An article about “Divine Encounter” causes some to bristle or at least make sure their guard is up. I understand that reaction because I’m one of those people myself. When someone uses a phrase like “Divine Encounter,” I want to make sure what they are teaching is rooted in God’s Word. So rest assured, I’m not taking you on a journey to the untethered heights of mystical gibberish. Instead, I’m underscoring what I believe to be a neglected component of preaching, essentially what Aristotle identified as pathos, the emotive elements of communication. And I’m calling for dependence on the Spirit as we lead our listeners to meaningful encounters with God. After all, those who gather to hear us are interested in more than receiving information; they yearn for spiritual transformation. To that end, here are four actions to take this week:
1) Talk To The Holy Spirit Throughout Your Study
I know from my own experience how dangerously easy it is to study a passage without frequently talking to the Holy Spirit. We must ask the Spirit to guide our study, resisting the temptation to rely solely upon our exegetical tools and sound hermeneutics. God is there for the asking! So why not ask Him to guide you as you study? Ask Him to reveal exactly what He wants you to see in the text. And believe–really believe–He will guide you to prepare the very message He wants you to preach to those gathered this weekend.
2) Think Long On The Biblical Text
Once we have discerned the meaning of the preaching passage, it is vitally important we “think long” on the text. In other words, once we have identified the author’s intended meaning, our work has only just begun. Before hammering out a preaching outline or typing out a sermon manuscript, we must think deeply about the passage. This step emphasizes the intellectual and cognitive elements necessary to grasp the text’s whole meaning. Spend enough time thinking through the passage to reach a point where you can paraphrase the entire text in your own words. Thinking long about the text strengthens your ability to teach it confidently when you stand before the congregation.
3) “Feel” The Passage Deeply Within
While the previous step involves the head primarily, this step involves the heart. If you find the intellectual elements of sermon preparation to come quickly, then this action may stretch you a bit. To “feel” the passage deeply within, use every ounce of imagination God has given you. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, picture yourself in the text and internalize what you believe the original hearers of the passage may have been thinking or feeling. Visualize every possible detail: the setting, the speaker, the hearers, cultural traditions, and even the weather, if possible. When you do all you can to “place yourself there,” it will equip you better to communicate the passage with genuine, heartfelt emotion to your listeners.
4) Expect Your Listeners To Encounter God
An exciting aspect of preaching is knowing our words transcend the elements of mere pathos and enter the broader realm of the Holy Spirit’s anointing. While we can’t “map out” the Spirit’s work in predictable, logical ways, we know He works through our preaching, and that’s why we pray (see #1 above). So, we expect our listeners to encounter God and experience His power and presence. This weekend, think of your listeners as Zacchaeus, a man who desperately yearned to see “who Jesus was” rather than what Jesus could do for him (Luke 19:3).
“Lord, this weekend, help me not just dispense biblical information but preach for divine transformation.”
PREVIOUS COMMENTS:
- John Hurtgen Good one, Todd! the long-neglected aspect of study prayer and talking specifically to the Holy Spirit. Lord, help us! If deep study alone would have brought worldwide renewal, it would have happened long ago. “. . . but you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit” (Acts 11:16) . . . “and fire” (Matt. 3:11) MAY 20, 2022
- authorTodd Linn, PhD
Amen, Dr Hurtgen! I so appreciate your encouraging input. And I always feel glad when we see things the same way!😃 MAY 20, 2022
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