Preaching has always been the foundation of the church, so in a day when the culture is changing, people are attending church less, and the pressure to stay relevant is mounting, there is one truth that is more evident than ever: preaching is the heart and the way the church is moving. However, preaching, strategic preaching, the type of preaching that is based on the Scripture, directed by the Spirit, and in accordance to a definite mission. This is the potent message in the heart of the landmark book From the Pulpit to a Movement by David W. Stokes that is revolutionizing the thought of pastors, transitional leaders, and AMSs in regard to the role of the pulpit in the development of healthy and vibrant churches.
Trends in strategic preaching do not exist. It is neither a communication method nor a leadership buzzword. According to Stokes, it is the conscious effort of giving sermons which drives a congregation to a single, biblically focused course. Whereas traditional preaching is frequently concerned with moment-to-moment motivation, strategic preaching is concerned with long-term change, not just of minds and hearts but of actions, systems and culture. It is preaching which elevates the congregation where they are and whither God is calling them.
But why does every church now more than ever need strategic preaching? Stokes is a good portrayal of pain. Churches throughout the country are transitioning; some of them are healing after a loss, others are undergoing changes in leadership, and most are experiencing a change of generations. Pastors are stretched thin. Congregations are weary. Vision is often unclear. All this is in the presence of the fact that churches do not just need good sermons, but ones that provide a lead. Strategic preaching offers that way. It puts the people back into purpose and aligns ministries that seem to be scattered or stagnant.
That is one of the reasons why strategic preaching is so effective because it does not just inspire the congregation on a weekly basis but is a blueprint on how the congregation can become healthy. Stokes divides the issue of how pastors can create preaching calendars and sermon series that lead to renewal.
Instead of thinking of each message as its own stand-alone moment, he invites leaders to think about planning in a purposeful way, creating an arc of biblical truth that eventually forms attitudes, explains mission, and enhances cohesion. Every sermon is a step of the way, and the church starts moving the same way with confidence and understanding.
There are numerous leaders in the Bible who used strategic preaching before this concept was even identified by name. Moses deployed the messages of God to align Israel with the exodus. Nehemiah employed visionary communication as a means of gathering people to restore a failing city. The movements of the sermons and letters of Paul were aimed at the establishment and fortification of churches. And even Jesus Himself preached to change the thinking, to form identity, and to establish the conditions of the Kingdom. Stokes holds that when these leaders were preaching strategically, the current pastors should do the same.
The other reason why churches are in dire need of strategic preaching today is that it creates unity when times of change are being experienced. The transitional pastors, interims, and AMSs are confronted with the special problem of presiding over churches that can be in a state of division, confusion, or disillusionment. Stokes offers such a solution, preaching with purpose, preaching at the same time to spiritual needs and emotional and organizational needs. His book defines particular crisis preaching models, the revitalization preaching model, and the vision-casting preaching model that can assist congregations to heal and progress. Strategic preaching provides a sense of stability, clarity, and direction in times of uncertainty.
From the Pulpit to a Movement by David W. Stokes is not a mere book; it is an initiator of a fresh wind. It empowers pastors to preach with clarity, lead with purpose, and develop movements that matter. This book is the guidebook to the change- one strategic sermon at a time- to any church that hopes to revive or a pastor that needs new direction.