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what makes a preacher “good”?

Passing along a good article about what makes for a “good” preacher.  Enjoy! ********************************* You probably have noticed that preachers come in all shapes and sizes. There are big, gregarious, sweaty-foreheaded preachers. There are short, slim, soft-spoken preachers. There are creative preachers who always have a slick gadget or a clever object of illustration. There [...]

preaching the gospel

I grew up in a tradition that talked about “gospel preaching.”  In fact, we had “gospel meetings” instead of revivals, even though the intended outcome was the same.  Although I have slid to the other side of the keyboard, I still believe in gospel preaching.  In fact, it’s a shame we don’t talk more about [...]

messages and messengers

I’ve heard it said that preachers are interested in preparing messages while God is interested in preparing messengers.  Or, you might think of it like this: “What is God saying to me?” “What does God want to say through me?” “What does God want me to say to them?”

alpha and omega of speaking

Every good message has two things: an effective beginning and a well-defined ending. Too many speakers and presenters just wander into a message.  A little bit of this, a little bit of that.  Or worse, they stick an irrelevant introduction onto their speech or sermon because they like it, not because it fits.  The introduction [...]

monotone is no-no-tone

Back in college, I was amazed at guys who in private were warm and engaging but who clammed up when given a microphone.  The most common mistake was to read their speech (or sermon) in a flat, monotone voice.  No movement.  No color or emotion. The human voice is God’s most creative instrument.  Use it [...]

preachers litmus test

In 1960 when Adlai Stevenson introduced John F. Kennedy, who was then a candidate for president, he said: “In classical times when Cicero had finished speaking, the people said, ‘How well he spoke’ — but when Demosthenes had finished speaking, the people said, ‘Let us march’!” If you had to pick between praise or marchers, [...]

sermon preparation

This quote will change your perspective on sermon preparation: “Preaching is not so much preparing a sermon and delivering it as it is preparing a preacher and delivering him,” wrote Bishop William Quayle.

preaching tip # 7

Love your audience. “Some singers want the audience to love them.  I love the audience.” – Luciano Pavarotti Motivation makes a big difference.

preaching tip # 6

Use the right language. “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. ” – Nelson Mandela When trying to bridge the world of the Bible and the world of an audience, it’s important to [...]

preaching tip # 5

Know what you’re not saying. “A man does not know what he is saying until he knows what he is not saying.” – G. K. Chesterton One of the hardest disciplines in preaching is knowing what to eliminate from your outline.  Too many times we have two or three really good sermons packed into one [...]