Samuel Rodriguez

I grew up in Minnesota, a land known for frigid winters and reserved emotions. Minnesotans have a few basic communication rules, like "never be direct" and "never get too excited." So, for instance, if something is over-the-top exciting, you should say, "Not bad." For years, that Minnesotan ethos shaped my preaching ministry. That's why I love getting perspectives from preachers who value the role of proper emotions in the sermon. In this week's Skills Article—"Kirk or Spock?"—Sam Rodriguez writes, "I am an emotional preacher … The pulpit is a place where the preacher is connecting to the audience while being completely led by the Spirit of God. That makes me excited, and thus it makes me emotional." He's got a good point. (And after seeing Sam preach, I can tell you that this man really does preach with emotions.) How about you? Do emotions have a role in your preaching? Or is your preaching, like mine was, shaped by your culture? Let's remember that we follow a Savior who got angry, wept, rejoiced, and cried out in agony.

Romell Williams

Of course, emotion in our preaching isn't just about us; it's about God's Word. How do we convey the emotions contained in our biblical text? For a beautiful model, check out this short but powerful sermon from Romell Williams—"The Love Connection," based on 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20. Here's how Romell introduces this text: "Paul rips open his chest and allows the Thessalonians then—and the church now—to see what really happens in the heart of a pastor. These words are laced with emotion and conviction because how Paul felt was the exact opposite of what he was being accused of." How can we not preach a text like this and let God rip our chest open?

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Matt Woodley
Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

P.S. The Center for Pastor Theologians wants to help pastors understand the Christian vision of sexuality. Their annual conference—by pastors, for pastors—is going to explore the "Beauty, Order, and Mystery" of this vision. Come hear from Richard Mouw, Jeremy Treat, Todd Wilson (a PT contributor), Wesley Hill, Beth Felker Jones, and others, in Chicago on October 24-26. Visit http://www.cptconference.com/ for more info and to register.

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.