"Many letters have an oral dimension to them. In other words, they are didactic and they are written for the ear as much as the eye. After all, it only took one person to read the letters to the whole church, who would then hear the letter."
-- Steve W. Smith, Recapturing the Voice of God
Written communication is not always merely a matter of information. It can be a way to communicate without being present. Oral communication requires presence, whereas written communication doesn't. But sometimes the goal of the written word is not merely to relay the content, but to express the context, the presence and personality of the one speaking.
Preaching is auditory. Sermons should be made to be heard. They are not merely information spoken out loud for efficiency's sake. They are crafted to capture the essence as well as the information. The way something sounds being coupled with the way something is understood and choosing words in a way that marries the two.
When preparing a sermon, consider the content, of course, but do not neglect to complement the information with words that sound like the idea you are trying to relay.
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