"A house of prayer in the heart" : how homiletics nurtures the church's spirituality

Abstract

Prayer, whatever form it takes, represents a living relationship with God. In the article it is argued that the goal of preaching is the vitalizing, nurturing, enriching, deepening, broadening, and heightening of believers' relationship with God. To participate in this dynamic divine / human relationship, is a form of spirituality. Therefore, if the sermon ends with prayer, it follows that the purpose of preaching is - at least in part - the nurture of spirituality.