No preacher ever sets out to be dull. Yet, the dreaded moment when you realize your congregation has checked out is a familiar experience. How can we prevent this from happening? With over two decades in communication, including public speaking, teaching, training, and preaching, I’ve identified keys we can use to elevate our own preaching.
They fall under two sections – preparation, and communication.
Strong preparation for preaching is essential
For many, this seems obvious. But for some preachers, preaching preparation takes a backseat. This isn’t always because of laziness or a lack of knowing how to do it. It can be because we are busy with other things in life and ministry – good busy or bad busy. But we can’t shortcut preparation work. In fact, the quality of preparation we put into our sermon directly impacts the quality of our preaching. Effective preaching hinges on meticulous preparation. Just as a skilled craftsman carefully selects and shapes his materials, so too must a preacher diligently study and craft their message.
Sermon preparation is not merely about constructing a logical argument; it’s about cultivating a profound encounter with God’s Word. Through careful exegesis, prayerful meditation, and a deep understanding of the congregation, a preacher can unlock the life-transforming power of Scripture. This intentional process ensures that the message delivered from the pulpit is not merely informative but also inspiring, challenging, and ultimately, life-changing.
Strong communication for preaching is essential
The pulpit is not merely a platform; it’s a sacred space where the timeless truths of Scripture are translated into the language of today. When a preacher effectively communicates, the message becomes more than just words; it becomes a life-changing encounter. By speaking clearly and concisely, preachers ensure that the Gospel is understood, embraced, and applied. This clarity is essential for building faith, inspiring action, and fostering spiritual growth within the congregation.
Let’s look at some practical steps that I’ve used over the years to help me ensure I’m ‘short, sharp, and smart’ in my preaching preparation and communication.
Prayer as preparation
Effective preaching is inherently rooted in prayer. As ministers of the Gospel, we are called to be faithful stewards of God’s Word. Before we delve into the intricacies of sermon preparation, it is essential to approach our chosen topic with a prayerful heart. In this sacred space, we invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate the text, granting us fresh insights and a deeper understanding of God’s purpose. By seeking divine guidance at the outset, we position ourselves to deliver a message that is not merely informative but transformative, resonating with the hearts and minds of our congregation.
Starting with a general Idea
For me, I often find through prayer that I get a leading of what to preach on, but not much more. In the initial stages of sermon preparation I may have just a vague concept in mind or a general thrust. For instance, I recently knew I needed to preach on the topic of ‘fivefold ministry as part of an ongoing series on the book of Ephesians. I had a sense of needing to ‘anchor’ each of the fivefold roles into practical day to day reality, but with a strong biblical exposition. At this point, the outline was still hazy. But it gave me my starting point, and also I could look back at the end of my preparation and see if I had stayed – or strayed – from my objective.
Sometimes, instead of starting with a broad idea, a specific scripture passage might grab me. I’ve preached through books like Ruth and Genesis without a clear direction initially, instead just approaching the text as it is. I’ve not been scared not having a clear point to work towards, instead trusting Holy Spirit to guide me and show me things in the text. In that sense, it begins to shape itself.
Have an ‘idea dump’
To capture my initial sparks of inspiration, I maintain a digital record of ideas and potential points. A foundational step I’ve found helpful is creating a document for my ideas. I’ll use a note file on my iPhone which syncs with my iPad and laptop. This lets me utilise the power of the cloud and capture any ideas that come to me at any time, no matter the hour or location. I’ll use it to record potential points, wordplays, illustrations, other verses, quotes, media clips, and insights. This serves as a wellspring of inspiration when crafting my message.
I keep this document simple and uncluttered; it’s not a polished document that will be published or shared, but a raw collection of potential preaching material. I never use all of it, but often there are gems that make their way into my sermon. At the same time, there will be things that I look at a second time and dismiss. By consistently adding to this note, I have a valuable tool that enhances my preaching preparation process.
Creating preaching connection points
Effective preaching involves walking a fine line between between meeting the congregation’s immediate felt needs, and imparting the timeless truths of Scripture to shape their thinking. While it is essential to address the pressing concerns and questions of the people, it is equally crucial to challenge and inspire them with God’s truth. Preaching that solely focuses on what the congregation wants to hear risks becoming superficial and irrelevant, failing to equip believers for the challenges they face. Like Peter, we are charged to ‘feed [Jesus’] sheep’. Shallow and superficial preaching does not serve the people.
On the other hand, preaching that exclusively delivers what the congregation needs to hear without considering their interests will alienate and disengage listeners. People are more receptive to messages that resonate with their lives and experiences. By understanding the congregation’s desires and tailoring the message accordingly, we as preachers can create a connection that opens hearts and minds to the transformative power of God’s Word.
A truly impactful sermon combines both elements, nourishing the soul with biblical truth while offering practical guidance and encouragement for daily living. We need to be relevant without dumbing down, yet true to biblical principles without being out-of-touch.
Chewing things over
Effective preaching preparation isn’t something that can be rushed. Crafting a powerful message takes time. If you’re still planning your Sunday sermon on Friday or Saturday, your preaching will be rushed, may lack depth, and might sacrifice clarity for accuracy. The best sermons I’ve preached have been ones where I’ve had the time – and made the time – to let it sit. To let it marinate in my spirit. I’ve been able to ponder, reflect, and meditate on the revelation I have. Without fail, God has shown me more. Maybe more depth, maybe a better way to explain something, perhaps a better illustration or story, or even a whole new point or angle.
As a rule, the longer a sermon has to develop, the richer and more flavourful it becomes. This throws up an interesting question. For those preachers who preach every week without fail, how do you make this kind of space in your life? Could you be better served by sharing the pulpit more often? Would your preparation, your preaching – and your congregation – be better for it?
So as much as possible, prioritize early sermon preparation. If you are able to, investing days, weeks or even months in the preparation process. By dedicating ample time to study, pray, write, think, and refine, you’ll witness a remarkable transformation in the impact of your preaching. So will your listeners. The rewards of thoughtful preparation far outweigh the rush of last-minute efforts.
The acid test: One Big Point
I used to train preachers. They would be assigned a passage, prepare a sermon, and preach for 8 minutes in front of me and the rest of the preaching class. In 8 minutes, you can have an introduction, a strong single point, and a conclusion. My logic was that if you could do that in 8 minutes, you could do two sermon points in 16 minutes, and three points in 24 minutes. But before they started, I asked them to summarise what they were going to say in a single sentence. Why? Because being able to sum up your sermon in one simple phrase, question, or sentence tells me whether you are clear on it or not. If someone can’t summarise their sermon that way, they either have too much content, or they aren’t sure of it themselves. I call it the ‘One Big Point’ test.
In a very real sense, all our points really should point towards our One Big Point – our single sentence summary. This is the essence of your sermon, encapsulated in a single, memorable sentence. A well-defined One Big Point enhances your preaching by sharpening your focus. Sometimes I know my One Big Point at the start of my preparation process. Other times, it’s the last thing I do. So don’t be discouraged if you can’t articulate it immediately. Sometimes it needs to be shaped as you walk through the preparation process. It isn’t unusual for our thoughts, and therefore our clarity, to develop over time.
For many preachers, having a strong One Big Point serves as the foundation for the entire sermon structure, being a reference point to compare our preaching points to. We can ask the question “does this point unpack, illuminate, unfold, or explain my One Big Point?” If it doesn’t, no matter how great the point, lose it. Otherwise it’ll detract or distract.
Answer the two big preaching questions
Anyone who listens to a sermon is asking two fundamental questions of the preacher. The answers the listener settles on determines their engagement level with the preaching.
The first question is ‘so what?’ They want to know if what you are preaching on is important for them, and if it is relevant to their life. If the answer is ‘no’ to either of these, they’ll dial down their engagement.
The second question is ‘how?’. Listeners want to know what to do with what you are teaching them. If they can’t discern how to implement and apply it to their life, they’ll switch off because it’s unattainable and not practical.
So ensure your preaching answers these two questions. For me, during my introduction I answer the ‘so what?’ question. For any of my points, I include ‘how’ suggestions. You can find your own method, but however you do it, ensure you address these unspoken questions. It will make the difference between preaching that informs, and preaching that inspires and equips.
Sermon structure matters
Honestly, I’ve heard some preaching that was like jello, with no discernable framework whatsoever. I couldn’t tell if there was three points, thirty points, or no points at all. Structure matters for two reasons. Firstly, your thinking as a preacher. Secondly, for your listeners.
Think of a sermon like a journey. There is a starting point and and endpoint. There are stops along the way you navigate between the two. These stops can enhance the understanding of your listeners, or you can lose them.
Constructing a robust outline is a crucial step. While there’s no one-size-fits-all formula, effective preaching often follows a familiar structure:
- Introduction – use this to answer the ‘so what’ question
- Teaching point – use these to answer the ‘what do they need to know’ question
- Application – use these to answer the ‘how?’ question
- Conclusion – use this to state your One Big Point and answer the ‘how will this benefit me?’ question
You might have one, two, three, five or however many points. Just include applications with each one so people have an idea what to do with what you’re telling them. Also consider that the more points you have, the more confusing you might be. Remember the One Big Point and cherry-pick your strongest points.
Once the foundational framework is established, you can breathe life into your sermon by incorporating other biblical references and helpful illustrations.
Internalise your sermon
I worked with a preacher who would write his notes out word for word and read them. He did this so he knew exactly what he said, and could answer any questions about his wording if queried or challenged by listeners. Sadly, it shackled him and his natural warmth was lost behind a robotic lecturing style that obscured his otherwise excellent teaching. He didn’t internalise his sermon, and it hindered him.
So what do I mean? I don’t mean memorise – I mean internalise. Have a deep understanding of your message – the One Big Point, the ‘so what’ and the ‘how’. You should be able to give a kind of quick overview of your basic message and content from memory in under a minute. This means your message is deep within your heart, and any notes are serving you as prompts rather that a manuscript that needs to be read.
Having a conviction of what you are saying without notes will strengthen your preaching presence. You’ll be able to ad-lib or follow the promptings of the Spirit more easily, confident of where you are in your sermon’s journey. This will help you preach more authentically, more meaningfully, and more naturally.
Reading through your sermon on the run up before preaching also helps this process. Whether that’s the morning, or the evening before, familiarise yourself with your content. It’ll help.
Refine with trusted partners
I’ve learnt that the second time I preach a sermon, it’s always better than the first time. Why? Because I’ve already got a sense of knowing where I’m starting, going, and ending. I’ve internalised it even deeper, as per my previous point, because I’m more familiar with it.
When I realised that about myself, I thought “why let Sunday morning be the first time I preach it? Why not preach it to some people so I can not only internalise it more, but also get feedback?”
So that’s what I now do. Once it feels completed, I go through my sermon with my wife. I find her input invaluable for me, as she is different to me and sees and hears things differently! She has both encouraged and challenged me many times with what she’s heard I was preparing to preach, and has helped me see poor word choice, lack of clarity, weak points, bad illustrations, and many other things. Also, being both a woman and someone who doesn’t work in the church world, her natural insight brings great questions.
I’d encourage you to have an individual, or individuals, you can do the same with. The obvious person may be your spouse but also people who are not like you – and people who know you are giving them permission to give you very real feedback! Just make sure you give yourself enough time to implement their suggestions! This pre-preaching practice allows you to gauge the resonance of your message and ensure your key points land effectively.
Ideally, diverse perspectives within your team, that mirror your congregation, are essential. Having very different people speak into your preaching will make you a better preacher and serve your congregation better, as I’m sure not everyone in your church is like you!
Preaching your heart out
When the time comes to speak, be yourself. If you are naturally funny, be funny. If you aren’t, don’t try to be – it’ll come across forced and odd.
Speak from your heart, and speak with passion – show people you believe what you are preaching.
Just remember, you are preaching on One Big Point. And you are answering simple questions for your listeners about it:
So what is the big deal about it?
And how do they do it?
This combination of structure and prayerful preparation will set you up for success. And don’t forget, preaching is partnering with God. If you’ve involved Him in the process and are speaking what He wants you to say, He’ll anoint you for the purpose. He’ll prepare the hearts of the listeners. And no matter how well you feel it goes, or how badly, it’s His word. It never returns to His mouth void but always fulfils it’s purpose (Isaiah 55:11).
So just be faithful to what He has said. He’s gone before you!
