The pastor's challenge: Let God speak!

This morning I received a new release of Letters of Paul to the Early Church: A Contemporary Translation (my translation of Paul's 13 epistles).  I opened the book at random and read the following:

       "You will remember that when I first came to Corinth I didn’t use impressive language or wise     argument when I told you God mysterious plan. I had determined to concentrate on Jesus Christ – specifically, on Christ crucified. Aware of my inadequacy, I was so fearful that I trembled at the responsibility. I didn’t rely on clever and persuasive words to get you to accept the message but allowed the Holy Spirit to perform his powerful work. That way you would be convinced not by human wisdom, but by the power of God."

         The passage is 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (although verses are not identified, only chapters). Since some form of public ministry has always been a part of my life, I was struck by this passage – probably because, in my experience, it was rarely emphasized in seminary homiletics. And there is another reason: Yesterday I went through some 900 TV stations to check on what programs are being offered to the mid-afternoon listener. I was astonished by the number of religious programs that are aired here in the Seattle area. For the most part, the preachers were well dressed and eloquent as they strode back and forth on the platform sharing insights on how to get to heaven AND on how to invest your money in their particular outreach.
         You will understand how, against this background, Paul’s simple words about his “inadequacy,” his not using “clever and persuasive words,” and how he “trembled at the responsibility” fell on my ears. As I reflected on the dissimilarity and my own experience in the pulpit, I realized once again on how down to earth and powerful is the simple presentation of what God has done for us in Christ.
         Many years ago I did a doctoral thesis (later published as “The Essential Nature of New Testament Preaching”) with the core principle that God is the active agent in all effective preaching. He is the one who speaks through the words of the one standing in the pulpit. Authentic preaching is letting God speak. I am not suggesting lack of preparation, but after you have done your best to explain the text in its historic setting, let him be the one who speaks directly to the heart of the listener. And I believe he will, especially if you have spent the prior evening on your knees, yielding personally to the truth you plan to share the next morning. As kids we used to sing “Saturday night is the loneliest night in the week,” but as heralds of God, there is a better way to use the time. The book I mentioned above has as part of its dedication, that the supreme task of the preacher is “to lead people into the presence of God.” I believe Paul would agree