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Tim Keller & the State of the Pulpit in America Today
By jason | January 9, 2008
I have really grown to appreciate and admire Tim Keller. He is such a voice of wisdom and mediation in a time when extremes are the norm.
I was checking out some videos from the Gospel Coalition site and I was extremely encouraged by his short video interview on preaching.
He begins with his concern for commentary preaching (what some misappropriate as expository preaching - nb: just so you know, preaching verse by verse doesn’t ensure exposition) because of it’s failure to address the heart. He also shares his similar concern for the narrative storytelling preaching that fails to truly address the heart because it doesn’t engage the mind, only stirs up the emotions. What I expected to hear from him.
But then he spent the next portion of the interview speaking on behalf of preachers and acknowledged the extreme pressure that communicators are under today. Because of the easy access to the greatest communicators in the world via YouTube or podcasts everyone compares you to them. And he acknowledged this pressure that previous generations didn’t have to deal with like today.
I appreciate his comments because I feel that pressure myself. And the voices out there in my circles don’t seem to get it. And so we rail on pastoral plagiarism (maybe rightly so) and pastors who just repackage sermons from days gone by. But we fail to encourage the people who are in the trenches week in and week out doing the best they can to meet the needs of real people. Tim Keller is a much needed voice today.
Check out his interview. It’s less than 4 minutes. And worth every second.
For discussion: So what do you think about this issue of “pulpit pressure?” Do you see this as a practical struggle or pressure? What’s your take?
If you liked that post, check these...
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Book: The Art of the Start by admin on April 6th, 2007
Topics: Communication, Leadership |
January 9th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I’m sorry J. I didn’t mean to compare the coolness of your facial hair to Rob Bell. I mean… the guy can’t even grow facial hair.
January 9th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
You really set me back.. The first title for the post was, “How King Pui hurt my feelings…” But then I changed it.
January 9th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
great post… oh my, why do we compare each other all the time…?