Know your Bible really, really well and then learn from different types of techniques as you possibly can. So my philosophy is that preaching is a science with certain laws and principles, but there are flexibility and creativity elements in it and we need to hold unto both…
Vessels of Virtues: As a preacher, what is your most favourite theology and why have you chosen that?
Steve: I think it would have to be the point where Paul said “I have come to you with nothing but with the fullness of the Cross”, because I think within the cross, we have that God loves us, and that He sent His son to die for our sins. We also have an example of what the Christian life has to look like. It is sacrificial and painful, and we also have an understanding that if the society has to go through a process of change, which I do believe that it would never be changed until Christ comes back, but we have an obligation to war against things like poverty, injustice, racism, ignorance and illiteracy. If it’s going to be changed in any significant way, it’s going to come through sacrifice. The seed of all Christian theology flows from and best seen in the Cross.
Vessels of Virtues: All preachers have a style and mode of preaching. How would you describe your own style of preaching and why you have chosen that?
Steve: What I would say first is know your Bible well, because every real preaching is biblical. You also need to dwell in the word of God and live by it. I also think you need to learn from as many places as you can. I was part of a secular public speaking group, for a number of years. I have done stand-up comedy training, TV presenting training, story-telling training and have listened to multiple different styles of preaching. I love Black preaching tradition and love preachers who are great expositors. I love preachers like Alistair Begg, culturally relevant preachers. I learn from different sources, but if you do that without a biblical basis, you would lose your way. So, know your Bible really, really well and then learn from different types of techniques as you possibly can. So my philosophy is that preaching is a science with certain laws and principles, but there are flexibility and creativity elements in it and we need to hold unto both.
“That is what our job is as leaders and preachers. As leaders, we say things don’t have to be like that, and we need to use apps, videos, technology, films, drama, education and medicine, with sign-post, pointing to heaven. Our ultimate goal is to go public with that and shine for Jesus…”
Vessels of Virtues: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14). How would you relate this scripture to spiritual leadership?
Steve: I would say a few things in response to that, and one of them is that it is important to recognise that in all Jesus’ sermons and parables, is the kingdom of God. And that is an individual thing, but it is also a collective thing. I believe Christ came not only to see people saved and brought into a relationship with God, but to provide demonstration of being human, a new way of living, a new way of thinking. That is what our job is as leaders and preachers. As leaders, we say things don’t have to be like that, and we need to use apps, videos, technology, films, drama, education and medicine, with sign-post, pointing to heaven. Our ultimate goal is to go public with that and shine for Jesus. I heard a story of someone going to a mechanic to fix his car. The mechanic said to him the engine only needed a spark plug and he fixed it for free. The car owner was actually a journalist and he had taken the car to about ten different garages and the charges ranged from 25$ to a couple of hundred Dollars. So he decided to publish an article on this honest Christian garage owner, and the garage became swamped with customers from the following day. What he did probably resulted in more mission kingdom value than all of the sermons preached on that Sunday. He was a light into the world and that’s what we need to do.
