The creative work of preaching

I just finished reading Calvin Miller's Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition.  I've been working through it over the last 6 months or so.  I have a nasty habit of reading 4 or 5 books at once, although I wanted to take my time through this one.  Preaching can be a neglected practice in the church.  Having a "preaching check-up" can be more than beneficial to the soul; it can bring life to your congregation.  Preaching is hard work.  It's something that most pastors fret about every time they are approaching the pulpit.  There is always some doubt at play: am I representing this text well?  Will the text shine through more than my personality?  Will my idiosyncracies get in the way?  And will any one show up?  Will it be a transformational message?

Preaching is also very rewarding.  Sermon preparation is one of the most favorite parts of my job.  It gives me opportunity to engage the text as well as the time to search my own heart when it comes to its application -long before the message is every preached.

Although there are many helpful nuggets of truth throughout the book, I like how Miller talks about the need to have a sermon speak to our emotions.  He calls it creative preaching:

"...creative preaching depends upon the feeling or sensual faculty.  We who continually give out the substance of our souls do as well.  The problem is that preachers are so bound by the logical hunger (how is this Scripture to be explained?) that they give little time to the sensual world (How is this Scripture to be felt?).  The latter poses the primary question for the creative person."

"It is pointless to say that great preaching is mainly teaching the Scripture.  Great preaching is making the audience feel the Scripture."