- Black Preaching Myths – Is It Only For Black People?
- Black Preaching Myths – Black Preaching And Style
the first of these myths is that Black Preaching is primarily about preaching style. Often when one thinks about what is Black Preaching and its connection to Black Worship, they think solely about black style. They think about a “hyped up” worship experience. As Sherman Cox has pointed out in his seminars on black preaching, “when one thinks about black preaching they normally think about style.”
the great problem is that style is a small component of strong Black preaching. In fact style can hide poor preaching. Have you ever listend to a preacher who was shouting, but was shouting about nothing? Style should always be totally dependent on content. Style should always be secondary to content. If you have to choose between style and content. Choose the content. Great content preached wholeheartedly, will bring its own style.
Great preaching is not about “yelling” or other stylistic components, it is about powerfully preaching the Word of God from the perspective of those who live with their “backs against the wall.” Our first myth that makes Black preaching solely about style trivializes the tradition and encourages the people to have a weak connection to truth.
I have heard it said that the cornerstone of black preaching is coming at it — that is, whatever biblical text from which you’re preaching — from the perspective of the one (in the text and in the pew) whose “back is against the wall,” the one who’s powerless. And I’ve read that one of the differences between the black preaching tradition and the white preaching tradition is that the white approach is the opposite — that is, from the perspective of power. Is there a danger in leading our people to always consider themselves first from the position of the powerless? Does that not in turn lead them always to view their lives first from the perspective of the victim rather than the victor in Christ Jesus?
Pastor Erwin
Hello,
I have visited your site plenty of times and have subscribed to as well. During a prior search I came across an outline of questions that should be asked when preparing a sermon, but I am unable to locate it. Could you please help me locate the information? Thanks.
God Bless,
First given Honor to the most high God! As a young Minister I take pride in the work that I’m doing for the Lord and the Kingdom! I don’t want to have any type style or preach like any other! I want to ensure that the Anointing is on me when I do preach and allow the Lord to lead me. If during that time and the times to follow, build a style then it is not me that has created this style but this is the work of the Lord and what he has done. We must stop trying to be like Rev. Over here, Pastor Over there, Bishop So and So we need to be more like Christ, imitate HIS Style and Thank him while doing it! Amen
Be Blessed
Min Lee