Most preachers spend hours on sermon preparation – studying scripture, crafting illustrations, and polishing delivery. But research shows there’s a crucial step that’s often missing: creating intentional spaces to hear what our congregations are actually receiving from our preaching. In this episode, Dr. Dee Stokes and Rev. Dr. Adam White share insights from their groundbreaking “And How Will They Hear?” initiative at Luther Seminary, revealing how systematic listening transforms both preaching and congregational engagement.
Through their work with diverse cohorts of preachers, they’ve discovered that the most compelling sermons aren’t necessarily the most polished – they’re the ones where preachers have learned to listen deeply to both God and their congregations. Learn practical tools for gathering meaningful feedback, understand why vulnerability matters more than ever in preaching, and discover how shifting from evaluation to understanding can deepen your sermon’s impact. Plus, hear why reimagining God’s agency in preaching might be the key to unlocking more powerful proclamation.
