In part 1 I briefly explained that it is transforming the mind that is the primary goal of preaching not necessarily transmitting information alone. We worry too much about getting information out of text books and commentaries into our preaching notes and then into the brains of our listeners. What is more important is how we change the very thinking process of our hearers.
Of course, a lot of this is about what the holy spirit does, but leaving that aside for now, I do believe that what we hear shapes our cognitive associations. Bear with me for a moment. If I ask you to play a word association game what is the first thing that comes to your minds with the following words-
sex
money
God
If for example the first word that springs to mind when you think of sex is “dirty” or “sin” or even “lust”, dare I say that maybe your mind needs transforming. If the word sex is associated with marriage, fun, and happiness then perhaps your mind is already transformed in that area.
If when you think of money you think “greed” or “bad” or “to be avoided” or even “to be sought at all costs” again your mind needs transforming. If on the other hand you think “belongs to God” or “a tool” or something similar then perhaps your mind is transformed.
What about God- now theres a revealing one. Your view of God is the most important part of your worldview. Who is he? What is he like? IS he all powerful? Does he hate sin? Does he have a sense of justice that demands sin be punished? Does he know the future? Is he good? Does he love me?
These questions and many more, and the answers that come instinctively to our minds when we ask them is our battleground. Some Chrisitans live a double life, knowing the answers they SHOULD give, and giving them whilst all the time their minds tell them the opposite answers. Somehow, our preaching needs to get into peoples minds and change them. Any thoughts on how we do that? I will share mine another day.
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