My friend Rev Rach Ward recently visited Bristol and posted some photos of Facebook. As I was seeking inspiration for TFTD I am very grateful to her for the images! John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church and his “New Rooms” are to be found in Bristol – replacing the “Old” ones that fell down! The image of John Wesley’s “advice on how to preach” made me chuckle, (as I suspect it did others).
When we talk to others of our faith, how many of these rules would apply to us? I think in today’s language the advice is something like:
1. Be relevant to your audience
2. Don’t overwork yourself
3. Use simple language
4. Don’t ramble on
5. Keep to time – quality not quantity!
6.Use accessible language
7. Don’t attempt to be funny!
8. Never scream!!
9. This is not a performance – be natural
10. Be critical in your reading
11. Don’t be afraid to recycle
12. Find a place that is comfortable to preach
We may not all be preachers, but we all have opportunities to speak of our faith with others. I’m hoping that we don’t scream or shout at our audience! These are simple rules to follow, but even the best preacher sometimes “bends” the rules…John Wesley himself was known to preach four or five times a day which must have been exhausting. He would often choose a complicated text, and would frequently digress from the text, preaching for two or even three hours!
Prayer: We thank you, Lord, for great preachers like John Wesley. Help us to speak plainly of our faith using words that are relevant and accessible so that others may come to learn more of you. Amen