Expository preaching interview continued part 2

Unashamed Workman continues his interview with various preachers he has admired.  This time around its Voddie Baucham, who I recently heard in our Sunday School class.  No Voddie didn’t come just teach our Sunday School!  We are watching the Desiring God 2006 conference DVD and it has been a challenging and encoruaging series so far.  In this interview with Voddie, the following two answers caught my attention:

5. What is the most important aspect of a preacher’s style and what should he avoid?

The most important aspect of a preacher’s style is authenticity. When I started preaching, I thought my ‘style’ had to fit a certain category. As a result I mimicked some of my favorite preachers. I was constantly reinventing myself. Ultimately, I had to find my own ‘style’ and stick with it. That meant there was one less thing I had to manufacture. I had to realize that God gave me a unique personality and he intended to use it in unique ways. God gave us four gospels written by four unique men, from four different perspectives. I had to remind myself that it is as much of a travesty for me to try to be Tony Evans as it would have been for John to try to be Matthew.

I thought Voddie’s answer was helpful for me as a listener of the preacher.  Often times we compare our pastors to the big name preachers.  We at times may become critical of our pastors and this answer from Voddie is helpful because it reminds us that our pastor was uniquely fashioned by God to use his gift in a particular way.  While one goal of pastors is to be precise and accurate in rightly dividing the Word of God, authenticity is a powerful platform a preacher can stand on.

10. What steps do you take to nurture or encourage developing or future preachers?

Spending time with them, pointing them toward great resources and encouraging them to develop skills beyond the pulpit. So many young preachers pursue the pulpit because they have discovered unusual communication skills in themselves. However, preaching is about so much more. We must be theologians, historians, apologists, churchmen and above all exemplary men, husbands and fathers (see 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1). We must also love and serve the Church. So many young preachers long for conference ministries that reach millions. However, without a love for the local church that goal rings hollow. I want to see a young preacher sweep floors, pick up trash, lead small groups, share the gospel in the secret places, pray for the sick and the afflicted, and manage his home in such a way as to make it a beacon of hope for others. That’s the foundation upon which great preaching is built.

Here I see Voddie showing us that preachers are primarily servants of God.  While their main task is to set his heart to study God’s word, practice it, and teach it to others (Ezra 7:10) he must above all have a servants heart.