many people have no time or interest in listening to sermons.
During the three-year pandemic, many churches used online platforms for services, and when the pandemic control is over, they don’t want to attend in-person gatherings anymore. Some people don’t acknowledge the importance of commitment and freely participate in online “church and training”, leading to more difficulties for in-person gatherings and podium service.
Training pastors is totally different from teaching in a school. School teachers have teaching materials and plans while students come and go each year, so teachers will only become increasingly familiar with their teaching work. The church is different. Some old believers may have been listening to your sermons for more than 10 years; you can’t repeat them. In the church, there are new and old believers with different education levels and ages. Some people won’t understand profound messages, but some do and need them. It is difficult to satisfy them all.
Christian Times: So, as a pastor, how do you think the ministry of sermons should be revived?
Pastor Song Enkuan: First of all, pastors should have a good relationship with God and pray and practice spirituality every day. Secondly, they should keep studying, reading broadly, and acquiring all kinds of information. Thirdly, they should constantly reach out, visit people, care about them, and go on short mission trips.
Christian Times: How do you prepare a gracious sermon?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I usually record a sermon title, a sentence, a scripture, or even several sermon outlines when I read the Bible and pray, listen to meditation materials, or watch the news and listen to the testimonies of believers’ experiences. Then pray and meditate, and constantly add up the content until it becomes a complete sermon. Leave it there when you are not moved until you are moved again.
Sometimes, before preaching, the Holy Spirit will speak in a gentle voice to me, telling me the theme scriptures and topics to be delivered. I either write down the sermons or deliver them all at once as the Holy Spirit moves me.
Christian Times: How do you usually improve your ability to hear sermons?
Pastor Song Enkuan: We didn’t have much material. After I borrowed a book, I read it quickly and noted down or copied important parts. I will buy good books now, and many electronic versions of spiritual books have been downloaded from the gift hard disk. For example, if I want to talk about marriage and family, I will read materials about the topic to enrich my sermon.
Christian Times: What do you think the characteristics of a gracious sermon are?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I think the most important thing in preaching is to interpret the scriptures correctly. You must read this passage over and over again, observe it carefully, and then make a correct explanation. If your explanation is correct, your practice will be correct.
The second is that I think pastors should have charisma, and the Holy Spirit of the truth should touch them. If the congregation confesses that God is speaking to them through your sermon, it means that what you are saying is exactly what God asks you to convey to the congregation in the church.
Christian Times: Do you think there is room for pastors to grow? Are there any problems?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I think the sermon must be well prepared. It may take at least two or three days in a week, and you should pray and prepare in advance. It’s not just looking for an online article and copying it, which is perfunctory.
Now we are all gathering in groups. In fact, preachers can also divide believers into different groups not according to their location of residence but, as far as possible, according to their spiritual level, education, and age. Then preach to them so that they can tell which different information is more suitable for them.
Also, we can’t take the podium as a mere place where news events are interpreted and criticized.
Christian Times: Pastor, will you train pastors? What kind of guidance and help will you give?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I saw the need to train preachers three years ago. In the traditional church gathering mode before the pandemic, I could raise a large group by myself. Now that we have dispersed and there are several family groups in one place, we can begin to train preachers. There is a group sermon training session once a week. I send out a sermon handout every week for them to read. Each lesson is attached with 10 questions and answers, and then I check them. It has lasted for more than three years.
We have developed from one class at the beginning to three now. There used to be more than 10 students, but now there are dozens of students from other churches. Then we have elementary, intermediate, advanced, and pastoral classes.
In addition, on Sunday, I will write the sermon in advance and then send a single copy to two elders and five assistants to preach. Afterwards, we evaluate the sermons of our colleagues, thus solving the need for preaching at multi-point gatherings.
- Translated by Charlie Li
当下中国教会从过去的堂会制走向多点教会模式，会面临一些问题和挑战。比如牧者如何预备讲道，如何培养讲道人团队。
宋恩宽（化名）牧师是一位来自华南的70后牧者，他又近20年的牧会生涯。近日，他接受了中国一网络基督教报纸基督时报的采访。
基督时报：为何当下的讲台服事很艰难？
宋恩宽牧师：现今网络资讯很发达，自媒体短视频大量兴起，人们很容易被这些吸引；又因为生活工作压力大，许多人没有时间和兴趣听道。
在三年疫情期间，许多教会的聚会都改为了线上，疫情管控结束了，也不想再参加线下聚会了。也有的人缺少委身的观念，随意参加网上的“空中教会”、“空中培训”，使实体聚会和讲台服侍，更加艰难。
教会牧养讲道和学校老师教学是不同的。学校老师有教材有教案，学生一届一届的走，新生一批一批的来，老师教课只会越来越熟悉。教会则不同，有些老信徒，可能10多年前就在听你讲道，你不能讲一样的道。教会里，有新信的，有老信徒；有文化高的，有没文化的；有年轻的，有年老的。讲深了有人听不懂，讲浅了有人没得着，各方面兼顾是很难的。
基督时报：那您觉得，作为牧者该如何复兴讲道事工？
宋恩宽牧师：首先牧者要跟神有很好的关系，日常很好地祷告与灵修。其次牧者也要不断的学习，读书，获取各方面的资讯。再其次就是牧者要不断的走出去，探访、关怀、短宣。
基督时报：您是如何预备一场有恩典的讲道？
宋恩宽牧师：我是在读经祷告，听道默想，或是在看新闻，听信徒的经历见证的时候，会记录下一个讲道的题目或一句话或一处经文，甚至几个讲章大纲。随后祷告默想，不断的增加内容，直到成为一篇完整的讲章。没有感动的时候就放在那里，直到再有感动。
有时候，在讲道前圣灵也会在心中有微小的声音，把要讲的主题经文和题目告诉我。我就随着圣灵的感动，一口气把讲章写下来，或讲出来。
基督时报：那您平时如何提升自己的讲道的能力？
宋恩宽牧师：我们过去的时候，书籍很少。借到了一本书，我就赶紧读，然后做笔记，抄写重要的地方。现在碰到好的书我还会买，礼物硬盘里面也下载了好多属灵的书籍的电子版。比如说我要讲婚姻家庭，我就去读有关婚姻家庭的的资料，然后丰富自己讲道内容。
基督时报：一场有恩典的讲道，您觉得需要具备哪几个特点？
宋恩宽牧师：我觉得讲道最重要的是，要解经正确。你讲这段经文一定要反复地去读，仔细地去观察，然后做出正确的解释。你解释是正确的，你的应用才是正确的。
第二个就是，我觉得讲道要有感召力，要又有从真理而来的圣灵来感动你。如果会众告白，他觉得神就是借着你的讲道在向她们说话，那就说明你所讲的正是神让你在教会中向会众所传达的。
基督时报：您觉得牧者讲道是否有需要成长的空间，是否存在一些问题？
宋恩宽牧师：我想讲道一定要很好地预备。可能一周要花最少两三天的时间，提前要祷告预备。不是随便去乱找一篇网上的，然后复制一篇，敷衍了事。
现在我们都是小组聚会，其实传道人也可以把信徒分成不同的小组。不是按照居住的位置分，而是尽量以他的生命程度、文化知识、他的年龄段分。然后给他们讲道，这样可以讲不同方面的更适合他们的信息。
还有就是我们不能把在讲台解说新闻，一味地做见证，或者指桑骂槐。
基督时报：牧师，您会培养讲道人吗？您会给予怎样的引导和帮助？
宋恩宽牧师：我从3年前，就看到这个培养讲道人的需要。疫情前的堂会模式，我一个人就可以牧养一群人。现在我们分散后，一个地方就分了好几个家庭小组。我们就开始着手培训讲道人。每个礼拜有一个晚上的小组讲道训练的聚会。我每一周先发一篇讲道的讲义，让他们读。每一课出10个问答题，然后我给他批改，这样坚持了3年多。
我们从刚开始的一个班发展到现在有3个班。以前有10多个学生，现在有来自其他教会的几十个学生。然后我们有讲道的初级班、中级班、高级班、教牧班。
另外，主日那一天，我会预先把讲道稿写好，然后派单发送给两位长老和五位助理传道。我们后期还对同工们的讲道进行评估，如此就解决了多点聚会的证道的需要。
专访｜一华南牧者分享：讲台服事是神圣的 牧者当重视培养讲道人
At present, the churches in China are facing problems and challenges in transforming from traditional Sunday services to multi-gathering points of service. One of them could be how pastors prepare for sermons and how future pastors should be trained.
Pastor Song Enkuan (pseudonym), in his forties, is from southern China, and he has been serving for nearly 20 years. The Christian Times, a Chinese online Christian newspaper, recently interviewed him.
Christian Times: Why is it so difficult to serve on the podium at present?
Pastor Song Enkuan: Since media-related short videos have proliferated and network technology is so advanced today, people are prone to find them appealing. Because of the pressure of life and work, many people have no time or interest in listening to sermons.
During the three-year pandemic, many churches used online platforms for services, and when the pandemic control is over, they don’t want to attend in-person gatherings anymore. Some people don’t acknowledge the importance of commitment and freely participate in online “church and training”, leading to more difficulties for in-person gatherings and podium service.
Training pastors is totally different from teaching in a school. School teachers have teaching materials and plans while students come and go each year, so teachers will only become increasingly familiar with their teaching work. The church is different. Some old believers may have been listening to your sermons for more than 10 years; you can’t repeat them. In the church, there are new and old believers with different education levels and ages. Some people won’t understand profound messages, but some do and need them. It is difficult to satisfy them all.
Christian Times: So, as a pastor, how do you think the ministry of sermons should be revived?
Pastor Song Enkuan: First of all, pastors should have a good relationship with God and pray and practice spirituality every day. Secondly, they should keep studying, reading broadly, and acquiring all kinds of information. Thirdly, they should constantly reach out, visit people, care about them, and go on short mission trips.
Christian Times: How do you prepare a gracious sermon?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I usually record a sermon title, a sentence, a scripture, or even several sermon outlines when I read the Bible and pray, listen to meditation materials, or watch the news and listen to the testimonies of believers’ experiences. Then pray and meditate, and constantly add up the content until it becomes a complete sermon. Leave it there when you are not moved until you are moved again.
Sometimes, before preaching, the Holy Spirit will speak in a gentle voice to me, telling me the theme scriptures and topics to be delivered. I either write down the sermons or deliver them all at once as the Holy Spirit moves me.
Christian Times: How do you usually improve your ability to hear sermons?
Pastor Song Enkuan: We didn’t have much material. After I borrowed a book, I read it quickly and noted down or copied important parts. I will buy good books now, and many electronic versions of spiritual books have been downloaded from the gift hard disk. For example, if I want to talk about marriage and family, I will read materials about the topic to enrich my sermon.
Christian Times: What do you think the characteristics of a gracious sermon are?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I think the most important thing in preaching is to interpret the scriptures correctly. You must read this passage over and over again, observe it carefully, and then make a correct explanation. If your explanation is correct, your practice will be correct.
The second is that I think pastors should have charisma, and the Holy Spirit of the truth should touch them. If the congregation confesses that God is speaking to them through your sermon, it means that what you are saying is exactly what God asks you to convey to the congregation in the church.
Christian Times: Do you think there is room for pastors to grow? Are there any problems?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I think the sermon must be well prepared. It may take at least two or three days in a week, and you should pray and prepare in advance. It’s not just looking for an online article and copying it, which is perfunctory.
Now we are all gathering in groups. In fact, preachers can also divide believers into different groups not according to their location of residence but, as far as possible, according to their spiritual level, education, and age. Then preach to them so that they can tell which different information is more suitable for them.
Also, we can’t take the podium as a mere place where news events are interpreted and criticized.
Christian Times: Pastor, will you train pastors? What kind of guidance and help will you give?
Pastor Song Enkuan: I saw the need to train preachers three years ago. In the traditional church gathering mode before the pandemic, I could raise a large group by myself. Now that we have dispersed and there are several family groups in one place, we can begin to train preachers. There is a group sermon training session once a week. I send out a sermon handout every week for them to read. Each lesson is attached with 10 questions and answers, and then I check them. It has lasted for more than three years.
We have developed from one class at the beginning to three now. There used to be more than 10 students, but now there are dozens of students from other churches. Then we have elementary, intermediate, advanced, and pastoral classes.
In addition, on Sunday, I will write the sermon in advance and then send a single copy to two elders and five assistants to preach. Afterwards, we evaluate the sermons of our colleagues, thus solving the need for preaching at multi-point gatherings.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Interview With Southern Chinese Pastor: Pastors Are To Be Trained for the Pulpit
