As a researcher conducting a study, one of the necessary tasks to complete is justifying the reason for doing the research in the first place. For my seminary research project, I chose to do a study on the effectiveness of interactive preaching. But why preach using an interactive model in the first place? I believe I am justified in saying that John the Baptist and Jesus used interactive models of preaching.

After John the Baptist’s sermon in Luke 3:1-9, the Scripture notes in verse 10, “And the crowds were questioning him, saying, ‘then what shall we do?'” (NASB: 1995 Update) Two specific groups were subsequently listed: tax collectors and soldiers. The people wanted to know how they could apply John’s teaching to their lives.

Likewise, as Jesus was teaching once, “…a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test saying, ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?'” (Lk 10. 25). After Jesus responded, the lawyer asked another question, “And who is my neighbor?” (v. 29). What follows in Scripture is the story of the good Samaritan. Jesus used an interactive opportunity to answer someone’s questions, even though the lawyer may have had ulterior motives for asking them. It is likely that the lawyer learned from his questioning whether or not he applied the answers to his life.

I contend that interactive preaching has a place among an effective preacher’s sermons if the minister takes care to set up rules governing the questions that may be asked during a sermon. My rules were simply: 1) questions had to relate to the understanding of the Scripture being considered in the sermon and 2) questions could be asked to clarify how teachings from the Scripture being used in the sermon could be applied to one’s life.

I have found myself wanting to ask questions during sermons, not to disrupt or to put the minister on the spot, but to ask questions within the framework of the rules I use for my own interactive sermons. What do you think about the idea of interactive sermons? Would you like to participate in one sometime? Let me know your thoughts! Thank you for reading and blessings to all for a good rest of the week.