I like Jonathan Pennington’s idea of ‘iceberg preaching’.  Consider, he says, what an iceberg might look like:

In the first triangle, almost all of the iceberg lies above the surface of the water.  This represents the sermon in which the preacher tells his hears everything he knows about a text or subject.  He knows nothing else.  There is no more that he could have said.  There is no unstated knowledge, or insight, or understanding that has helped him form his message.

In the second triangle, the knowledge base of the preacher and of the sermon are both large.  The trouble is that he has tried to impart too much of his knowledge.  The sermon has become bulky and unwieldy.  It is packed too tight.  The hears cannot possibly be expected to asimilate, in half and hour or so, learning that has taken many hours for the preacher to acquire.

In the third triangle, which is the true image of an iceberg, the sermon has unseen depth and stability.  It is well-informed, profoundly thought-through, and yet has simplicity and accessibility.

Pennington comments:

‘Our preaching lives should look like the third picture, a true image of an iceberg…Only the third image combines what is needed for a life of effective preaching: simplicity in preaching that is rooted in depth of understanding.’

‘The unseen portion of our preaching provides ballast and gravitas, a felt weightiness and meaningfulness that is lacking in the first image. At the same time, this bulk does not appear on the surface of the sermon. When a sermon is too heavy above the water line, the result is not greater effectiveness but lesser.’

‘A great sermon is simple and clear, based in complexity and depth. Simplicity without depth will float aimlessly and deteriorate. Complexity without clarity reflects immaturity. Simple clarity rooted in iceberg-sized knowledge and experience makes a powerful and hospitable mountain.’

‘So how do you become an iceberg preacher? On the “below the water” side of things, give yourself to study and learning, both formal and informal. Don’t be content with surface knowledge of an issue, even if it is the right answer and will please your audience. Cultivate a mind and soul that are curious and awake, always learning, always seeking, always working on your craft. If you have settled into going through the motions and are no longer learning as a preacher, it is time to retire or get a different job.’

‘On the “above the water” level—the actual preaching of the sermon—labor hard to make your messages simple and clear. Don’t be content with dumping on your people the in-depth data of your learning. Overly complex sermons reveal laziness, not intelligence. There should be a strong filter standing between your study and your pulpit, with most of what you know strained out and refined into a clear and pure message.

‘We should want to shape our sermons like beautiful water-mountains that have a deep and hidden ballast. This is iceberg preaching.’

Small Preaching: 25 Little Things You Can Do Now to Become a Better Preacher, ch. 13.  Lexham Press, 2021.