Preaching

Passing along a good article about what makes for a "good" preacher.  Enjoy! ********************************* You probably have noticed that preachers come in all shapes and sizes. There are big, gregarious, sweaty-foreheaded preachers. There are short, slim, soft-spoken preachers. There are creative preachers who always have a slick gadget or a clever object of illustration. There are King James preachers who love Thees and the Thous of Thy Holy Word. So what makes for a faithful preacher? Because God has called preachers to be faithful rather than successful, how can we be sure we are staying true to the call? Here are a few biblical criteria to keep us on track: The preacher should give people a bigger picture of God. "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" (2 Cor. 4:5). Ultimately, people need to be told repeatedly that the God of Scripture is bigger than all…

I grew up in a tradition that talked about "gospel preaching."  In fact, we had "gospel meetings" instead of revivals, even though the intended outcome was the same.  Although I have slid to the other side of the keyboard, I still believe in gospel preaching.  In fact, it's a shame we don't talk more about it. To be clear about terms, I define "gospel" as what God has accomplished for us through the atonement of Jesus.  The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus stand at the heart of the gospel message -- that God redeems the sinner who comes to him in faith and penitence.  This redemption opens the door to new life, new hope, and new purpose. In 1992 I read a book that deepened my understanding of the gospel, especially as it relates to preaching.  It was called "The Core Gospel" and it was written by Bill Love. …

I've heard it said that preachers are interested in preparing messages while God is interested in preparing messengers.  Or, you might think of it like this: "What is God saying to me?" "What does God want to say through me?" "What does God want me to say to them?"

Every good message has two things: an effective beginning and a well-defined ending. Too many speakers and presenters just wander into a message.  A little bit of this, a little bit of that.  Or worse, they stick an irrelevant introduction onto their speech or sermon because they like it, not because it fits.  The introduction should point to where the message is going in a clear, concise, and compelling fashion. If the introduction is getting the message in the air, on the back end of the message is a good landing.  It's sighting the runway and knowing when to bring down the plane.  Many great speeches lose their impact because the speaker starts circling the runway, unsure of how to end the message.  Lose the ending and there's a good chance you'll lose the impact. Alpha and omega, beginning and end.

Back in college, I was amazed at guys who in private were warm and engaging but who clammed up when given a microphone.  The most common mistake was to read their speech (or sermon) in a flat, monotone voice.  No movement.  No color or emotion. The human voice is God's most creative instrument.  Use it to add depth to a deep point or excitement to an idea that should inspire passion or joy.  To get people to lean forward, whisper.  To allow them time to think, press pause. To inspire or move to action, say no to monotone.