In the Lutheran church, preaching comes after the Bible readings and before the Lord's Supper. We visited a church once where the Lord's Supper comes first, with preaching afterward. What difference does it make?
If preaching is about converting sinners (over and over and over again), then it belongs prior to the Supper. I am called to repentance for my sin; Jesus' mercy is lavished upon me; this makes me able to receive His body rightly.
But if the Holy Communion comes first and then preaching, that's because they believe the Supper is to give you the power, the oomph, the motivation, to be Jesus' follower. And the point of the sermon is to instruct you in your behavior.
So the difference is whether the sermon is seen as comfort or guidance.
And that ultimately indicates whether we trust in the law or the gospel.
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