PREACH

Introduction

My approach to preaching has changed through the years. Having been trained in the classical approach of expository preaching, I used to preach in the usual “multi-points system.” I also studied the text with this approach in mind.

After doing this for so many years, I slowly changed to a more simple approach. Because of the influence of Andy Stanley and many other good communicators, I am now convinced that it is far more effective and efficient to preach just one point in every sermon (or teaching). Consequently, this has radically changed even my approach to bible study.

What you will find in this blog are the results of my meditations on Scripture with a view of preaching it. What I mean is that these are not just devotions; they are preparations for preaching. For you to understand my approach, let me tell you how I prepare a sermon. To help you remember, I’ve used the acrostic PREPARE.

1. I pray for God’s wisdom and guidance.
2. I review the results of my exegesis.
3. I emphasize one powerful truth.
4. I plan my sermon.
5. I arrange the preaching environment.
6. I request for needed resources.
7. I enlist the help of other people.

Praying for God’s wisdom and guidance

This is the most important step obviously. But it does not simply mean that I say a short prayer asking God to help me preach better. Actually, this has a lot to do with my understanding of the theology of preaching. For me preaching is not about me talking to a group of people and saying something spiritual. Preaching is the act of becoming God’s instrument for the moment so that He can speak to His people whatever it is that He wants to say. So for me, praying for God’s wisdom and guidance is not just a pious exercise. Unless God uses me, I have nothing to say, even if I think I have something to say.

Reviewing my exegesis

Of course, this goes without saying. This is something I must do carefully, in full reliance on the Spirit of God. But more importantly, exegesis is not so much going into the nitty-gritty of the passage. It has to do with “hearing” clearly what the Spirit is saying through His word. The results of my exegesis should be a clear understanding of what God is saying, not so much what I would love to say to anybody. I use the DIG approach to exegesis, which involves a) discovering the details of the passage, b) interpreting the details of the passage, and c) generating key statements based on the details of the passage. Click here to understand this process better.

Emphasizing one powerful truth

The goal of my exegesis is not simply to have lots of wonderful exegetical nuggets. My goal is to come up with one life-changing truth that God has revealed in and through His word. It’s not some wise human idea. It must be God’s wisdom or knowledge revealed. I usually call this the Preaching Idea, which can either be a Turning Point or a Tagline. But to get to this, I must first clarify the theology of the passage and then later the thesis. If you examine my blog entries, you will understand what I’m trying to say here. Click here to read further explanations of my approach.

Planning for the sermon

Most sermons use a “telling” approach or a “point here and point there” approach. I use a “single truth” approach. To get to my point, I use movements or developments of thought. In other words, I build my case. So what you will find in my blog entries are thought developments. Of course, there can be other ways to plan a sermon. I’m not saying my way is the only way. Feel free to experiment with your own style. Using my approach, I can easily memorize my sermon and preach without notes, which is what I usually do.

Arranging the preaching environment

The preaching environment is the context in which I will be speaking. I cannot neglect that. I need to make the necessary preparations or arrangements to make sure that I will not be hindered by any distractions. This means speaking to whoever is in charge of the preaching event. This may be the worship coordinator or anyone who is responsible for the occasion. Sometimes I may have to handle it myself (if there’s no one in charge). This might involve the choice of music, the sound system, the lighting, etc.

Requesting for needed resources

Often I use Powerpoint. To use it, I need a laptop, a presenter, and a screen. Sometimes I might use a Flannel Graph. Or maybe a white board. In other words, if I need any additional resources, I must request it from someone who can provide it. If anything is needed in order to communicate well, I will request it from the one who can provide it. Otherwise, I will have to provide it myself or make adjustments. Many sermons end up badly because of poor preparations.

Enlisting the help of other people

This last step is crucial in preparation. First of all, I might need some people to illustrate some ideas. I need to ask them personally if they can help me on stage, etc. Sometimes, I just need to ask permission from them if I plan to use their stories as illustrations. Often I forget to do this, especially with family members, and they get offended. I think it’s important to ask for their help before I actually mention them or use them as illustrations. Or, I might need people simply to assist me during the application portion. I might make an altar call or ask people to do something, etc., as an application to the sermon. I will need the help of some people to assist me in this learning process.

Conclusion

So this is how I prepare for my preaching. It may not be the best way, but it works for me. Accept what is good, reject what is evil. Thanks for reading this short article. God bless you in your preaching.