In Defense of the Sermon: A Communicational Approach

Abstract

Many are critical of the sermon today because it is essentially a “oneway” type of communication which offers little opportunity for feedback. But such arguments neglect the fact that the sermon does not have to stand alone. On the contrary, from a communicational point of view the sermon can and should be seen as simply one part of an overall communication network which exists in the church as a whole and which is largely unrestricted, allowing open feedback on the part of all. Thus, the real point to be emphasized is not that the sermon should be eliminated, but that conscious efforts should be made to complement the sermon with as many different avenues for feedback as possible. Only when this happens can preaching be maximally effective.