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abstract

  Many preachers insist that without the work of the Holy Spirit in preaching, their labor is in vain, mere exercise of persuasion and rhetoric. We know we need the Holy Spirit but how do we appropriate His work?

This thesis undertakes the challenge of helping preachers who believe in the work of the Holy Spirit to make His work more tangible in preaching a message from God’s heart to the hearts of God’s people. The thesis is constructed as a 13 week course in preaching, an applied hands-on approach to seeking the involvement of the Holy Spirit in the entire preaching process. From the first thought of the text in the pastor’s study to the actual words spoken to the audience, the Holy Spirit wishes to be involved.

The theological content of the thesis consists of an exploration of the idea of preaching all through the Scripture, from the preaching of the prophets to the proclamation of the Gospel by the apostles in demonstration of Spirit and power. A Biblical definition and paradigm for preaching is explored and sought from these. The student will seek to model his or her preaching on Jesus, cultivating a dependence on the Holy Spirit to accomplish all that God would want to say and do in the preaching of His Word to His people about His people. Considerable attention is given to some 20^th century preachers whose preaching ministries were greatly empowered when they “came to an end of themselves,” i.e., of their pride and ego, and began living to the Spirit of God for preaching. Such preachers include Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Harold John Okenga. 

This thesis does not offer a formula or a prescription for preachers to “claim” an anointing of the Holy Spirit and then “power” preach without study, exegesis, and exposition of the Bible. Rather, it offers the student/preacher the opportunity to go on a journey of humility and self-denial, hard work and academic excellence, much prayer, and learning to listen to the voice of God for preaching. Like the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:19, the preacher’s humble cry to his or her congregation should be “Pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given so me that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel…”