An old pastor from East China shared that preaching is related to preachers' spirituality.
Recently, the Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, interviewed an elderly pastor who is called Zhao Guangyi (pseudonym). Pastor Zhao shared three pieces of advice on how to prepare sermons: preparing, preaching, and why some pastors are losing the power of the Holy Spirit when preaching today.
Christian Times: How do pastors prepare a sermon?
Zhao Guangyi: The most basic is to have a good spiritual life every day and to establish a deeper life relationship with God. In this way, we can be nourished by the life of God and filled with the Holy Spirit. Some pastors I observe have a spiritual practice that is only a formality, and even though they are passively involved in the ministry, they have no spiritual life.
Moreover, when preparing the sermon, the speaker himself must first be moved by God. He can then move the believers when preaching.
Also, the pastor should have a good spiritual quality and temperament. Sometimes, the testimony of the pastor’s life is better than how he preaches. Another point is that in the process of preaching, it is good to be full of vigor and dress well. I usually spend at least 20 to 30 hours preparing a sermon.
Christian Times: What should the content of a sermon focus on?
Zhao Guangyi: I think, first of all, there must be Word of God, and the Way comes from the Word of God. Secondly, we should interpret the Bible according to justice, and the interpretation should not be too academic. Today, some pastors often quote words in Hebrew or Greek to show that they have studied theology, which is not practically comprehensible to believers.
Moreover, it is very important to have appropriate examples of real life in the sermon. Preaching is like building a house. If the house has no doors or windows, which can be built beautifully, it will eventually suffocate the dwellers in it. Therefore, there should be appropriate examples that conform to the truth of the Bible. There must be a final conclusion, which can push believers to do good deeds or repent.
In addition, pastors should study and understand the Bible and constantly improve their level of interpretation, not relying on past experiences. Also, preaching cannot become chicken soup for the soul and be influenced by the world. Otherwise, it will be difficult for believers to get blessings from God.
Christian Times: Why do some lose the power of the Holy Spirit when preaching?
Zhao Guangyi: I find that many pastors either overemphasize grace and do not talk about the cross in their sermons or just talk about the cross but not about God’s grace. Without balance, there will be some biases. This will result in the inability to let the work of the Holy Spirit run freely in the congregation.
Pastoral speakers should visit their brothers and sisters more often to understand their needs and the current times and situation in which they live. Pastors should share the truth according to God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that they can resonate with God’s words with believers.
As speakers, we should be alert and let God clean us, who are the vessels that convey the words of God, so that what we preach can build believers up.
- Translated by Charlie Li
一位来自华东的老牧者分享了“牧师如何预备一篇有恩典的讲道”这个话题。
近日，一位老牧者赵光义（化名）接受了中国一网络基督教报纸基督时报的采访。赵牧师分享了关于牧者预备讲道的三个方面：预备，传讲，及解释为何今天有些牧者讲道失去圣灵的能力。
牧者如何预备一篇讲道？
最基本的就是每一天都要有良好的灵修生活，要与神建立更深的生命关系。这样能够得到从神而来的生命的滋养以及圣灵的充满。我观察有些牧者，他的灵修只是走过场，甚至他几乎被事工拖着走。有些牧者已经没有灵修的生活了。
另外，在预备讲章的时候，讲员他自己要先被神感动，在传讲的时候才能够感动信徒。
还有，牧者他要有美好的属灵生命品格和性情。有时候，牧者的生命的见证，更胜过他如何的传讲。另外一点就是在传讲的过程当中要声情并茂，服装要得体。预备一篇讲章，我通常都至少花20到30个小时。
讲道的内容要关注什么？
我觉得，首先要有神的话，这个道就来自于上帝的话。其次，要按着正义去解释圣经，并且这个解释不要太过于学术。今天有个别牧者，他因为读了一点神学，就常常引用了希伯来文、希腊文等等，跟信徒并没有贴近。
再者，在讲道的里面要有现实生活贴切的例证，这个是很重要的。讲道就像盖一座房子，如果这座房子没有门没有窗，虽然它可以建造的非常漂亮，但最终人会闷死在里面。所以要有贴切的符合圣经真理的例证。另外还要有最终的结论，能够推动信徒去行道或者悔改。
另外，讲道人要有对圣经的研究和理解，不断地提升自己的解释圣经的水平，不能就靠着过去的经验。还有就是讲道不能变成心灵鸡汤，被这个世界所影响，不然很难能够让信徒得到从神而来的祝福。
为什么讲道失去圣灵的能力？
我发现不少牧者在讲道当中，要么是过度强调恩典，而不谈十字架。要么只谈十字架，却不谈神的恩典。在平衡上面，会有一些偏颇。这就造成了不能够让圣灵的工作在会众当中自由运行。
牧者讲员还要更多地探访弟兄姐妹，了解弟兄姐妹的需要，也对当下的时代和处境有了解。并且照着神，照着圣灵的引导来分享真理，才能够与信徒一起对上帝的话语有共鸣。
还有作为讲员，要警醒，让神来洁净我们这个传递神话语的器皿。以至于使我们传讲的信息，能够造就信徒。
专访：讲道人的灵性品格与讲道水平息息相关
An old pastor from East China shared that preaching is related to preachers' spirituality.
Recently, the Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, interviewed an elderly pastor who is called Zhao Guangyi (pseudonym). Pastor Zhao shared three pieces of advice on how to prepare sermons: preparing, preaching, and why some pastors are losing the power of the Holy Spirit when preaching today.
Christian Times: How do pastors prepare a sermon?
Zhao Guangyi: The most basic is to have a good spiritual life every day and to establish a deeper life relationship with God. In this way, we can be nourished by the life of God and filled with the Holy Spirit. Some pastors I observe have a spiritual practice that is only a formality, and even though they are passively involved in the ministry, they have no spiritual life.
Moreover, when preparing the sermon, the speaker himself must first be moved by God. He can then move the believers when preaching.
Also, the pastor should have a good spiritual quality and temperament. Sometimes, the testimony of the pastor’s life is better than how he preaches. Another point is that in the process of preaching, it is good to be full of vigor and dress well. I usually spend at least 20 to 30 hours preparing a sermon.
Christian Times: What should the content of a sermon focus on?
Zhao Guangyi: I think, first of all, there must be Word of God, and the Way comes from the Word of God. Secondly, we should interpret the Bible according to justice, and the interpretation should not be too academic. Today, some pastors often quote words in Hebrew or Greek to show that they have studied theology, which is not practically comprehensible to believers.
Moreover, it is very important to have appropriate examples of real life in the sermon. Preaching is like building a house. If the house has no doors or windows, which can be built beautifully, it will eventually suffocate the dwellers in it. Therefore, there should be appropriate examples that conform to the truth of the Bible. There must be a final conclusion, which can push believers to do good deeds or repent.
In addition, pastors should study and understand the Bible and constantly improve their level of interpretation, not relying on past experiences. Also, preaching cannot become chicken soup for the soul and be influenced by the world. Otherwise, it will be difficult for believers to get blessings from God.
Christian Times: Why do some lose the power of the Holy Spirit when preaching?
Zhao Guangyi: I find that many pastors either overemphasize grace and do not talk about the cross in their sermons or just talk about the cross but not about God’s grace. Without balance, there will be some biases. This will result in the inability to let the work of the Holy Spirit run freely in the congregation.
Pastoral speakers should visit their brothers and sisters more often to understand their needs and the current times and situation in which they live. Pastors should share the truth according to God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that they can resonate with God’s words with believers.
As speakers, we should be alert and let God clean us, who are the vessels that convey the words of God, so that what we preach can build believers up.
- Translated by Charlie Li
Interview: Preaching Is Correlated With Speakers' Spirituality
