Chuck Sackett
Professor of Preaching
Lincoln Christian Seminary

Abstract

Ezekiel 34 records God’s evaluation of Israel’s “pastors”. His evaluation leads us to several provocative questions that could help preachers anticipate the pastoral value of their sermons. I’m proposing that teaching the right questions could save many preachers from unhealthy, unhelpful post-sermon evaluation.

The past comes into the present. People sit frantically in their stalled car. The ground shakes as the inevitable draws nearer. In the rear view mirror is the notice, “objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Suddenly the face of the T-Rex materializes in the reflective surface. Panic ensues.

I sometimes feel that panic on Sundays.1 Soon after services are over I’m unexplainably drawn to the mirror. It lures me and repels me; seduces me to look, yet I fear what I might see. It isn’t fear of T-Rex, it’s the realization of the enormity of the responsibility 2 . Was I faithful to my calling? Did I get the job done? Was what I said in any way helpful?

Preachers everywhere know the feeling. They enter the pulpit and before them is an audience of listeners. Listeners who have come wanting to know if anything the preacher says will make a difference in their lives in the coming weeks and months. They have come seeking a word from the Lord (though often they don’t know that’s what they are seeking).

Preaching is an awesome responsibility. The preacher stands on sacred ground. He wades into a hallowed stream. And those who prepare the next generation of preachers have an even more serious burden. A heavy weight of responsibility rests upon the shoulders of those “professors of preaching” who assume responsibility for tomorrow’s practitioners.

I’d like to once again bring the past into the present. Not the T-Rex and his counterparts, but the shepherds of Israel. Specifically I’m interested in those shepherds addressed in Ezekiel 34. 3 Ezekiel does not present a flattering picture of Israel’s leaders. However, his words prove beneficial when we learn from their failures.

It must be noted that “shepherds” in this passage are Israel’s leaders, primarily their kings.4 They have failed in their responsibility to care for Israel. In verses 1-10 they are soundly condemned for those failures.5 The remainder of the chapter is God’s remedy for their failure. In essence He says, “I will do it Himself.” Most scholars believe He is ultimately anticipating the coming of the “good shepherd.”6

Though we are not “leaders” in the same sense, we find the image of shepherd to be used widely in the New Testament for those whose role is to tend to the flock of God.7 And it is those shepherds who labor hard in preaching and teaching that bear the greatest burden of responsibility (1 Timothy 5:17-18). Therefore, those categories of concern expressed by Ezekiel may provide insight for those we teach.

By learning from the failures of Israel’s shepherds we may well find questions that lead our students to success in their ministries. If we can teach those under our tutelage to ask the right questions in the context of their sermon preparation, we may prepare a generation of preachers whose sermons will accomplish what Israel’s shepherds did not.

I’m suggesting that asking appropriate questions during the preparation of the sermon will keep a preacher’s sermons in line with the desires of the Chief Shepherd. Examining a sermon in the light of the following questions will prevent the preacher fearing what he may see in the rear view mirror as he reflects on his Sunday morning experience.

The questions are as follows:
1. Does this sermon supply nourishment?
2. Does this sermon bring healing?
3. Does this sermon empower continuation?
4. Does this sermon enable restoration?
5. Does this sermon provide orientation?

1. Does this sermon supply nourishment?

On too many occasions I’ve heard parishioners say, “We’re not being fed.” It’s the common complaint of those who go church hopping. Whether it’s true or not, I’ve never been able to determine. Often those who visit one church because they weren’t fed at another end up visiting yet another church because they were not fed at that one either. However, the very fact that they say they’re not fed is disturbing. Disturbing enough to make a preacher reevaluate the fare.

Teaching people to preach is teaching them to prepare nourishing, appealing meals. We teach them preparation and presentation, nutrition and appeal. Jesus’ instruction to Peter was “feed my lambs” (John 21:15). In reflecting on a life of preaching and teaching Peter could say, “I have written both my letters as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” (2 Peter 3:1). Peter had given them what they needed in order to think correctly. He had fed them.

Ezekiel’s condemnation of Israel’s shepherds was for self-care. God’s response was, “I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel” (Ezekiel 34:14). The Psalmist said, “You prepare a table for me…” (Psalm 23:5). The preaching we advocate and teach must be preaching that provides “good grazing” and “rich pasture,” i.e., nourishment for the sustenance of the listener.

Therefore we teach people to preach the Bible. Never has it been more important to preach the Scriptures.8 Therein is food for the sheep.....

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