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

e, full of flowery metaphors and flattering comparisons (Prokhanov as a preacher was compared and considered to be superior to Spurgeon, Moody and Torrey). However, this ode to the ‘greatest and most gifted preachers not only of our country [Russia], but of all countries in the world’ sets a number of important emphases, which helps to understand what was expected of a sermon. The proclamation of the Gospel, understood as a call to repentance, was the first and foremost purpose of a sermon. Every sermon ‘must contain a reference to the crucified Christ.’** Although the author indicates that as well as aiming at bringing people to repentance, preaching must also contain ‘food for mind and heart,’ yet the examples of the fruits of Prokhanov’s sermons were always stories of people accepting Christ as their Saviour, asking for forgiveness, and bursting out in public prayers.*” Therefore a sermon was first of all a tool for outreach and evangelism. 3° Ivan S. Prokhanov, “Kachestva Propovednika 4 (1946), pp 18-21. ” (“4 Qualities of a Preacher”, in Bratskii Vestnik, Vol. 32 NLN., “I. S. Prokhanov kak Propovednik” [“I. S. Prokhanov as a Preacher” ], in Bratskii Vestnik, Vol. 1 (1947), pp 68-69. 2 Ibid., p 70. 98 The article entitled “Nekotoriie Ukazaniia o Tom, Kak Gotovitsia K Propovedi” [Some Instructions on How to Prepare for Preaching] again places significant emphases on the spiritual condition of a preacher. The Word of God is the first requirement for preaching, because ‘The Word of God is the subject of every sermon, it is ‘living and acting’ and is meant to strengthen the faith of the believers and to awake consciousness in sinners.’ Apart from the Bible, a preacher needs the help of the Holy Spirit. Without Him, no correct interpretation or application of the Scriptures is possible. Therefore, the process of preparation should start and end with a lot of prayer.** The author of the article addresses such questions as preparation (which is deemed to be very important), reading of the commentaries (indicating that reading parallel passages is the best way to understand the Scriptures, since ‘the Bible itself is the best interpreter’), creating some structure and following one theme.*” However, such practical pieces of advice do not distract the reader from the main idea - preaching is presented as a prophetic ministry empowered through the work of the Holy Spirit. After the draft of the sermon is ready, you need to throw it to the feet of Jesus and fall in front of Him. Your notes are just dead bones, which lack flesh and, which is more important — life and spirit, the source of which is in God’s hand. Pray to Him that in every moment of your sermon you, according to His promises, were given necessary thoughts in your heart and the words of life were put in your mouth. The best preparation for a public speaking before people is in prior private conversation with God. Talking to Him