I had the privilege of attending the Keswick Convention for the first time this year. I had a little role in the young adults stream – K2. But I also got to enjoy the Bible readings and evening celebrations, as well as a couple of afternoon sessions. I have to say, I have become a fan of Keswick (good preaching, decent music, no pre-registration, great town, perfect weather . . . ok, that last bit was a lie.)
It was a blessing to be around people hungry for the Word. I laugh as I remember walking down Helvellyn Street toward the main tent and being overtaken by an older gentleman, probably in his seventies, practically running in order to get in for the Bible teaching. Whatever your age, a hunger for the Word of God is a sign of sure spiritual health!
It was a blessing to receive some real feasts from the Word. Actually, the Sunday morning message I heard in one of the churches was enough for the week. But there were other feasts too. The morning Bible readings were excellent – good content, high relevance, great energy, contagious enthuiasm. The more relaxed afternoon sessions I attended were a blessing too. For many, I’m sure, a week at Keswick must be a welcome feeding from God’s Word (especially for the many coming from churches where the diet is poor).
It was a preacher’s pleasure to watch and learn as others were preaching. Not every message hit the same heights. But there were things to learn about preaching in every message. Things about content, structure, unity of message, use of illustration, aspects of delivery. It was great to be able to observe and sit under seven other preachers in a week. We preachers can learn a lot when we watch and listen, whether the experience is generally positive or negative. And each time, irrespective of the preacher, the passage is pure gold, the pondering of which will effect the gradual transformation of our hearts and lives.
It was great to be in a huge crowd for singing too! As a poor singer it is great once in a while to be in a crowd big enough to make me less concerned about ruining the experience of those in front of me during the sung worship times. Ironic that when we get into the biggest crowd ever, we presume our voices will be perfected and able to hit the right notes every time!
Biblical Preaching 
I, too, was at Keswick this year and have been for the past fifteen or more years; indeed, in former times I was privileged to be a speaker there. It’s a great place to be in the summer.
I found your notes on coughs interesting. Why do some sermons/talks miss the boat? Over-familiarity with the subject? It’s possible to over-prepare, especially for “big” occasions. A lack of genuine passion? I’ve sometimes heard (and preached) sermons which were professional but powerless, competent but cold. Reliance on anything other than the Spirit? I guess it’s the hole in the floor we all fall down from time to time, maybe repeatedly. (How do we know we’re really relying on the Spirit?) Failure to get into the spirit of the text? I suspect this accounts for so much dull preaching. We somehow work the miracle of turning wine into water.
I’d be interested in your comments on the link between monologue sermons and Christian maturity. Do the former inhibit the latter or enhance it?
Thank you for the blog, which I’ve only just discovered.
I don’t mean at all to cause any controversy, but when I hear “Keswick” I immediately remember the concerns my seminary prof had over the Keswick approach to sanctification. Is this the same school that promotes the “let go and let God” approach to spiritual growth?
There certainly was a Keswick position as you mention, but I am not sure how much that is maintained today. From my simplistic observations of one week, it felt like a conservative Bible teaching conference. If you check out the keswick convention website you’ll see the kind of speakers they invite – certainly not all in any one camp, I suspect.