Towards Understanding of the Practice of Proclamation: The Core Element of Russian Baptist Worship, Timofey Cheprasov, 2015

or. 23), Resurrected and Redeeming the world... Preaching of the apostles became a special ministry, “the ministry of the word” (Acts. 6,4; Eph. 3,7) for which the Lord Jesus Christ gave the apostles the Grace of the Holy Spirit and His co- presence (Acts 1,8; Matthew 28,20, and others). That is why apostolic preaching is “not in convincing words of human wisdom, but in the appearance of the Spirit and power” (1 Cor. 2,4). This is the foundation of its full success.” Although the preaching of the Apostles is seen as an ideal, yet it is recognised that such an ideal is impossible to achieve, since no one can achieve the knowledge of the Apostles and their closeness to God. This brings a problem of proclaiming one’s views and not God’s Word. The solution is seen as two-fold. First is the need for the preacher to reject his own will in everything, allowing the Truth to act in his and through his life. The second is the role of the Church and its teaching, which serves as a guardian of the sound teaching and protects preaching from heresies. *® Olga Prokhvatilova”’ defines several main characteristic features of preaching. First, preaching is God-inspired, ‘since the Word is self-expressed through preaching.’ This mystical process of incarnation of the Word into a human language can allow space for rhetoric. Yet the weakness and inadequacy of human words cannot thwart God’s purposes, which will be achieved regardless of the quality of the presentation — after all, God Himself is at work in preaching. The second characteristic is the co- existence of the two worlds, the Divine and human. The Creator reveals Himself through the proclaimed word to a human being, the listener. Thirdly, preaching brings salvation, since it brings people in contact with the Truth, which is Christ and His word. Such an encounter results in listeners gaining greater knowledge about God, but also brings moral and spiritual growth, causing repentance and purification. Finally, preaching is an expression of sobornost, as it is directed at a gathering of “7 Ibid., p 12. “8 Ibid., p 13. “° Dr. Olga Prokhvatilova is a professor of Volgograd State University. One of the leading specialists in the area of preaching in Russian Orthodox Church. 43 individual Christians, who, whilst maintaining their individuality, are united as listeners of the word. The power of spiritual unity with other believers gathered in the temple and with Christ enables the listeners to perceive and experience the Truth during the sermon.” The strong conviction that Christ himself is present in preaching, which is His words being proclaimed, bears certain implications for the preachers as they prepare the message. The priest/preacher must come into the worship having spent time in repentance and prayer, which teaches to fight sin and to observe God through prayerful reflection. This, and regular participation in the liturgical life of the church,