Steps To Effective Preaching From The Bible
Effective Preaching
Crafting a sermon rooted in the teachings of the Bible can often feel overwhelming. It is not uncommon to experience a sense of unpreparedness and doubt regarding the cohesiveness of the message being delivered.
Fortunately, there are strategies Steps to Effective Preaching From the Bible, one can employ to ensure the creation of sermons that are both biblically sound and impactful. Just as constructing a house requires a systematic approach, there are seven crucial steps to be followed in sermon preparation. These steps serve as a guiding framework, aiding in the development of a compelling and spiritually enriching sermon. The initial step involves engaging in prayer.
7 Steps to Effective Preaching From the Bible
1. Read the Passage
Using the tools of research—commentaries, other trusted writings, and your study Bible—find out what scholars say about the biblical passage you picked. This isn’t to substitute for your own reading of the text but rather to add to your knowledge base.
When you’ve consulted these sources, it’s time to read the passage itself. Identify the big idea, the main tension point, and the action points. Those are the key elements that you’ll need to bring to your sermon.
Finally, determine its “context”—what comes before and after it in the logical structure of the Bible book, how this passage connects to what precedes and follows it, how it fits into a larger narrative (like God’s saving plan of redemption) or the wider themes of Scripture. This step helps you place your passage firmly in its broader context and clarifies its meaning.
It also allows you to understand how some passages in the Bible apply differently than others because they do so by extension and analogy, not directly. But even these less relevant passages can change your life by reminding you that the God who speaks to you in bright truth reveals himself in a story much bigger than your own troubles or immediate concerns.
Steps to Effective Preaching From the Bible
2. Write It Down
Preaching is not just about studying the text; it’s also about writing down what you learn. When preparing your sermon, take the time to write down every important insight and detail. This will give you the opportunity to review your notes before the sermon and make sure you hit all of your key points.
When writing your sermon, try to find one big idea that summarizes the passage and makes it memorable. This will keep you from rambling about a dozen different things that your audience may not remember at the end of the service.
Also, try to read the surrounding context. This will help you understand the biblical narrative and how this passage fits in with the whole book. This is especially important if you are preaching an epistle or other shorter books of the Bible.
It’s also a good idea to self-evaluate your sermon after you deliver it. This will allow you to identify areas you can improve, such as eliminating filler words, enunciating clearly, speaking at a reasonable pace, and smoothing out awkward hand/body movements. Ultimately, your goal should be to lift up Christ. This means that your illustrations, quotes, and demeanor should all be in service of this goal.
Steps to Effective Preaching From the Bible
3. Make a Passage Outline
Outlining is a common practice that all of us have some experience with. Every to-do list, recipe, or schedule is essentially an outline. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that outlines are also helpful for studying the Bible.
To make a passage outline, first read through the entire chapter. This will help you get a feel for what the author is trying to say about each topic and theme. Note the main ideas and supporting details of each paragraph and record them in an outline.
Then, read the passage again, focusing on the subheadings that appear beneath each section heading. These typically contain the most important points of each section and can reveal significant details that might not be included in other places in the text. Note these in your outline and consider how they fit into the overall argument of the chapter.
When making a standard outline, lines for main topics like sections and chapters are marked with Roman numerals, paragraphs are highlighted with capital letters, and points and specific details are listed with lower-case letters. This system is easy to use and enables you to move topics around if needed. However, there are other ways to structure a passage outline.
4. Study the Context
A sermon must be rooted in the context in which it is to be preached. Performing a thorough exegesis of a passage is the first step in the process. This will help to ensure that the preacher understands the original meaning and intent of the biblical text. It will also give the preacher a solid foundation from which to interpret the passage and apply it to the lives of his or her listeners.
This means that the preacher should examine the historical, cultural, and literary context of the passage. It is also important to identify the audience to whom the sermon will be delivered. This will help the preacher to tailor the message and illustrations to their audience.
The final aspect of the contextual dimension is to understand how the Bible points to Christ. This can be done through narrative exposition or the more traditional verse-by-verse approach. However, the most important thing is to make sure that the passages are tied to the larger story of Scripture. The Bible is ultimately one big story that teaches us about God and His Son, Jesus Christ. This is what we call biblical preaching. It is a challenging task but it is the most important job that a pastor has.
5. Practice
Preaching is a skill that requires time and effort to learn. The best preachers practice by preparing sermons for other people before they preach them themselves. It’s a good idea to ask people for feedback on your exegesis and outline. Listeners can tell if your sermons are too long or if you use too many illustrations and quotes.
Practicing sermons also helps you improve your writing skills. The process of writing forces you to articulate your thoughts in clear and concise ways. This can be a challenge, especially if you’re used to talking in a conversational tone. However learning to write well is crucial to effective preaching.
The best preachers also hone their storytelling skills. They help listeners not just hear the story, but experience it. They do this by using stories, illustrations, and biblical narratives. These strategies make it easier for listeners to follow and understand the biblical text.
Lastly, preachers must practice their delivery. This includes everything from the vocal patterns of their voices to the way they move around the pulpit. It’s important for a preacher to convey their passion for the text and the conviction that the truth they’re sharing is life-changing. They should also try to avoid nervous ticks and the use of nonsense words like “uh” and “um.”
6. Care for Your Audience
Many people only get a handful of Bible readings in their lives each week, including the Sunday sermon. So your preaching should be especially meaningful and impactful to them.
One great way to do this is by using rhetorical questions throughout the sermon. They make your listeners think about what you’re telling them and force them to apply the message of Scripture to their own lives.
Another way to care for your audience is by using illustrations in your sermon. These should be more than just stories; rather, they should illuminate your message with biblical truth. They should help your listeners see the biblical principle in action and show them what it looks like to live out that principle in real life.
You can also use creative tricks to make your sermon more memorable, such as using humor or stories. However, it’s important to use these elements with caution. Too much use of these tactics can distract from the sermon and cause it to fail to communicate its point.
Lastly, you should pay attention to your physical mannerisms in the pulpit. Some preaching habits can be annoying to listeners (rattling keys, staring above the audience, scratching their nose) and hurt sermon communication. Others, such as appropriate gestures, good eye contact, and animation, can improve sermon communication and make your message more powerful.
7. Pray
Preaching is God’s appointed means of communicating the gospel and bringing about change in people. It is not something that should be viewed lightly or taken for granted. Preaching should glorify God, whether it is a sermon on a text that explicitly praises Him (Psalms) or one that challenges us to worship Him in the midst of trials and tribulations (Job, Ecclesiastes, etc.). Preaching must also be doctrinally and theologically accurate.
As you work on your sermon, pray for God to guide and inspire you. It is important for your audience to hear the truth, but even more importantly, they need it to be applied to their lives. Often, the best way to do this is through rhetorical questions.
As you continue to prepare for your message, pray that God will give you boldness and humility. Those who preach need the courage to speak the Word of God, especially when it is challenging or uncomfortable. At the same time, they must be humble enough to recognize their own shortcomings and depend on the holy spirit and God for His power.
