The sermon for Luther and in Pietism

Following the example of the Bible and early Christianity, the sermon was an important element of worship in the Middle Ages. But Martin Luther attributed a very central importance to the sermon, since it was here that the concrete Word of God was to ‘exhort, encourage and persuade’ people into faith. Thus it became the most important medium for spreading Reformation doctrine. Luther himself became the model for Protestant preachers.

In August Hermann Francke’s understanding, the sermon was particularly suitable for personally addressing and converting listeners. This required special training of the theologians to use simple, understandable and richly visual language. The sermon should go to the heart and encourage reflection on what was heard, in order to ultimately have a positive effect on one’s personal way of life. Many of Francke’s sermons were co-written by students and then published.

Because of the enormous importance of preaching, the Pietists gave great prominence in theological studies to the creation of sermons and the training of preachers, thus reforming theological education in a lasting way towards an orientation towards pastoral practice.