Choosing to Preach Discussion

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Kallie Hutton on Aug. 26, 2010 at 00:55

Emotion is appropriate when it is genuine and when it is in line with the heart of God; if it meets these two requirements then it is welcome and essential in preaching. If, however one of these elements is missing, then it becomes inappropriate. If the preacher is not actually passionate about what they are getting emotional about, then they are being false and dishonest and people will notice. And if it is something that the preacher is genuinely passionate about but it is not on the heart of God for him/her to preach, then it is detracting from the message the God is wishing to get out.When emotion is used properly, it is powerful, when it is abused it is the death of the sermon.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Kapil Sharma on Nov. 30, 2009 at 13:14

Yes we can definitely take it too far with emotions. I think the reason though why some preachers are tempted to do this is because emotions, in a lot of different areas in life, do often invite a response. Sometimes I think preachers assume that if they show a lot of emotion if will show the crowd how much they themselves are effected by the preaching. I think though that usually its obvious if emotions happen naturally or if they are somehow planned and pushed in an effort to make an impact. I think some sighns of this taking place are whne preachers at times almost slow down so much that they are hoping that they themselves will begin to cry especially if they are telling a sad story. Its okay to tell a moving story slow to ensure everyone hears it and gets it, but when its done at an extreme slow pace its obvious the preacher is hoping or waiting for himself to get emotional. Other clear signs are when sermons become one note. for example if someone is yelling the whole time, all of it will sound like clanging symbols and no one will hear or want to hear it. When our emotion if relied upon more than the scripture themselves or is more of the focus then the passion or emotion has turned into manipulation.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Chris Maclure on Mar. 26, 2009 at 12:47

Passion and emotion must come out of conviction and experience. For me, preaching "over the top" means becoming inauthentic. Is that how the preacher talks with their spouse? Kids? Friends? What is it about a church that results in the preacher being something they are not in every other context. Today more than every this disconnect from reality is challenged. People see through this type of manipulation and are scared away from an authentic message of hope. Christ is real. His message is real. It’s application is real. The resulting "new life" is real. Let’s present it in a real way.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Jason Harder on Feb. 16, 2009 at 17:39

I would hope any preach that gets up infornt of a congergation will show passion about what they are speaking about. If they are not passionate about what they are preaching what are they doing up there. If the preacher has to manufacture emtion to get the congergation to "buy into" his message there is truly something wrong with the preach. People are not stupid they can tell when there is a show going on and if they see a show they will most likely walk away without being affected.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Ryan McDonald on Dec. 07, 2008 at 01:55

I’m going to agree with my fellow Ryan in most of his comments and perhaps add on that part of the answer is genuineness. If the emotion is genuine if the preaching is crying because he is broken by God or laughing because he is joyful that’s great we can all relate though he should hold himself in check so as not to lose his crowd it’s just another tight rope he has to walk. However we have all seen those preachers who swing on that pendulum the other Ryan was speaking of one way or the other and we can tell they are not genuine a lot of the time that they are crying or not crying because it is expected of them that’s what can really lose an audience when they all of a sudden start being entertained or bored by you and your emotional display or lack thereof and wonder why you are being so ingenuous.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Ryan Bajema on Oct. 31, 2008 at 16:19

This is a great question, and thought for all preachers to consider. I would argue that when the passion gets in the way of the message, it’s too much. Sometimes all we see is an extremely animated preacher, always crying, or leaning on emotions to make his argument. But, when the focus suddenly is taken off the text or off the point, and placed onto the emotions of the preacher, that is when it has gone too far.

However, this pendelum swings both ways. We can all remember sermons we’ve heard where there has ‘not been enough’ passion, and that can be equally distracting! If the preacher is simply reading a his sermon in a monotone voce, that can equally detract from the message.

So, I supppose, when considering the amount of passion to integrate into a sermon, the correct response would be enough to make the text real, believalble, and make it come to life for the listeners, but not too much so that the listeners suddenly loose their focus onto the text.

As long as the focus remains on the text, manipulation cannot happen, for it is the Word of God before the believer that is begging transformation in their life. But, when the focus is on the preacher, and not the the Word, that’s when his arguing can come across as manipulation, not preaching.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Tom Reynolds on Oct. 08, 2007 at 02:05

Emotion, like all things, should be used in moderation. How much emotion to use will depend on the audience and situation. We are best if we try and match the emotional expectations of our audience. Some cultures are much more boisterous and emotional than others. Some denominations and churches expect more traditional, staid styles of preaching than others, which will expect more emotion and excitement. We must beware of manipulating people through emotion but I do not think this will happen through the use of emotion on the preacher’s part. An overly emotive preacher may alienate their audience but I suspect that people are more likely to close up than be manipulated. Some preachers manipulate people’s deep desire for healing for themselves or a loved one but their sin is not over-the-top emotionalism but proclaiming a false message with emotional means. Let us preach the true word of God with true emotion suitable to the message.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Thomas Calamunce on Sep. 14, 2007 at 17:23

Part of the problem of over the top preaching is trying to define when preaching actually does go over the top and when it is just strong conviction or a person’s opinion. I think that a lot of the time preaching is only perceived as over the top by the people who are listening. Why do they perceive it as over the top? I think that a lot of the time the perception is only because the person sitting in the audience does not agree with the speaker or is convicted of their own faults and are uncomfortable; therefore instead of reacting to the message, they try to criticize the method of delivery. Should preachers be wary of their method of delivery? Yes. But the problem with listening to every person who thinks you are over the top is the fact that there can be many different reasons for them to accuse you of this, with only one being that you are in fact preaching “over the top.”

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by Tim Durksen on Mar. 06, 2007 at 15:56

I have seen emotion used so well, and so poorly. There are times when a preacher is seen crying on stage, or starting to yell, but you never catch that this is his heart outside of preaching. I agree with what Dave said about being the same from the pulpit and your regular life. But the biggest problem i have with wild mood swings is before a time of prayer or before there is an alter call. It just seems like that "perfect" timing to get emotional, and although it could be his or her heart, it just usually seems more minipulative then not.

re: #24 - "Over the Top" Preaching

Posted by dave ellis on Feb. 20, 2007 at 13:30

I think when your emotions on stage are very different from when poople interact with you when in person, then people tend to think that you are"putting in on" when on the stage. Authentic is the key word, if you are passionate and emotional in person, then people will be able to flow with you when you speak, but if you are quite and calm in person, and then you go off on stage, with the loud voice and pushy approach, then people I think would be turned off. Its also haveing the rigth emotion for the right things, I would only want to get emotional about those things that reflect the heart of God. Showing emotion for the lost, the rejected, the sick and the poor, those are things that we can Model the Godly emotions we feel. If it gets to be too much, people get uncomfortable, and we need to keep it together, our emotions out of control will distract people from the message that god has Given us. Could you pass a tissue >>>Later