PRINCIPLES OF PREACHING
by David Cartledge
1. THE OBJECT OF PREACHING
WHAT IS PREACHING
a) Preaching has been defined as:
• "A manifestation of the Incarnate Word from the Written Word by the spoken Word" -
Bernard Manning.
• "The audible sacrament ... an exposition, an exposure of God's revelation in Christ
declared in the scriptures, in the power of the Holy Spirit in such a way that a mind is stimulated,
a will is challenged and a heart is warmed" - Dr. Donald Coggin.
• Transferring the Word hot from the heart of the preacher to the hearer.
• Truth poured through personality - Phillip Brooks. The audience does not hear a
sermon, they hear a man.
There are 3 main Greek words used in the New Testament to describe preaching:
• EUANGELIZO - "to preach good tidings". This is mostly used in connection with evangelism
and has to do with the content of the message. It is almost always used of the good news
concerning the Son of God.
• KERUGMA - "A proclamation by a herald". This indicates the prophetic nature of the
preacher. He speaks for God and his message is designed to compel a decision. The verb
"kerusso" means "to be a herald" or to proclaim. This explains why Paul encouraged his young
associate Timothy to "preach the word" (2 Tim. 4:2). Preach means "to cry out, herald, or
exhort". Preaching should so stir a man that he pours out the message with passion and fervour.
Not all passionate pleading from a pulpit, however, possesses divine authority. When a preacher
speaks as a herald, he must cry out "the word". Anything less cannot legitimately pass for
Christian preaching.
• PARRHESIAZOMAI (Acts 9:27) - means to be bold in speech. It refers to the courage
necessary to be an unfettered preacher of divine truth. The preacher's task is not only to comfort
the disturbed, but to disturb the comfortable, and for this he must not be afraid of the faces of the
people. Jeremiah 1:8, and Joshua 1:5-6.
Preaching is fundamentally a part of the care of souls, and the care of souls involves a
thorough understanding of the congregation. An able shepherd knows his flock. To expound the
scriptures so that the contemporary God confronts us where we live requires that the preacher
study his audience as well as his Bible, and addresses them both boldly and with relevance.
2. THE GOALS OF PREACHING
A. Inspirational - It must impart God to the people and bring the uplift of the Holy Spirit to
them.
B. Motivational - It must produce change in their lives. They must be motivated to repent and
live according to God's word and plan for their lives. It is the preacher's task to motivate the
Church to its ministry. Phillip Brooks said, "You must count your work unsatisfactory unless you
burn men's brains and awaken their consciences".
C. Relational - Preaching should establish the relative positions of God and man, & then man to
man. Matt. 21:37-40.
D. Revelational - It should bring forth the whole counsel of God for that congregation. There
should be an element of fresh truth being constantly revealed. Matt. 13:52. It is not enough to
impart information. It is essential that his messages should have revelation from God. Facts of
the Word which God has taught him personally.
E. Confrontational - Not in a negative, destructive sense, but with respect to being able to
accept the responsibility to challenge and change a city. The preaching which has no goal to
change its community has lost its reason for being.
THE QUALITY OF THE PULPIT DETERMINES THE CHARACTER OF THE
CHURCH
Preaching is the basis of the Pastor's authority. Dr. Harold Okenga declares, "You cannot stand
and converse with people from the pulpit; you'll lose them. If you have a strong pulpit ministry,
you are going to have a strong Church, no matter if everything else is lacking. If you have a
strong counselling Church without a strong pulpit, you'll have a weak Church. Preaching has got
to be there, or people are not going to come. It has to be enlightening, interesting, and
challenging. Conversational preaching is a mistake. You have got to develop certain points, like
a syllogism. You have to develop something people can follow, an outline with alliteration.
When you get through, people can say, `That's what he said about this and that's what he said
about that'."
In fact the preacher must go further and preserve his pulpit from the inane and unworthy. If he
allows the credibility of his pulpit to be called into question by the preaching of others, it will
inevitably reflect on him.
To this end. the preacher must dedicate himself to be a man of intense personal study that he
might rightly divide the Word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 If he is not growing in God his pulpit
ministry will be weakened with a corresponding malaise in the church
3. THE MESSAGE
THE MAN/WOMAN IS THE MESSAGE
Preparation of the Preacher. The sermon can never be different to the man. We convey what
we are regardless of what we say. Matthew 12:34. The key to preaching is that there is a man or
woman sent from God - John 1:6.
Before a man proclaims the message of the Bible to others, he should live with that message
himself. Regrettably, many preachers fail as Christians before they fail as preachers because they
do not think biblically. A significant number of ministers - many of whom profess high regard
for the Scriptures - prepare their sermons without consulting the Bible at all. While the sacred
text serves as an appetiser to get a sermon under way or as a garnish to deco rate the message,
the main course consists of the preacher's own thought or someone else's thought warmed up for
the occasion. "Anything less than a divine assignment in the pulpit reduces the preacher to
contemptible politics, grovelling employment, crawling subservience, and lack of selfesteem" -
C.M. Ward.
Authenticity. It is all too easy for a preacher under the stimulus of an attentive crowd to "talk
further down the road than he has walked". In all things we must be authentic. We can only
impart what we have received. Practise what you preach Preach to yourself Constantly be
stretching upward for yourself and your congregation.
BE CHRISTOCENTRIC The Bible is full of subjects to preach on. This is in itself a danger for
it is possible to preach a lifetime without ever preaching Christ to the people. There is no point to
being an expert on False Cults, Prophecy, Pentecostal Gifts, Healing, Theology, etc. if your
message does not constantly lift up Jesus Preach CHRIST, always and evermore. He is the
whole Gospel. His Person, offices and work must be our one great, all comprehending theme.
The world needs still to be told of its Saviour, and of the way to reach him. Justification by faith
should be far more than it is the daily testimony of Protestant pulpits; and if with this master
truth there should be more generally associated the other great doctrines of grace, the better for
our Churches and our age. Jesus said, "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me" ... John
12:32. Note also the cry of the heathen in verse 21 - "Sir we would see Jesus". Preacher - learn
how to weave everything you say around the one prominent and central theme of the person and
work of Jesus Christ.
BE REDEMPTIVE AND RESTORATIVE Some preachers take perverse delight in flaying
their congregation alive and you will also find a few spiritual sadists who enjoy being lashed
from the pulpit. The preacher who falls into the trap of satisfying the "lunatic fringe" in his
congregation can write off the rest from effective function in the body of Christ. Do not preach
the unworthiness of people or attempt to make them small. Always lift up Jesus as the total
solution to every human problem. If you declare their sin without their Saviour, you have
brought them back under the Old Testament dispensation and reduced them to hopeless failure
and a futile program of legalism to try and please God. They will then live in Eternal Insecurity.
The preacher must never take the lid off the Ark of God and expose the Law without it being
covered by the shed blood on the Mercy Seat. The mark of spirituality is the ability to restore -
Galatians 6:1. Anyone can accuse and destroy, but only the mature can "rescue the perishing,
care for the dying, and snatch them in pity from sin and the grave, weep over the erring one, lift
up the fallen and tell them of Jesus - the mighty to save". Our ministry must constantly attempt to
bring people, both sinners and saints to a redemptive state, rather than a condemnatory one
PREACH REPENTANCE In order to bring people into right relationship with God, it is
necessary to establish a basis of true repentance - a sorrow for and a forsaking of sin. Much
modern preaching is self-centred instead of God centred. Lift up the majesty and holiness of
God. Exalt the Lord with such clarity that man's need is exposed and a desire created to be like
God. There must be a change in people's lives. It brings no glory to God if you add people to the
Church who continue to be unrepentant and unregenerate. Never appeal for enlistment, but for
heartfelt genuine repentance. The word "repentance" occurs more than 50 times in the New
Testament and in most of its books. Hebrews 6:1 lists it as one of the foundations of the
Christian life. Pity the man who fails to understand that his sermon should change lives in some
specific way.
A.W. Tozer speaks a perceptive word to all of us:
There is scarcely anything so dull and meaningless as Bible doctrine taught for its own sake.
Truth divorced from life is not truth in its Biblical sense, but something else and something
less .... No man is better for knowing that God in the beginning created the heaven and the earth.
The devil knows that, and so did Ahab and Judas Iscariot. No man is better for knowing that
God so loved the world of men that He gave His only begotten Son to die for their redemption. In
hell there are millions who know that. Theological truth is useless until it is obeyed. The purpose
behind all doctrine is to secure moral action.
Henry Ward Beecher appreciated the importance of purpose when he declared, "A sermon is not
like a Chinese firecracker to be fired off for the noise it makes. It is a hunter's gun, and at every
discharge he should look to see his game fall".
PREACH THE GOODNESS OF GOD God so loved that He gave - John 3:16. There never
was a truer word said than the slogan adopted by Oral Roberts, "God is a good God". Even our
repentance is dependent on this. Romans 2:4 says that it is the goodness of God which leads us to
repentance.
VARIOUS PREACHING STYLES/TYPES
The preacher should use a variety of styles in preaching. He should approach his subject in
differing ways, rather than having a stereo-typed routine to his message. There are many ways in
which his message may be presented.
TEXTUAL PREACHING
This message is generally confined to a verse or two of scripture and all of the points are drawn
exclusively from that section of scripture alone. For example, Isaiah 45:22 - "Look unto me, and
be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." can be broken into the
following sections:
The Greatest Blessing - "be ye saved"
To the Greatest Number - "all ye ends of the earth"
With the Greatest Security - "For I am God"
On the Easiest Terms - "Look unto me"
Through an Exclusive Way - "There is none else".
This method of preaching cracks open a verse of scripture to discover its central truth. It
involves choosing an appropriate statement of Scripture, investigating it, analysing it,
discovering all the truth it contains, and then presenting that truth in an orderly and progressive
manner that is easy for the hearers to assimilate
There are literally hundreds of texts which are best developed by this method. Some good
examples would be: John 3:16, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Rev. 3:20, etc.
TOPICAL PREACHING This method seeks to develop the message from the perspective of a
subject rather than a specific text. Even if a text is used as the rationale of the message it is
generally only as a foundation to the message or a springboard to other points. The preacher may
use a number of texts to build up a subject. For example, he may take the subject of
"Justification". His aim would be firstly, to discover everything the Bible has to say on this
enthralling subject. He would then arrange all the Scripture references and thoughts he gets into
an orderly format so that he can develop his theme as fully and faithfully as possible. His
objective is to tell his audience everything they should know on this important subject. Of
course, he may not be able to do this in one teaching session. Alternatively he may begin with
various points he wishes to convey and then seek to support these points from scripture.
An example of a topical message on Salvation would be:
Salvation from the Power of Sin
Salvation from the Person of Sin
Salvation from the Penalty of Sin
Salvation from the Presence of Sin
Or on Sin:
The Cause of Sin
The Curse of Sin
The Cure of Sin
EXPOSITORY PREACHING
This is the message based on a complete passage of Scripture. It may be a chapter, or a book, or
a section of a chapter, but it will be a section with a common theme. Expository preaching is the
communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical,
grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to
the personality and experience of the preacher, then through him to his hearers. Some examples
of sections of the scriptures which would be best dealt with by the expository method are:
a) The Christian's Armour - Eph. 6:10-l8
b) The Fruit of the Flesh and the Spirit - Gal. 5:16-23
c) Romans, chapters 6-8 - Freedom, Failure and Fruitfulness
d) Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Messiah,
Most expository preaching would concentrate on extracting the main message from a
whole book of the Bible in either of two ways:
One message on the central truth of the Book, i.e. an overview of it
A series of messages - chapter by chapter, or section by section, to extract all the major
ideas from the book.
The word "expository" (from "Exegesis") means an exposure, exhibition, a setting forth,
a description, explanation or commentary. While topical preaching is generally a declaration of
truth, exegetical preaching is more of an explanation of truth and an attempt to demonstrate the
harmony of the passage preached on. It is interpretative & leans heavily on the context rather
than on external illustrations.
4. PREPARING THE MESSAGE
THE BIRTH OF THE MESSAGE
A. The preacher must develop his seed thoughts and ideas for the message in prayer. Without
the sense that God is providing the inspiration for the subject, the preacher becomes a speech
maker deciding at his own discretion the points to be made and so speaking from the mind, will
only reach minds. However the preacher is essentially the mouthpiece of God. There must be an
element of the prophetic in his preaching regardless of his Ministry Gift. He should speak as the
oracle of God. 1 Peter 4:11 and Ex. 4:12.
An old recipe for a rabbit dish starts with, "First catch the rabbit" without the rabbit there is no
dish. The obvious question facing the preacher in preparing his message is, "What does God
want me to say?" "From which text, topic or passage should I draw the message?"
Once having prepared his own heart to receive a seed thought from God, he should develop a
sensitivity to the ways in which the Holy Spirit will generally bring that seed thought to him
The prevailing needs of the hearers
Current events or circumstances
Direct inspiration from personal study or prayer or revelation - i.e. a word of wisdom
God's dealing with the preacher
The preacher's own vision for the Church.
When this seed thought is discovered, plant it in the heart and allow it time to germinate. Some
call this the pressure cooker method - put the ideas into your heart and apply the heat of prayer
until it comes to the boil.
A. Every message must have a specific aim. This should be able to be stated in a few words.
We concentrate our thought with greater efficiency if we know as we begin what we
intend to accomplish.
J.H. Jowett in his Yale lectures on preaching said, "I have a conviction that no sermon is; ready
for preaching, not ready for writing out until we can express its theme in a short, pregnant
sentence as clear as crystal.
COLLECTING THE MATERIAL From the time that the seed thought is clear until the
message is preached keep a file (or notebook) on that theme. Every day add to it the thoughts
gained through prayer and study, or the illustrations from life or your own experience which
occur to you.
The preacher should give himself to diligent specific study of the subject in the following ways:
- Reading scriptures associated to the subject and comparing the text or preaching passage
with similar passages or Biblical events.
- A cross reference Bible and concordance will be a useful tool in this type of research.
- Check the background to the text or passage of scripture by: Ascertaining to whom it was
written and why. We cannot decide what a passage means to us unless first we have
determined what the passage means. To do this we must sit down before the biblical
writer and try to understand what he wanted to convey to his original readers. Its
relationship to the context.
- The use of Bible Dictionaries. Check key words and the meaning of names in a Hebrew
or Greek lexicon which will often bring out hidden truths or illustrations. The use of his
library and resource file to support and illustrate the message.
- Reading the passage in various translations can also throw new light on it.
- Drawing on his memory for key illustrations to give the message relevancy.
- The use of imagination to create parabolic or hypothetical or humorous illustrations.
COLLATING THE MATERIAL
The message should have:
A. A Specific Introduction
An interesting story, an attention arresting point, a gripping title or announcement, or the
use of some humorous illustration can help to gain the attention of the hearers.
The preacher should make the most of his first twenty-five words to seize the attention of
his hearers. This needs to be well planned for maximum impact as this will set the tone
for the rest of the message.
An introduction should command attention. The message should never be introduced
with an apology. If you are ill-prepared let the congregation discover that fact for
themselves. In many cases, they will not find out.
Keep the introduction short. The introduction should only be long enough to capture
attention, raise needs, and orient the audience to the subject, the idea or the first point.
An old woman said of Welsh preacher, John Owens, that he was so long spreading the
table, she lost her appetite for the meal!
The introduction should not promise more than it delivers. When the preacher fails to
meet the need he has raised or the expectation he has aroused, the congregation will feel
cheated.
B. A Body
The effective message will have a logical sequence and progression of points. The
preacher should ensure that it makes sense and is easy for his hearers to follow and
remember: Unless it is remembered it has been lost and is therefore without value. Not
everyone will give you their attention, but most people want to remember what the
preacher says. It is his responsibility to assist them to do this. Effective sermons maintain
a sense of tension - the feeling that something more must be said if the message is to be
complete. There should be the sense right from the start of the sermon that it is leading
somewhere specific, thus maintaining the interest of the hearers in the progressively
unfolding plot of the message. Some form of connecting the various points needs to be
given careful thought. This will enable the message to flow as one message concentrating
totally on the chosen theme instead of degenerating into a spiritual smorgasbord of a
multitude of unrelated and unconnected points. Words or phrases such as "therefore" or
"this then leads us to", or an illustration or suitable scripture or a question, can form good
connectors. The various main points illustrating, developing or explaining the theme
should then fill up the body of the message: There should not be too many. Each of these
points should be titled to give them clarity. Sometimes the use of alliteration or
associated titles will help organise the message and give it clarity. Use the listeners
general knowledge to lead them from the known to the unknown or from the natural to
the spiritual. Give specific attention to illustrating the points you are making. The clearer
such illustrations are the easier it will be for the congregation to both understand and
remember the message as a whole. Each point should be a statement, not a question.
Questions do not show relationship because they are not ideas. The points in outline
should answer questions, not raise them. Questions may be used in the delivery of the
sermon as transitions introducing new points. Such transitional questions precede a point
and are placed in parenthesis. Whenever possible lead the people to self discovery of
truth by implying the point rather than stating it directly. When you say something
directly , it is simply not as potent as it is when you allow people to discover it for
themselves.
C. A Conclusion
Just as an airplane pilot needs special planning and concentration to land his craft at a
pre-designed point, so the skillful preacher should never be in doubt about where or how
his sermon will land. Some outstanding preachers treat this part of the message so
seriously that they prepare it first. It should produce a feeling of finality and then allow
the minister to call for a verdict from the people. Either directly or indirectly the
conclusion of the message should answer the questions raised and make the people face
another question. "What am I going to do about this?" "Am I willing for God to work this
into my life?", etc. Some of the elements which can be used to conclude the message are:
An illustration or short story which sums up the "big idea". A re-statement of the message
in the form of a summary. However it should only be used to tie loose ends together and
not be a second preaching of the sermon. Restatement differs from repetition. It says the
same thing, but in a different way and is necessary to effective communication. People
need to be reminded as much as they need to be informed. One formula for sermon
development that should be respected, if only because it is old says, "Tell them what you
are going to tell them; tell them what you are telling them; then tell them what you have
told them".
A quotation from some lucid or well known source or from a hymn or poetry can
successfully draw the message to a conclusion.
The bible abounds in the type of conclusions that results in an application.
A direct statement of truth applied to the hearers was often used by Jesus to sum up His
message - i.e. Matt. 21:44, Mark 8:38, etc.
Important principles in preparing conclusions:
A. New material or a new direction should not be introduced in the conclusion. These
final moments drive home what has been said and must not take the hearers off into new
avenues of thought.
B. The conclusion should conclude the sermon without announcing its appearance. It is
better not to say, "In conclusion", or "Finally", as most people have come to expect that
"Finally" does not necessarily mean immediately!
C. The conclusion should make a smooth progression to an altar call possible and enable
the application of the message to be acted upon.
I. Appeal to the mind by summarising the message.
II. Appeal to the will be persuasion.
III. Appeal to the emotions by motivating a response and application of the
message in the hearer's life.
5. COMMUNICATING THE MESSAGE
There are three types of preachers: those to whom you cannot listen; those to whom you can
listen; and those to whom you must listen.
The congregation generally decides during the introduction of the message what kind of preacher
is addressing them.
A message ineptly delivered arrives still-born. An inept preacher will be satisfied to get his ideas
out of his head or heart, but an effective preacher strives to get his ideas into other people's heads
and hearts.
A Russian proverb offers wise counsel to the preacher: "It is the same with men as with donkeys:
whoever would hold them fast must get a very good grip on their ears!"
Preaching has not achieved its ultimate unless the message is received, understood and acted
upon. While there is a sense in which preaching is declarative, and is valid whether it is received
or rejected, it must always be understood.
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS?
The use of Body Language
Communication studies by Psychologist Albert Mehrabian show that 93% of what we convey is
unspoken. This dominant non-verbal part of any communication includes both body language,
and tone of voice.
The preacher should take care to develop skills of conveying himself and his message in
consistent ways. If there is a difference between what we feel and what we say, the message will
be confused. It is a contradiction to preach about the love of God with a closed fist and a scowl.
As a handshake will tell you much about a person, so your non-verbal communications will
reveal much to your audience about your attitude to your message.
During the introduction an audience gains impressions of a speaker that often determines
whether or not they will accept what he says. If he appears nervous, hostile, or unprepared, they
are inclined to reject him. If he seems alert, friendly, and interesting, they decide he is an able
person with a positive attitude toward himself and his listeners.
Never be dull
It is the unpardonable sin of preachers. If you dare to be dull it says that you did not care enough
about your hearers to get fire and truth from God and package it attractively.
Charles Spurgeon, who was called the Prince of Preachers, says of Jesus: "Jesus preaching was
attractive; He sought above all means to set the pearl in a frame of gold so that it might attract
the attention of the people. He was not willing to place Himself in a parish church and preach to
a congregation of thirteen and a half, but would preach in a style that people felt they must go to
hear Him. Some of them gnashed their teeth in rage and left His presence in wrath, but the
multitudes still thronged to hear Him and be healed. It was no dull work to hear this King of
preachers. He was too much in earnest to be dull and too humane to be incomprehensible."
Develop story-telling skills Learn to tell stories effectively and to paint pictures with words and
the tone of your voice. Package the message in illustrated form. Note Nathan's technique with
David - 2 Samuel 12:1-13.
Use Illustrations Examples or illustrations of your points are like windows that let in light to
your message. It is a mistake to fill the sermon with abstract, theoretical or technical information.
Illustrations aid memory, stir emotion, create need, hold attention, and establish rapport between
the speaker and the hearer.
The best illustrations are those which represent your life experience. However, care should be
taken with illustrations that they do not take over the message and overshadow the point being
conveyed. It is too easy for the illustration to become an end in itself. Never tell a story for its
own sake. Draw illustrations from life, from your reading, from history, from science, from
current events, and from Biblical examples. As much as possible avoid pre-packaged illustrations
as they tend to be lifeless and stilted.
Use Humour The best humour is in real life situations. Avoid slapstick and joke book humour
and negative humour. Never rubbish people in jest, and especially not your wife or husband. Use
humour like syrup on a sundae or icing on a cake - a little sets it off, but too much spoils it.
Develop eye contact with the congregation. Eyes communicate. They supply feedback and at the
same time hold an audience's attention. When you look directly at your hearers, you pick up
clues that tell you whether they understand what you are saying, whether they are interested, and
whether they enjoy the sermon enough to continue listening.
An alert speaker will adjust what he says- for example, adding explanation or illustrations - as he
interprets these responses.
Moreover listeners feel that ministers who "look them in the eye" want to talk with them
personally. Therefore pastors who gaze over the audience's heads, stare down at notes, look out
of windows, or worse, shut their eyes while they speak, place themselves at a crippling
disadvantage. Almost without exception a congregation will not listen attentively to a speaker
who does not look at them while he talks. Just as significant, people mistrust someone who
avoids eye contact and as a result they undervalue what he says.
Even though you address a congregation as a group, you talk with them as individuals. As you
stand to speak, pause to establish personal contact with your hearers. Move your eyes over the
congregation and let them rest for an instant on several different people. Throughout the sermon
continue your eye contact. Plan to talk with one listener at a time for a second or two, looking
that person in the eye, then turn to someone else. Choose listeners in every section of the
auditorium, and keep the eye contact long enough so that they know that you have singled them
out and are speaking to them. If the congregation is very large, you can select a small group in
one area and look at them for a moment or two, then shift to another group, and continue to do
that throughout the sermon. Be sure not only to look at your listeners, but to talk with them.
HINDRANCES TO COMMUNICATION The preacher is himself the message. He can detract
from it by:
His attitude. Never be casual or careless or flippant with the Word. People can see it! Never
advise the people that you have not had time to study properly. They will tune out immediately.
The lack of study is your problem. Do not make it theirs. If you have been genuinely pressed for
time by an unusual amount of urgent pastoral ministry depend on the Holy Spirit's help to
minister to the congregation and determine to be better equipped next time.
Dress Develop the art of being neatly and inspiringly dressed. John T. Molloy, author of the
book "Dress for Success" (Recommended Reading) and consultant to many of America's top
corporations in the attire their Executives should wear, has many suggestions to make about the
appearance of all successful leaders. While allowing for differences in style and taste he states
that there are two traits which are common to all successful executives. Their hair is neat and
combed, and their shoes are shined. He also points out that negative reactions are usually
generated by certain types of dress and colours. The preacher is foolish to disregard these simple
clues to good grooming, and unnecessarily create an antipathy with his congregation which may
dilute the impact of his preaching. One study in grooming showed that people make up their
mind whether they like you or not in the first 45 seconds and that the major part of this attitude is
based on dress and mannerisms. A Minister does not prove he is a great preacher by looking as
though he dressed while looking into a Greek text instead of a mirror.
Mannerisms. The preacher should deal with all offensive mannerisms which will take his
hearers' attention from the message. Gestures, habits, eccentricities which detract must be
broken. One of the most effective ways to overcome such habits is for the preacher to listen to
his audio tapes and better still, to watch his preaching on video tape. When we address an
audience, our position becomes unique and emphatic. Stuffing hands in the pockets, stroking the
hair or face, playing with a ring, fussing with a necktie, shuffling the feet are the bad grammar of
delivery. Mannerisms and repetitious behaviour peculiar to you may go unnoticed by friends and
be tolerated by associates, but in the pulpit they scream for attention and divert people from what
you are saying. In the pulpit, therefore, movement of the body must be disciplined to be
effective.
Length of the Sermon. The mind cannot assimilate more than the seat can endure! Stop when
you get through. Fredrick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury in the late l9th Century, was a
humane, liberal and sensible man. It is said that he once remarked, "In making a sermon, think
up a good beginning, then think up a good ending, then bring these two as close together as you
can."
SEEKING THE ANOINTING
Unless the preacher is anointed of the Holy Spirit, there is no point to him preaching his
message. Without the impetus of the Spirit his message will be either flat and lifeless, or it will
be humanistic in its motivations. 2 Cor. 3:6 makes it clear that without the Spirit, the word will
kill. Peter said, "We have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from
heaven" (1 Pet. 1:12). In the New Testament the word was the "message", the preachers were the
"messengers", and the Holy Spirit was the "means".
