More than a Sermon: An Interview with Doug Webster

Doug Webster is the author of More than a Sermon: The Purpose and Practice of Christian Preaching. In his new book, highlights the prophetic and pastoral challenge of preaching today. The task is both harder and easier than we imagine, as we are called to proclaim the biblical text in a way that convicts a hostile world while encouraging our congregations to rest in Christ’s love. We need preaching that both swings the hammer that breaks hard hearts yet does not break the bruised reeds in our care.

In our interview below, Webster shares how preaching is both a great burden and a driving passion.

Douglas D. Webster is professor of pastoral theology and preaching at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University. He has served as pastor at churches in San Diego, New York City, Denver, Birmingham, and Toronto.

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Lexham Press: What is the story behind More than a Sermon: The Purpose and Practice of Christian Preaching and what is your book’s basic thesis?

Webster: My aim is to stimulate an in-depth conversation on preaching. Learning how to preach faithfully and fruitfully is all about proclaiming Christ to the people we serve. It is not so much about technique and style as paying attention to the biblical text so that it shapes the content, focus, tone and thrust of our sermons.

Preaching is a dynamic, visceral, relational activity that cannot be contained in the study. Even my body tells me that I’m going to preach several hours ahead of time. Preaching is both a great burden and a driving passion, and even after many years, preaching doesn’t become any easier, but it becomes more and more significant.

LP: What contribution do you hope to make with More than a Sermon?

Webster: My purpose is to underscore the importance of preaching for making disciples and strengthening the household of faith. The second half of the book offers practical guidance in preaching wedding and memorial mediations and preaching through the church year.

LP: Describe a particularly surprising or enjoyable aspect of writing More than a Sermon. 

Webster: I’m committed to mentoring pastors who preach rather than preachers who pastor. Hopefully the chapter titles lay out a compelling case for preaching as a way of life, rather than a job description of a weekly task. This book is the result of forty years of preaching in diverse cultural settings and various denominations. My hope is that the reader will find my theology and practice of preaching deeply rooted in the Bible and situationally aware.

LP: Share with us something surprising about yourself that only your friends would know.

Webster: OK, this is really embarrassing. I can’t think of any fun fact!! My vacations are mission trips with Virginia (my wife) to remote places to train pastors (Taiwan, 4xs to Mongolia, 5xs to Ghana, 2xs to Cambodia). I also love the fact that you can reach 72 and spend most of your time with great people in their 20 & 30s. With five grandkids the older I get the more I see myself in them and feel like a child of God. I love having experienced serious church leadership in Toronto (11yrs), Denver (4yrs), San Diego (14yrs), New York City (4yrs), and Birmingham (16yrs).