Six Essential Elements Of Good Preaching
Good Preaching Is Exegetical
Great preaching mines the text for all the truth it contains. It allows the Bible to speak for itself. Good preaching takes a text and explains the central truth within the text. Good preaching does not allow opinions, traditions, or relationships to cloud the text’s true meaning. Good preaching reveals the immediate and general context of the text. Good preaching respects the boundaries established by the context. Good preaching exposes and respects the intent of the original author. Good preaching rests upon the grammatical-historical context of the passage.
Good Preaching Is Applicational
Good preaching applies the truths within the text to a modern audience in a way that relates to them today. Good preaching bridges the gap between the original Holy Spirit’s intention in inspiring the text and the people who hear it preached now.
Good Preaching Is Persuasive
Good preaching calls for action by the preacher and his hearers.
Good Preaching Is Christ-exalting
Great preaching must exalt Jesus Christ and have him as its center since he is the center of Scripture. He must have pre-eminence in all things, which applies to preaching no less than anything else! Since the Spirit’s great ministry is to glorify and illuminate Christ, it follows that preaching incredibly blessed by the Spirit will be preaching that exalts Christ.
The camera is meant to be on Jesus but slips to someone or something else. We all feel the pressure from our listeners for ‘practical’ sermons – four things to go away and do. Of course, it’s not that Bible doesn’t apply to us, but I wonder if our emphasis is always in the right place.
Good Preaching Is Doxological
If man’s chief goal is to glorify God, surely that must be the goal of every sermon – moving people to worship. A sermon is not a lecture; it’s not about presenting mere information. We want the people of God to encounter God in preaching as his word goes forth. J.I. Packer once wrote: ‘The proper aim of preaching is to mediate meetings with God.’
Good Preaching Is Faithful
Good preaching sets forth God’s word on its terms as clearly as possible The great preaching I have heard always comes from men who are convinced that the Word of God is already powerful and that we don’t need to dress it up with gimmicks or gadgets to make it effective. It comes from the mouth of the infinitely glorious, intelligent, wise God.
These are the elements of good preaching. Ignore them, and your preaching will never be good. Implement them, and all your preaching will be good.
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