Kredibilitas Pembicara dan Respons Jemaat

Implikasi Retorika Kristen bagi Pendidikan Agama Kristen yang Transformatif

Abstract

Preaching is one of the main instruments to strengthen the faith and spirituality of the congregation in the Christian church. However, the effectiveness of a sermon is not only limited to the message conveyed, but also depends on the speaker's level of credibility. The main objective of this study is to analyze how the credibility of speakers based on classical rhetoric in the form of ethos affects the response of the congregation to Christian sermons. Using a qualitative approach through a case study at the Sidorame HKBP Church, data was collected through participant observation, interviews, and participatory evaluation with two speakers who had different levels of credibility. The research findings suggest that speakers who are characterized by a strong ethos reflected through integrity, emulation elements, and a component of sharing personal stories with congregations can elicit emotional responses and deeper spiritual implications. Conversely, speakers with lower perceptions of credibility may elicit passive reactions even in cases when the sermon material is well-structured. Therefore, this study reinforces the importance of the compatibility between the speaker's personal life and the presentation of the message in Christian sermons. The Church needs to focus more on the development of spiritual character and pastoral communication mechanisms to improve the quality of pulpit service. Implicitly, the formation of a strong speaker ethos is also an important model in transformative Christian Religious Education, which emphasizes example, authentic communication, and integrity as part of the faith learning process.