Someone raised the question the other day about what would happen if we opened up the floor to questions when we had finished preaching. Now, as it happens, I’ve been in a fair few preaching contexts where we’ve done that. Sometimes, I’ve intentionally opened up to Q&A, at other times, it’s been the decision of the person leading the meeting, or the regular practice of a church. In the latter case, there have been times when I thought it was a brilliant decision but at other times I’ve been really frustrated by a failure to read the room.
The risk with finishing with questions is that it creates a particular feel to things. Q&A suggests that the primary need at the end of the sermon is for us to clarify our knowledge. It suggests an educational setting with the mood being that of a lecture or a seminar. Preaching is not just about addressing the intellect. I like the old puritan phrase “preaching to the affections.” Q&A may land us in the wrong place.
Now, this is not about interaction or challenge. Personally, I’m very happy for people to interrupt and challenge during the talk. Much of how Jesus taught relied on dialogue. He’d ask the disciples questions and after he’d preached to the crowds, they’d ask him more, rather in the style of lunchtime chat with the preachers. We should be careful though of treating this as analogous with modern preaching. In fact, if anything is true, it’s that Jesus did the reverse of what is proposed. He would respond to a Q&A session by beginning to preach.
But whilst there is a place for conversation and discussion, there comes a time when we need to land things and if we believe that it is God speaking, then questions need to cease as hearts are changed. There is a place for questions and discussion in response to “What is the greatest commandment?” “Who is my neighbour?” However, “Go and do likewise!” is not the time for discussion but for heartfelt obedience.
Faithroots 