Preaching is not something you do just like that: it must be inspired by the Holy Spirit, be aligned with the Bible, and be in accordance with our doctrine. The Chief Apostle explains the requirements.
“The proper proclamation of the word” is the title of an essay addressed to the ministers and published in a special edition of the Divine Service Guide in 2020. The essay has just been published in the communitymagazine, issue No. 2/2025 .
The Catechism describes the proper proclamation of the gospel as a characteristic of the apostolate. The Apostles are to proclaim the gospel of the birth, the life and activity, the death, the resurrection, the ascension, and the return of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit.
When an Apostle ordains a minister, he confers upon him the authority to properly proclaim the word. From then on, he or she can preach the gospel in divine services and convey the word of God in pastoral visits.
Consistent with the Bible
“To be conform to the Bible does not mean to adhere strictly to its literal meaning,” Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider says. In order to understand the message of the Bible, it is important to take the human factor into account.
This ranges from the worldview of the age in which a text was written to the social structure and culture of the time, to the personality and intentions of the authors. For example, in the Old Testament the sun revolved around the earth. And for Paul there was nothing revolting about slavery. And the four authors lent their gospels their very own specific character.
“Having inspired Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit is the only one who can also unlock its proper understanding,” the essay clearly states. And read in the light of the
Holy Spirit, the Bible shows us the way to salvation. “It is not intended to replace science, nor to regulate life in society,” the Chief Apostle says.
Consistent with the gospel
“The New Apostolic doctrine is therefore based on the statements of the Bible and deepened, where necessary, by the present revelations of the Holy Spirit as validated by the Chief Apostle,” it says further. The doctrine is clearly defined in the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church and explained in the official publications of the Church. “In order to be proper and apostolic, the preaching of a minister of the New Apostolic Church must be in accordance with this doctrine.”
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit tells us the word of Jesus Christ, which is eternally valid, the essay states. Sometimes this becomes mixed with personal views in the sermon—as was the case, for example, with certain statements by Apostle Paul or, later, Chief Apostle Bischoff regarding the return of Christ. The message inspired by the Holy Spirit was the same, “The Lord is coming soon! Get ready!” But because those who preached this message added their own personal opinion (celibacy and the time to the return of the Lord) that part of their preaching was not confirmed.
It is not always possible or even desirable to banish all personal feelings from our preaching, the essay says. But: “Let us simply be sure to make a distinction between the preaching of the gospel—which derives from our ministerial authority—and our own thoughts, which may or may not be as well-founded.”
It is therefore essential for any minister who is called to preach to sanctify himself in order to be able to understand the message of the Holy Spirit, and to impart it in the appropriate manner, the Chief Apostle appeals to the ministers. This also applies to the listeners: “If they allow themselves to be guided by the Spirit, they will be able to perceive the truth of the gospel despite the human inadequacies that may also be present in the preaching.”
Photo: Oliver Rütten