SUNDAY MORNING LECTURES

 I had breakfast with a pastor friend this morning. In the midst of our conversation, it came up that he - like me - considers himself more of a teacher than a preacher.

So I asked him what he thought was the difference between the two. 

And he gave the answer that I think most people would give: A preacher speaks about the application of Scripture to our lives and usually appeals to emotions while a teacher gives background on Scriptural texts and appeals to the intellect. 

What they have in common is this: both are monologues. 

In this sense, in every sermon, a pastor could strive to begin with teaching and finish with preaching.

But I'm not sure that is how the New Testament would differentiate the two roles. This is currently one of my research questions. 

What if the Scriptures don't have "lecture" in mind when it speaks of teaching?

To my way of thinking, teaching is much more hands on and interactive than preaching. 

And I'm not sure an American church would be ready to devote as much prime time to teaching as to preaching. 

In most churches, teaching is for Sunday school and Sunday school is optional. 

REPETITION

I once served as youth pastor under a senior pastor who was a sweet-natured, earnest, and godly man - which put him head and shoulders above a few other pastors I worked under. 

But he wasn't the greatest preacher.

He once told me, "You know, I only really have three different sermons that I deliver. I just rotate between those three."

And honestly, that was two more than I had noticed!

It seemed to me that week after week he offered slight variations on one particular exhortation: "If we are going to be authentic disciples of Jesus, we must get out beyond the walls of the church and love our neighbors in tangible ways."

Obviously, this is true. I had no problem with the message - I just didn't want to hear it every Sunday.

(Especially when there was an entire book full of God's words to explore.)

Repetition is necessary and serves an important role in effective teaching, but it can't be the only arrow in your quiver.

If repetition isn't resulting in changed behavior after a few weeks - let alone a few years - then it's time to step back and see if there is a deeper issue causing a roadblock.

To be effective, a teacher needs to search out those gaps in knowledge and fill them.

THEN the congregation might be able to move forward. 

Without excessive repetition.

PREACHING AND TEACHING

When I started serving as minister at Sardinia Baptist Church two and a half years ago, I quickly realized I was much more comfortable Teaching rather than Preaching.

At first, I wasn't even aware that there was a difference and I'm still not sure where the line between the two actually is drawn.

Maybe I'm being overly simplistic, but I understand Preaching as aimed at the heart and the spirit. It is meant to motivate and persuade.

And Teaching is aimed at the mind, seeking to foster knowledge and understanding. Its goal is to explain and equip. 

Both can and should spur transformation. Under Preaching, it is the transformation of thoughts, words, and actions. 

And under Teaching, it is the imagination.  

I don't suppose either is inherently more valuable, but I do think there is an order: Teaching first, and then Preaching. 

There should be an order and there should be balance.

But in the American church, Preaching has long been prioritized over Teaching.