What is the purpose of preaching? Is it just something to endure while waiting for the Main Event of Communion? Or is preaching itself the Main Event, with Communion merely a monthly or quarterly extra? Or does the truth lie somewhere in the via media?

On this week’s episode of Canterbury Trails, Jared (without C. Jay, who is out this week) answers these questions with our special guest, Father Matt Kennedy, rector of Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd in Binghamton, NY, co-host of the Stand Firm Podcast, and, most relevant to today’s discussion, Canon for Preaching in the Anglican Diocese of the Living Word.

God speaks directly to His people through the act of preaching, so it’s not just a 30-minute pep talk, or an academic lecture. There is business being done by the Holy Spirit when a pastor preaches.

But there are different views on preaching among Christians—and a variety of experiences.

For Anglicans who have come out of evangelical or fundamentalist churches, there can be a sense that Anglicanism is about getting away from preaching and doctrine and everything associated with their former churches: that the beauty of the liturgy will be enough to convey whatever sense of spirituality they are now looking for.

And what about the different kinds of preaching: topical, liturgical/church calendar/lectionary, expository? Are pastors allowed to preach about politics and social issues from the pulpit, and if so, to what extent?

Listen in to get wise commentary on all these matters and more, including some fascinating insight into the Biblical story of Joseph that you’ve likely never heard before.

Visit Father Kennedy online at Good Shepherd Church: https://goodshepherdbinghamton.org/

Listen to Father Kennedy’s Stand Firm podcast: https://standfirminfaith.com/

Image of Anglo-Saxon map by Hel-hama - Own work using:InkscapeSource: England and Wales at the time of the Treaty of Chippenham (AD 878). From the Atlas of European History, Earle W Dowe (d. 1946), G Bell and Sons, London, 1910 (see: File:England-878ad.jpg), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19885072