Sermon

Definition and Meaning

A sermon is the proclamation of the Word within worship that explains a passage of the Bible and applies it to the lives of the hearers. In Korean churches it is commonly called "the Word" (malsseum), and in the order of worship printed in the church bulletin it is listed as either "the Word" or "Sermon." Sermons are sometimes classified according to how they are structured:

• Expository sermon: works through a book of the Bible or a single passage in order.
• Topical sermon: selects a single theme and treats several passages together.
• Textual sermon: draws its meaning from a single short passage.

Biblical and Historical Background

In the Old Testament, the scene in which Ezra and the Levites read the Law and explained its meaning so that the people understood (Nehemiah 8:8) is frequently cited as the prototype of the sermon. The New Testament records Jesus reading from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue and speaking on it (Luke 4:16–21), as well as the sermon Peter preached at Pentecost (Acts 2). The exhortation "Preach the word" (2 Timothy 4:2) is often cited as a basis for preaching.

The sixteenth-century Reformation placed the sermon at the center of worship. Martin Luther emphasized preaching in the language of the congregation. John Calvin is known for preaching consecutively through entire books of the Bible in Geneva. In the eighteenth century, John Wesley led a religious movement through field preaching outside church buildings.

Practice in Korean Churches

In Korean churches, sermons are preached not only at the Sunday service but also at the Wednesday service, the early-morning prayer meeting, and other gatherings. As a result, senior pastors often preach several times a week. The preaching of Kil Sun-joo during the Pyongyang Great Revival of 1907, and the revival meeting tradition that followed, are regarded as having shaped a style of Korean preaching that calls hearers to repentance and decision.

Qualifications for preachers and the form of the sermon vary by denomination.

• Presbyterian churches tend strongly to regard the proclamation of the Word as the center of worship and to emphasize expository preaching. In some Presbyterian denominations, a licentiate licensed by the presbytery may preach in addition to pastors.
• In the Anglican Church of Korea, the sermon is preached within the Eucharist. Anglican and some Methodist churches follow a lectionary, a fixed schedule of Scripture readings arranged according to the liturgical year.
• Churches in the Pentecostal tradition tend to emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit and healing in their preaching.
• The extent to which laypeople may preach also varies among denominations and congregations.

In recent years, sharing sermon videos online has become commonplace. At the same time, sermon plagiarism has repeatedly become a source of controversy within the church community.