Too often, while preaching, I straight away tell my listeners what the meaning of a passage is without even referring to the passage details itself. Perhaps it due to time constraints, or nervousness, but i tend to skip the process of how i got the meaning to my listeners. As a result, many of them often think that my preaching has deviated from the text of are simply lost in a maze.
Three simple questions (thanks Bryan Chapell) help me to overcome these,
1. What does the text mean
2. How do I know what the text means
3. What caused the text to be written?
The second question is important because it forces preachers to identity siginificant landmarks that others will be able to follow your thought process. And of course, they learning how to interpret scripture biblically for themselves.
Friday, January 31, 2014
How would Christ preach to our congregation?
We preach with authority because we are representing God's authority. We should be cautioned against using expressions like, "I believe this means...", "I feel that...", or even "I think..."
We should be saying, "The bible says..." and then proceed to preach with authority, yet with application to daily situations and with a personal touch to the heart.
We need to be careful about preaching with authority but yet not just merely sounding authoritarian. If you are confident of God's truth, you will be able to preach with great force, yet with great gentleness.
Sometimes, we proclaim the joys of the gospel to the unsaved. Other times, we rebuke the regenerate. Still others, we comfort the broken.
We should be saying, "The bible says..." and then proceed to preach with authority, yet with application to daily situations and with a personal touch to the heart.
We need to be careful about preaching with authority but yet not just merely sounding authoritarian. If you are confident of God's truth, you will be able to preach with great force, yet with great gentleness.
Sometimes, we proclaim the joys of the gospel to the unsaved. Other times, we rebuke the regenerate. Still others, we comfort the broken.
Preaching with Authority - "The Bible says..."
We preach with authority because we are representing God's authority. We should be cautioned against using expressions like, "I believe this means...", "I feel that...", or even "I think..."
We should be saying, "The bible says..." and then proceed to preach with authority, yet with application to daily situations and with a personal touch to the heart.
We need to be careful about preaching with authority but yet not just merely sounding authoritarian. If you are confident of God's truth, you will be able to preach with great force, yet with great gentleness.
Sometimes, we proclaim the joys of the gospel to the unsaved. Other times, we rebuke the regenerate. Still others, we comfort the broken.
We should be saying, "The bible says..." and then proceed to preach with authority, yet with application to daily situations and with a personal touch to the heart.
We need to be careful about preaching with authority but yet not just merely sounding authoritarian. If you are confident of God's truth, you will be able to preach with great force, yet with great gentleness.
Sometimes, we proclaim the joys of the gospel to the unsaved. Other times, we rebuke the regenerate. Still others, we comfort the broken.
The Core of a Sermon
Begin your sermon preparation by asking this question, "What actions may I require of the listener after explaining this text?"
The next step would be to explain the meaning to talk to the mind. Next, illustrate to talk to the heart. Lastly, apply to talk to the will to obey God.
- Explaining to the mind,
- Illustrating to the heart
- Applying to the will.
The next step would be to explain the meaning to talk to the mind. Next, illustrate to talk to the heart. Lastly, apply to talk to the will to obey God.
- Explaining to the mind,
- Illustrating to the heart
- Applying to the will.
PEE
The primary duty of expository preaching is to exhort his listeners to apply the truths revealed in scripture.
Until someone can apply truth, his understanding is still incomplete. Reflect on how Ezra preach in Nehemiah 8:5-8. What was the response of the people?
And what is expository preaching? I quote Bryan Chapell's 'PEE' acronym,
a. Present the Word
b. Explain it,
c. Exhort the listener to act on it.
Listeners usually pay closer attention to a sermon where explanation and exhortation to application occur regularly and frequently.
Until someone can apply truth, his understanding is still incomplete. Reflect on how Ezra preach in Nehemiah 8:5-8. What was the response of the people?
And what is expository preaching? I quote Bryan Chapell's 'PEE' acronym,
a. Present the Word
b. Explain it,
c. Exhort the listener to act on it.
Listeners usually pay closer attention to a sermon where explanation and exhortation to application occur regularly and frequently.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Preaching to the Heart
The bible has something to say about the deepest needs of our lives. From it, comes the wisdom and power for daily living.
We should be reminded that preaching is not simply about recounting facts. Preaching should demonstrate how the bible applies to our lives. Not what is simply means, but what it means in our lives today.
If a passage doesn't affect the lives of listeners, I am afraid that we have not understood the meaning of the text to ourselves and to them. Lives should be changed by it.
A sermon that teaches much information but yet is unable to reach the heart loses it personal touch. Preach to the heart.
We should be reminded that preaching is not simply about recounting facts. Preaching should demonstrate how the bible applies to our lives. Not what is simply means, but what it means in our lives today.
If a passage doesn't affect the lives of listeners, I am afraid that we have not understood the meaning of the text to ourselves and to them. Lives should be changed by it.
A sermon that teaches much information but yet is unable to reach the heart loses it personal touch. Preach to the heart.
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