Revitalizing Preaching for the Post-Pandemic Generation

To God, All the Glory

Andrew Sungwoo Cho

Globally, the task of passing the Christian faith to the next generation has emerged as increasingly complex and critical challenge, particularly in the post-pandemic era. Korean Christianity is no exception to this growing trend. A significant portion of the younger generation is distancing itself from traditional Christian communities, signaling a deeper crisis in the future of the faith. In light of this, this book critically examines the underlying factors driving the growing indifference or departure of young people from contemporary Korean Christian communities, offering valuable insights and potential solutions to address this pressing issue. Specifically, the study aims to uncover the increasing aversion among young Koreans toward certain Christian preachers and their followers, whose intransigent, insular, and self-centered demeanors have been prominently displayed during the societal crisis. Furthermore, this research explores the diminishing engagement of contemporary young Christians with the hierarchical facets of Christian communities and the top-down messages often delivered by sovereign preachers. These messages are frequently perceived as disconnected from the contemporary realities and social challenges young people face, further widening the gap between the younger generation and the Christian faith.

In response to these challenges, this book presents a transformative paradigm for contemporary Christian preaching—one that is not only theologically sound but also contextually relevant and deeply resonant with the existential realities of the post-pandemic generation. By critically engaging with the theological, sacramental, hermeneutical, and homiletical dimensions of Christian proclamation, this study rediscovers the very nature of Christian preaching, embodying incarnational, socially transformative, and interconnective elements. Drawing upon these insights, this book offers a new understanding of key homiletical concepts—Christian revelation, authority, the preacher, the audience, the text, language, and public responsibility—that can help revitalize next Christian preaching. This paradigm shift aims to ensure that Christian proclamation once again becomes a relevant, impactful, and transformative force, capable of engaging the next generation and fostering a deeper connection with the truth. It envisions a future in which the Christian message is not only heard but understood, embraced, and lived out by those who seek answers and hope in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world.

To ground this vision, this work begins with a historical, socio-cultural, and socio-religious analysis of the unique realities faced by younger Koreans in a post-pandemic world. Additionally, through empirical research methods such as surveys and questionnaires, the study presents a detailed understanding of the perspectives of younger Koreans—from their mid-teens to their thirties—within the post-pandemic Korean society. On the theological front, the book then examines a paradigm shift in Christian proclamation, drawing on the insights of Emil Brunner, David W. Tracy, and Minjung theology. Brunner’s theological perspectives offer potential solutions for overcoming the hierarchical and authoritarian frameworks in traditional preaching, while Tracy’s revisionist theology provides dynamic, conversational engagement with contemporary experiences. Minjung theology contributes to rediscovering a non-hierarchical, socially responsible, and contextually grounded approach to proclamation. From a sacramental perspective, Edward Schillebeeckx’s sacramental theology enriches the understanding of Christian proclamation by highlighting its incarnational, intersubjective, and communal dimensions. From a hermeneutical standpoint, this study also incorporates Hans-Georg Gadamer’s hermeneutical concept of dialogue, offering a fresh framework for understanding the dynamic interaction between the preacher, the text, and the audience. Finally, this work embraces the conversational homiletics, as articulated by Lucy A. Rose, John S. McClure, and O. Wesley Allen Jr., This approach challenges the traditional preacher-centered, top-down model of preaching by emphasizing non-hierarchical, collaborative, and dialogical engagement. Through these theological, sacramental, hermeneutical, and homiletical lenses, this book provides a comprehensive reimagining of Christian preaching, which incorporates new understandings of Christian revelation, authority, the preacher, the audience, the text, language, and public responsibility.

…how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?

As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

(ROMANS 10:14–15 NRSV)

Preaching the Christian faith to the next generation has become an increasingly complex and pressing challenge, especially in the post-pandemic era. Korean Christianity is no exception to this growing trend, with a growing segment of the younger population disengaging from traditional Christian communities. This shift signifies more than a decline in church attendance; it points to a deeper, existential crisis regarding the relevance of faith among the younger generation and the future sustainability of Christianity. In light of this, it is essential to reconsider and reframe conventional approaches to Christian ministry, including preaching, taking into account the unique realities and dynamics that shape the experiences and perceptions of today’s younger generation.¹

This book seeks to address this critical issue by proposing an effective, transformative, and contextually relevant preaching paradigm that responds to the contemporary realities of Generation MZ—those born roughly between the early 1980s and early 2000s—within the specific context of post-pandemic Korean society.² By engaging deeply with the Sitz im Leben of this demographic, we will examine how preaching can not only effectively resonate with, but also actively engage, a younger generation that is increasingly marked by antipathy, indifference, or skepticism toward today’s church and its message.