There are a plethora of books and blog posts out there on preaching, so I’m sorry to add another one to the mix. Most books on preaching have a focus on text work (how do you understand and exegete a text), communication work (voice variation, illustrations, engagement, etc.) or practical things (script or not script, why preach, etc.). All of those things are good and helpful, but there can often be an overlooked element of preaching.
I’ve often heard that the goal of a sermon is simply to expound the text, to help the hearers know what the passage is saying and why that matters. I am totally old on expository preaching and the need to exegete what the text says. However, if we stop there we’re not serving our people well enough and we’re leaving them filled with head knowledge but not much more.
Instead, we need preaching that preaches to the heart and by that I mean we need preaching that is pastoral.
What is it that has distinguished many of the Pastors from the past in their preaching? Why do we still read manuscripts from Pastors who have been dead for ages? Because they preaches to people hearts.
The best kind of preacher is one who knows the people in front of him, who knows the struggles and joys that they face each day and who can draw on that knowledge and bring the Bible into their situation.
Such an approach will mean that the preacher won’t just be drawing general principles of applications from a Bible text, but that he’ll be planting it into the day to day lives of his listeners.
A preacher who doesn’t know the people in the pew cannot preach to their hearts in a way that can bring about transformation. Obviously the Lord can use anyone and anything by the power of His Spirit, but in my experience people are most challenged and transformed by a preacher who knows them and applies God’s Word to their specific situations.
We must make sure that preaching doesn’t become one of two extremes; it can become and intellectual exercise more like a lecture, or the other extreme that it simply becomes a soundbite of advice and stories to generate a laugh which is like story time.
We should not settle for either, instead we must work to have the pulpits in our churches filled with men who love their listeners, who earnestly pray for them and who know the church so that they can preach God’s Word to their hearts.
A few questions that I’ve found helpful to ask over the years are;
1. How will X, Y or Z approach this passage? What will be their biggest objection?
2. How does this passage challenge this church family in our particular area and with the particular needs?
3. What is the biggest challenge that we are facing and how does the truth of this text comfort and convict the church family?
4. What is the specific impact that this text should have on us, how can we practically live it out?
Preaching that transforms is preaching that speaks to the heart. Have your pulpit full of people who want to make Jesus known in the lives of their listeners, people who are invested and delight to see the consistent spiritual growth of the flock.
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