Why This Preacher Moved From Personal Growth to Social Justice

Pastor Jin Cho reflects on the holistic, social, and communal dimensions of preaching and the liturgy—and on what it means for the church to both shape and be shaped by the community outside its walls.

In this video presented by Fuller Studio, pastor Jin Cho reflects on how his perspective on ministry has changed. He used to believe that his job was to convince people of something through powerful speeches. However, he now finds meaning in a more liturgical setting and believes the liturgy itself can be more impactful than preaching.

Cho talks about how his role as a preacher has become less about personal spiritual growth and more about social justice. He argues that many preachers focus on personal growth and miss the social and political implications of the scripture. He uses the parable of the Good Samaritan as an example, arguing that the story is about helping those who are different from you, not just about being a good person.

Cho also talks about his experience as a church planter. He says that while he once longed to be part of a church, he now feels called to be outside of the church building, helping people in the community. He believes that our work as Christians extends beyond the church walls.

To do that, Cho finds hope in Micah Groups, which are small groups that discuss faith and social issues. Through the Brehm Preaching – A Lloyd John Ogilvie at Fuller Seminary, he recognizes the benefit of these small groups, saying that these conversations can transform people and that participating in them has been a positive experience for him. He concludes the video by saying that he is having fun in his ministry and that he doesn't feel like he needs to apologize for using the word "fun" to describe his work.

You can watch the full video with Cho and featuring the Brehm Preaching Micah Groups below. If you’re a preacher, how do you think your ministry of the Word can go beyond your church’s walls?