Category Archives: Preaching

On textual fidelity in preaching

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Expository preaching must remain faithful to the text of Scripture.  There are two ways, says John Stott, in which the expositor might depart from his text: forgetfulness and disloyalty.

G. Campbell Morgan, himself a fine expositor, noted of Benjamin Jowett, Master of Balliol College Oxford that he

declared that it was his habit to write his sermons, and then choose a text as a peg on which to hang them.  I am quite free to say…that the study of his sermons will reveal the accuracy of his statement, and show the peril of the method.…

Sermon applications should be attitudinal as well as behavioural

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Bryan Chapell puts it well:-

Application may be attitudinal as well as behavioral. In fact, the frequent mark of immaturity among preachers is too much (or too early) an emphasis on behavior. Mature preachers do not ignore behavior, but they carefully build an attitudinal foundation for whatever actions they say God requires. This is more than a rhetorical tactic. Its source is the biblical insight that out of the heart come the issues of life (Prov.…

Preaching with clarity – top ten tips

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Peter Mead suggests some hints and reminders.  I summarise them here:-

1. Preach one big idea.

2. Structure your thoughts.  Let there be clear, simple, logical progression of ideas.  If you know where you are going, it is more likely your listeners will travel with you.

3. Get rid of unnecessary content.  Every message needs some time in the cutting room.  Remove anything – however interesting or useful – that is superfluous to your goal of communicating your main idea effectively and clearly. …

Calvin: nine preaching engagements

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Peter Adam is Principal of Ridley Theological College in Melbourne, Australia.  In a recent lecture on John Calvin as a preacher, he sets out nine demanding engagements that Calvin sought to fulfil in his own preaching.

There are:-

1.  Engaging with God.  The preacher doesn’t just talk about God in some remote and objective way.  No: the preacher expects God to be present with and in his Word by his Spirit.

2.  Engaging with the 66 texts of the Bible. …

Preachers and their preaching – the Puritans

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J.I. Packer, who has done so much to revive interest in the Puritans, identifies the following characteristics of Puritan preaching:-

1. It was expository in its method. The preacher’s task was to extract meaning from the text, rather than to impose meaning on it. The preacher seeks the mind of God as revealed in Scripture, and then seeks to express it faithfully. In ‘opening’ a text, the Puritan preacher would explain it in context, extract from it one or more doctrinal observations, and then amplify, illustrate and confirm from other scriptures the truths thus derived.…

John Stott and Charles Simeon

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Timothy Dudley-Smith, in his fine biography of John Stott, draws some striking parallels between John Stott and  Charles Simeon (1759-1836).

‘Both were privileged sons of comparatively affluent parents, educated at public schools, undergraduates at Cambridge.  They shared a transforming experience of conversion to Christ, early and and severe trials and testing, and virtually a lifetime’s ministry in a single church.  Each cultivated habits well beyond the norm for early rising, disciplined prayer and the study of Scripture. 

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We must preach Jesus

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Jared Wilson has a post in which he outlines the ways in which Christians generally, and preachers in particular, can leave Jesus out of our message.  To summarise:-

1.  We speak in vague spiritual generalities.  We talk about love, joy, hope, peace, blessings, but divorced from Christ himself as the incarnate, crucified and risen Saviour and Lord.  Our message is pleasant and up-beat; inspirational, even.  But, separated from Christ, who is himself our joy, our hope, our peace and so on, it’s rubbish.…

Modes of persuasion: ethos, pathos, logos

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Aristotle, in his work On Rhetoric, described three modes of persuasion.

1.  Ethos – this is the appeal of the speaker’s personal character, his authority, sincerity and integrity.

2.  Pathos – this is the appeal to the emotions.

3.  Logos – this is the appeal to reason.  The speaker seeks to persuade by offering relevant facts or arguments.

It scarcely needs saying that effective preaching will draw on all three modes.

Ethos: The preacher must be known as a person of integrity, whose life is consistent with his message. …

Preachers and their preaching – D.M. Lloyd-Jones

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Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was one of the most influential British preachers of the 20th century.  His impact on the revival of reformed evangelicalism was incalculable.  He stood firmly within the Puritan tradition: he modelled in his preaching both their painstaking analytical expository method and also shared their commitment to what might be called ‘experientialism’ – a passionate desire that through preaching men and women might be brought into vital contact with the living God.

The centrality of preaching

At the beginning of Preachers and Preaching Lloyd-Jones stated his conviction that preaching was the greatest need both of the church and the world:

‘To me the work of preaching is the highest and the greatest and the most glorious calling to which anyone can ever be called.

…

Preachers and their preaching – J. Sidlow Baxter

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Any sign of eloquence in public speaking is apt to be regarded with deep suspicion.  As a result, many preachers have become lazy, and neglectful of even the basics of oral communication.  The mood of the day may be very much against rhetorical skill.  But it is disrespectful both to our message and to our audience to fail to communicate as clearly, interestingly, and persuasively as we can.

But perhaps there are a few signs today of a renewed interest in rhetorical skill. …