This past July, I started school, and the course’s main
focus is expository preaching in the context of the local church. The beauty
about the course is that you get to sit under the teaching of different men
with vast experience in preaching and pastoral ministry, but they also hold
differing theological positions within evangelical Christianity. All this makes
for a rich experience for the students and many unforgettable lessons that left
me doing quite a bit of self-retrospection. Here a few that I have been mulling over.
Study hard without
data dumping
Someone once said, “A preacher who goes into the pulpit
without preparation is a fool. A preacher who goes into the pulpit relying on
his preparation is a bigger fool.” The apostle Paul admonishes his son Timothy
to labor to the point of exhaustion in his study of God’s Word, so that he may
handle it accurately. Study is a non-negotiable for the preacher! That said,
preaching should not be reduced to data dumping. The pulpit is not the place
for the preacher to bring out all his study tools and expose his knowledge (or
lack thereof). The work of a preacher in preaching, after diligent study, is to
deliver the truths of Scripture simply and logically. Throwing theological
jargon and going on pointless mumblings are the preacher’s real temptation in
sermon delivery.
Clarity clarity and
more clarity
The basic goal of communication is to deliver your message
to the recipients in a manner that is simple and clear for them to understand.
Preachers are no different in their task of preaching. Clarity is an essential
part of a sermon. Therefore, the message must be conveyed in a language and
with concepts the audience can understand. Another aspect of communicating with
clarity is that there is a logical flow to the sermon. One reason preachers
lack clarity is the problem of preaching to an imagined audience, instead of
preaching to the audience in front of you. The gospel message is an important,
urgent matter that we cannot afford to lack clarity in our preaching.
Preach doctrine while
applying it to the people
There are preachers who claim they do not preach doctrine;
they simply preach the Bible. While their intentions are admirable, their logic
is self-contradictory. To preach the Bible is to teach doctrine; it is in this
light that Paul urges Timothy to teach what is in keeping with sound doctrine.
Biblical preaching will shape a congregation doctrinally. However, preaching
doctrine does not mean lack of application. In fact biblical doctrine affects
life style. And biblical preaching tells both the “what” and the “so what”. The
first questions gives you truth (doctrine), and the second question gives you
the implications of the truth in your life (application).
Work on your holiness
This was the most convicting of the lessons. God uses
instruments that honor and please him in their lives. The most important work a
preacher can do is focus on being holy and fighting sin in his life. That means
commitment to the study of God’s Word, prayer and meaningful fellowship with
the brethren. This holiness will then be seen in relationships, attitude
towards others and ministry. A holy minister is not preoccupied with his
reputation or success but on being faithful in the task his master has called
him to. As a result, such a minister is not worried about the empty spaces in
the pew but instead focuses on the ones that are filled up.
Soak your preaching
in prayer
After all has been said and done, preaching is not about the
mechanics, study and styles though all those are important. A man might have
all those nailed down and still not bear fruit in his preaching because his is
not enabled by the Holy Spirit. It is for this reason that preaching must be
soaked in prayer if it is to be effective. Unless the Lord works in the hearts
of men, the preacher becomes a mere orator. Prayer is an act of dependence of
the work and power of God in changing lives, including your own as a preacher.
As a I pondered on these and many other lessons, I could not
help but reflect on the words of Walter Kaiser when he says:
“Regardless of what new directives and emphases are
periodically offered, that which is needed above everything else to make the
church more viable, authentic and effective, is a new declaration of the
scriptures with a new purpose, passion and power.”[1]
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