Considering Preaching

I think it would be interesting to interact about preaching.  If you are a pastor, you could briefly discuss what you do.  If you are a listener, what most benefits you regarding preaching.

Style: I am an expositional preacher.  Whether I am going through a book, or handling a topic, I stick with one main text to explain and apply it.  I will often use supporting texts, but I don’t turn it into a “Bible drill” with people flipping here and there trying to keep up.

Emphasis: I try to preach with a redemptive historical mindset.  Meaning: I want to keep the text in its place in the history of redemption.  I want to connect that text with “Christ and him crucified.”  My goal is to preach the gospel, not morality, for both justificaton and sanctification.  It is really hard to keep from moralism, seeing as how we all have a little religious fanatic in us that wants to earn part or all of our salvation (Luther).  Listening to Tim Keller has really helped me to make those Gospel-connections better and to preach less moralistically.

Form: I am fairly flexible about my form.  At times I’ll use the old 3-point sermon.  At times I’ll preach more like a Puritan, or John Piper, laying out some explanations/doctrine and then some application.  I try to use what works best with the text- though I’m sure I err often enough.  What remains constant is that I give them the Big Idea at the beginning so they have some idea where I’m heading and think is most important.

Illustrations: I can often fall into ruts, so I have to be careful.  The last few years have been frustrating because I’ve had to shy away from sports and movies because I didn’t have many people who watched lots of sports and movies.  Getting married and having a child was the best thing that every happened to me as a pastor.  It opened up a whole new world of personal stories to illustrate things.  I use some current events- but those can lead people to think I’m taking a side on politics so I try to use discretion.  I’m currently in the wrong environment for the great works of literature illustrations.  Sometimes it is good just to pull a Spurgeon and use a biblical illustration.  Who could argue?  My personality is to try and push the envelop a bit, being a bit edgy (at least in my circles).  Evidence some of my sermon titles.  I’m trying not to be too provocative.  Key word is trying.

Time: Early in my ministry I began to preach too long considering my gifting/experience and texts.  I was “asked” to preach 20-25 minutes.  This was sold under the guise of that is our typical attention span (a load a manure I say).  John MacArthur claims you can’t preach any text in less than 45 minutes ( I disagree), and Mark Driscoll preaches no less than an hour.  Most of those people ended up leaving for some other reason, and I was able to comfortably preach 30-35 minutes.  That is usually where I am, but I’ve been known to preach about 40 minutes with some larger texts.  I think you really have to weigh in gifting (some guys don’t have the gifts to preach over 20-30 minutes) and audience (lots of older or very young people have a hard time sitting too long).  If you are boring (sorry) you have to talk about 10 minutes less than you think you should.

Notes: I use a one-page outline utilizing bullet points.  I underline main sub-points to help me keep track of where I am.  I put other Scripture references in bold, and illustrations in italics.  You can see for yourself by clicking CavSermons, the notes are available.  I have friends that bring very detailed manuscripts into the pulpit.  And I know people who bring NOTHING up there.  Sinclair Ferguson told our class of a man known for bringing in a manuscript.  The choir loft was in front of the elevated pulpit so one morning a prankster took the manuscript during the prayer.  The stunned pastor heard “Open your mouth and he will fill it”.  Reluctantly he did.  Some friends have been known to use a notecard or two.  Maybe some day.

Mannerisms: I remember one church wanted to see video of candidates.  They had one guy who sounded great, but had just stood there and read from a manuscript.  That’s not me.  My movement used to be nervousness.  I move less, but more purposefully.  Being Italian, I often use my hands a fair amount.  I’ve been known to drag people out of their seats to help me make a point.  You can do that in a small church.  Plus, it gets the kids back from the Land of Nod.