PREACHING IS WORSHIP, NOT PERFORMANCE - by MATT HENSLEE

Found here. Our comments in bold.
--------------------

The author's thesis is in the title. However, we disagree that preaching is worship and agree that it's not performance. And the author never documents or explains how preaching is worship. He simply re-asserts it and moves on.

The author suggests that he should be preaching to an Audience of One. However, we're pretty sure God doesn't need to be preached to. Preaching is for the edification of the saints:

Ro. 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. Ro. 12:7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; Ro. 12:8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

1Co. 12:27-28 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Teaching (or preaching) is actually a separate practice from worship:

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

"Worship" is προσκυνέω (proskuneó), which means I go down on my knees to, do obeisance to, worship. It comes from the root word 4314 /prós, "towards" and kyneo, "to kiss") – properly, to kiss the ground when prostrating before a superior; to worship, ready "to fall down/prostrate oneself to adore on one's knees..."

Now, we have heard worship described in terms of singing, the offering, or as service unto the Lord, but we would suggest these things are not worship. Worship is a state of the heart, coming as a result of a revelation of His glory, which brings one's self low in the presence of the King of kings. 

We think it cheapens worship by naming things that are supposedly worship, while leaving untouched better explanations of it.
-------------------

(...)

But I’ve learned—okay, I’m learning—that I’m not performing before an audience, I’m worshipping an audience of One.

PREACHING IS WORSHIP.

Remembering this immutable truth has freed my preaching, but it’s also added far more weight. It’s helped me keep my focus away from how many are in front of me because my focus is instead on Who’s above me.

Reading Hebrews 12:1-2—and re-reading it again and again—has helped me immensely:

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The desire to perform before the audience in front of you is an example of “the sin that so easily ensnares,” because that’s your focus. That’s your crowd. They’re your adoring fans. But it’s also a trap!

THEY’RE THERE TO WORSHIP; YOU ARE TOO.

You aren’t—or rather, you shouldn’t be—the center of attention for your congregation. You aren’t their entertainer. You aren’t their focus. God is! Your people are there to worship.

Likewise, they aren’t your focus. They aren’t your crowd. They aren’t your fans. They’re your brothers and sisters in Christ, and you’re all there to worship God together.

So, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, and boldly declare the good news. Tell your audience—whether it’s two or 2,000—of the joy that led Jesus to endure the cross, despising its shame, and sit down at the right hand of the throne of God.

WHEN YOU PREACH.

Sure, there are people in front of you. You’re called to preach to them and tell them about Jesus. But friend, look up!

Don’t be validated by the many in front of you; find satisfaction in the One above you—the God who will one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Not good and faithful entertainer or good and faithful performer. It’s good and faithful servant.

Remember this as you prepare in the study. Put in the work as an offering of worship whether you’re preparing to preach to two or 2,000.

Remember this as you preach in the pulpit. Preach the Word as an offering of worship whether you’re preaching to two or 2,000.

Remember this as you head home for a nap after church. You preached for a response from those two or 2,000, but you did so for God’s glory—not yours. Rest in that, and snooze away in the finished work of Christ.