Four convictions about good sermons
I’ve been listening to sermons my whole life. I’ve also spent years of my life delivering them regularly.
I’ve come to some pretty strong convictions about what makes for a good sermon. By a good sermon I mean one that is:
faithful to the Bible text,
easy to understand,
and offer a way to respond to the text individually and as a group.
I used to think that if a preacher simply explained the meaning of a text then listeners would intuitively be able to apply to the meaning to their lives.
I no longer believe that to be true.
The preacher has a duty to work carefully to suggest the implications of the message of the text for daily in as concrete and creative a way as possible.
Here’s what I think are the key characteristics of a good sermon:
It focuses on a single passage.
When preparing a sermon, it is important to focus on a single Bible text and preach from it. By doing so, you can effectively convey your message to the congregation.
It follows a simple outline.
To make your sermon more engaging, consider creating an outline that provides a clear structure for your talk. Remember, a sermon is meant to be heard, not read, so design the flow of your message with that in mind.
It leans into practical living.
Lastly, ensure that you give proper attention to practical application, as it is a crucial aspect of connecting with your audience.
It’s important to spend some time putting the cookies on the bottom shelf for your listeners.
Parishioners like me are not accustomed to being made to work understand the other messages that come at us through the week.
As preachers, we must realize that we’re speaking to people buzzing with other messages they’ve received.
Like it or not, we have to help them hear and understand the Bible and that means speaking in ways that accommodate shortened attention spans.