Abstract
This essay considers the use of the word “I” in Christian sermons. Preachers commonly use “I” in three ways: 1) in reference to themselves; 2) as they stand in for the listener or share the stories of others; and 3) as they stand in for God. The essay examines why the word should be employed in each voice and how these uses and stances offer rhetorical risks and benefits. An ethical framework of love and liberty is developed as a series of norms by which uses of “I” can be guided. The ethical uses of “I” are examined in turn, inviting preachers to use the power of this small word to help identify with hearers rather than to coerce belief or action.
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