Some preachers shout nearly every word of a sermon. They begin loudly, become louder, and finish as though the volume of their voice proves the power of their message. Some people call that kind of preaching anointed because it stirs emotion and produces a visible reaction.
But shouting does not make a sermon biblical. A loud voice cannot turn a weak message into a strong one, and excitement cannot give human opinion the authority of God’s Word.
This does not mean a pastor must always speak quietly. Scripture records occasions when Jesus cried out. John wrote, “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink’” (John 7:37). Strong conviction may naturally cause a preacher to raise his voice. A warning may be spoken with urgency, and a call to repentance should not sound as though it does not matter.
There is a difference, however, between raising your voice because the truth is serious and screaming through an entire sermon because you believe that is what powerful preaching sounds like. Volume may express conviction, but it does not create conviction. The power is in the truth of God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Paul understood where the power of preaching came from. He told the Corinthians, “And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
Paul was not depending upon impressive speech, emotional pressure, or his ability to work a crowd. He preached Christ and trusted God to use the truth. The Holy Spirit does not need a preacher to shout before He can convict a sinner or teach a believer.
A pastor must also understand the difference between stirring emotion and producing spiritual change. Loud preaching can excite a congregation. People may shout back, raise their hands, stand to their feet, and leave talking about how powerful the service was. But excitement is not necessarily repentance, faith, or obedience.
A person can feel stirred without being changed. He may remember how loudly the preacher spoke but forget what Scripture was taught. He may leave impressed by the man while remaining unmoved by the Word of God.
Faith does not come from hearing a preacher’s volume. Scripture says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). If the Word is not being explained correctly, greater volume will not repair the problem.
Constant shouting can also make everything sound equally important. A sermon needs room for explanation, warning, comfort, correction, and careful thought. When every sentence is shouted, the congregation is given no opportunity to consider what has been said. The preacher may be making plenty of noise while doing very little teaching.
Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2). Notice that preaching includes instruction and patience. A pastor must do more than announce conclusions loudly. He must help people understand what God has said.
Some preachers may have learned this style from the men who taught them. Others may believe that people will lose interest unless the sermon remains loud and exciting. A pastor should honestly examine whether his manner of preaching serves the message or has become a performance.
Ask yourself what the congregation remembers. Do they remember the passage and understand it more clearly, or do they mainly remember how worked up the preacher became? Were they confronted by the truth, or were they pressured into an emotional reaction? Did the sermon direct their attention toward Christ, or toward the man behind the pulpit?
The preacher’s voice is a tool. He should use it wisely. There may be a proper time to speak loudly, just as there is a proper time to slow down, lower his voice, and allow a serious truth to settle upon the congregation. The purpose is not to display passion. The purpose is to communicate God’s Word clearly and faithfully.
Pastor, you do not have to shout to prove that you believe what you are preaching. Study the passage. Explain it plainly. Warn people when warning is needed. Comfort them with the promises God has actually made. Call sinners to repentance and point them toward Jesus Christ.
Your authority does not come from the strength of your lungs. It comes from faithfully preaching the Word of God. Speak with conviction, but never confuse noise with power.