I was recently asked to describe my philosophy of preaching. I was specifically asked to discuss biblical text selection, sermon study, sermon development, sermon delivery, preaching with or without notes, audience analysis, preaching resources, and spiritual preparation for preaching. The task of writing out my philosophy of preaching was a helpful exercise for my own clarity. I hope it gives you a glimpse into my thinking as well. As you read my thoughts below, please know that I am gratefully indebted to many teachers, preachers, and scholars for my convictions and thoughts on this subject. People like Jerry Vines ("Power In The Pulpit"), Bryan Chapell ("Christ-Centered Preaching"), and Haddon Robinson ("Biblical Preaching"), are among the many men who have blessed my understanding of the holy task of preaching God's Word.
Biblical Text Selection
When it comes to biblical text selection, my philosophy of preaching requires me to develop and deliver expository sermons. Therefore, I am bound to either systematically preach through a biblical text, or choose a text that expounds the general truth being presented. In choosing a text I must not allow preconceived notions or agendas to cloud my understanding of the text. My task is to expound God’s Word with clarity so as to reveal God’s message from His Word for the listeners. Since Scripture is divinely inspired and absolutely trustworthy, I must allow it to speak. Generally I will choose to preach through books of the Bible. The book will be divided into manageable portions for individual sermons. Care must be taken so as not to lose or abuse the context of the passage.
Sermon Study
Once a text or passage has been selected the hard work of sermon study must commence. This begins with prayerfully seeking the aid of the Holy Spirit to illumine my mind through His Word. Next, the text must be carefully analyzed giving careful attention to what the Holy Spirit was saying to the original audience when He inspired the text. This will involve observing who wrote the text, to whom he was writing, the historical setting, the grammatical structure and word choice, the topic, and other pertinent details. The next step involves the work of interpretation. Here, the preacher must decide on what the text means. The text must be allowed to speak for itself, devoid of our preconceived notions. However, the text must be interpreted in its immediate context and in the context of the rest of Scripture. While there may be many applications there will only be one right interpretation.
Sermon Development (see example of a sermon brief at the end of this article)
Not until a passage has been properly understood can it then be developed into a sermon. A unifying theme will have emerged from the sermon study. This theme will lead to the development of the central idea of the text (CIT). The preacher must not bring a central idea to the text; rather, he must allow the text to determine the central idea. This past-tense statement will aid the preacher in developing the sermon and will demonstrate to his listeners that they are hearing a biblical message. This process will also lead to the development of a proposition statement that gives the contemporary application of the text. The purpose statement will need to be developed so the preacher and the hearers will know what is to be accomplished as a result of applying the text to our lives.
The preacher will then have to decide on the best way to structure the message so the listeners can understand the text and grasp how it applies to their lives. The preacher should aim for a systematic and logical way of communicating the truths of the text. The creation of the sermon design involves identifying the natural divisions of the text, clarifying the truths of the text in a compelling and understandable way, restating the main divisions in such a way as to hold the listener’s attentions, and making use of transition statements so the audience can follow the flow of the message.
Careful attention must be given during the sermon development phase concerning what should be included in the message and what should be left out. The preacher must be selective in what he presents to his audience. Too much material in a sermon can cloud the main focus of the message. A wise preacher will also use illustrations and application statements to aid the listener in understanding the text and applying to his life. He will ask himself what is the best way to introduce the message, expound the text, apply it to the audience, and conclude? The end result of the sermon development process ought to be a clear outline that the audience can follow and a sermon manuscript that the preacher can follow, whether he takes it into the pulpit or not.
Sermon Delivery
In delivering a sermon the preacher must know his own style and be himself. This is not to say he should not try to improve. But the preacher must not allow himself to become a performer on a stage. He must be a transparent messenger of God’s Word. He should seek to be the best speaker that he can be. He should be passionate about the message he proclaims. He must love the people to whom he preaches. He must be aware of his strengths and weakness in an effort to continually improve. He should seek to be natural and skilled in his delivery, making an effort to disabuse himself of bad habits or mannerisms which might distract from the message. He should use language that is vivid and understandable. He should use humor only as it is appropriate and as long as it is never demeaning, crude, or questionable.
Preaching With or Without Notes
It is my belief that each preacher must decide for himself if he will use notes in the pulpit. I seek to use notes as little as possible. If I take notes into the pulpit I do not want them to limit my ability to relate to the audience and to look them in the eye when I preach. However, at times notes have helped me stay on track in my sermon by reminding me of key points or illustrations or supporting Scriptures.
Audience Analysis
Audience analysis is critical in preparing and delivering sermons. The preacher needs to ask himself as he studies God’s Word how it applies to his audience. Only then can he show the audience how the passage speaks to their world. He needs to determine if his audience is primarily comprised of believers or the lost. He needs to ask which audience the text primarily speaks to. One of the best things a pastor can do is get out among his people during the week. They will know him better and he will know them better.
Preaching Resources
The preacher needs to avail himself to the best commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and Bible background resources. He must be selective with his money and only invest in ones of true value. However, the preacher must not substitute the hard work of personal Bible study with these other resources. In fact, he should seek to avoid consulting commentaries or sermon books until he has first determined for himself what the text means and its correct interpretation. He can then look at these other resources to check his assumptions and applications.
Spiritual Preparation For Preaching
The preacher must not neglect the spiritual preparation for preaching. His task is not to merely present polished homilies in order to impress people. Our task as preachers is to seek the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon our lives in such a way that God cleanses us, illumines our minds, and reveals His Word to us. We must aim for incarnational preaching whereby we so saturate our lives in the Word that when we stand to preach we are fleshing out the Word for others to see and hear. We must preach with the filling of the Spirit with the aim of calling men and women to Christ. We dare not allow our own lives to stand in the way of them hearing His message!
An Example of A Sermon Brief
Name: Richard E. Powell
Title: The Behavior of Believers
Text: James 5:7-12
Primary Audience: Fellowship
C.I.T.: James instructed believers to be on their best behavior during trials because Christ could return at any moment.
Proposition: In spite of trials and in light of Christ’s return, Christians are to be on their best behavior.
Purpose: I want the Christians in my audience to evaluate their attitude in light of Christ’s imminent return and resolve to behave appropriately.
Outline:
I. Believers Are To Be Known For Their Patient Endurance (5:7-8; 10-11).
A. The patient planter (5:7)
B. The persecuted prophets (5:10)
C. The pained patriarch (5:11)
Transition Statement: James says believers are to be known for their patient endurance. But there is a second quality that ought to characterize us.
II. Believers Are To Be Known For Their Peaceful Existence (5:9).
A. Refuse to grumble against one another.
B. Remember that the One who will judge you is near.
Transition Statement: Now that we have seen that believers are to be known for their patient endurance and their peaceful existence, notice one final quality that James commends.
III. Believers Are To Be Known For Their Plain Expressions (5:12).
A. Do not swear to mask dishonesty.
B. Do use plain and simple speech and be true to your word.
Conclusion Statement: In spite of our trials from without or within, and in light of Christ’s imminent return, let us resolve to be on our best behavior.
