How to become a better preacher

Refreshing Your Preaching – Cory Collins

Fresh preaching begins with a refreshed preacher – refreshed by the presence of God, the Spirit of God, and the Word of God.

Come clean with the Lord. Confess your own sin, weakness, staleness, and anything else that may have come between you and Him. Ask Him to refresh you before you seek to refresh your preaching and its effectiveness with others.

Song – “Create in Me a Clean Heart.”

Ps 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

Now see the result – 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

Remember how Jesus called His disciples away privately, so that they could be refreshed.

Mk 6:30 The apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) 32 They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.

You cannot give anyone anything more than – or different from – what you first are and what you first have. So first refresh your faith, hope, and love by being with Christ. Fresh preaching comes from a fresh preacher.

Remember how Jesus Himself often found refreshment by being with the Father. Mk 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

Think of your original desire and decision to preach the Word of God. Refresh your preaching as you would refresh your marriage. Remember what you found attractive and appealing. Recall why you began preaching initially. Renew your vows. Revive your honeymoon. Identify the things that have made it stale and have threatened its vitality. Address and eliminate those things.

Let us preach as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back tomorrow! Come see, go tell – Matt 28

Let us preach as if we just discovered and bought the treasure hidden in the field! Matt 13:4

Let us preach as if we just found something most precious that was lost! In Jesus’ teaching, when the sheep, coin, and son were found, in each case there was an announcement to others, then a celebration to follow. Luke 15

Let us preach as if we just emerged from a dark, dingy, pit into a world of light! 1 Pet 2:9

Let us preach as if the world is starving, and we have the bread!2 Ki 7:8 When these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they entered one tent and ate and drank, and carried from there silver and gold and clothes, and went and hid them; and they returned and entered another tent and carried from there also, and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping silent; if we wait until morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

Let us preach as if we hold in our hands the most powerful, life-changing, death-defying instrument in the universe – the Word of God! Proclaim God’s Word expectantly and let it flow through you and work! Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do (to whom we will give account).

Let us preach as if the world is on fire, and we are called to the rescue!

Let us preach as if we are on fire, and the world is watching us burn!

Let us preach as if we have been commanded not to preach! As if we cannot help it! Acts 4:20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 1 Co 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

Now let’s talk about some practical ideas for refreshing your preaching.

Feed your spirit on the Word – soak it in as a sponge – perhaps read from an additional translation. My mentor said, “You have to put more in your reservoir than you draw from it, lest you run dry.”

Preach what excites you, what grows out of your own study and prayer.

Preach what you need to hear.

Preach what you certainly know and truly believe. Do not preach your doubts or cause others unnecessary issues with their faith.

Preach what you will enjoy preparing to preach. Maybe a brief series on archaeology, called “Eureka!” Or on angels, or Islam, or “Questions Jesus Asked.” My current series – “Keys to the Kingdom – the Sermon on the Mount.” I have identified 15 qualities that Jesus described. I am starting with an introduction, then attitude, influence, self-control (anger and lust), and faithfulness (marriage and truthfulness).

Outline Scripture. Divide it into thought units. One of my mentors kept a Bible and a notepad beside his bed. He would not go to sleep without outlining a passage or chapter each night.

Study inductively. (Let me know if you want more specifics on this.)

Keep taking courses – in person, online, by correspondence – that refresh you.

Think homiletically. Use the “seed card” idea. Observe, as Jesus did (birds, sheep, grass, fish).

Vary your preaching. A preaching friend includes each month one sermon to inform, one to inspire, one to convict, and one to convert.

Collect illustrations, quotations, facts, stats, and stories – meat on the bones.

Do your own work. Read and listen widely, but borrow sparingly. Do not take shortcuts, and do not cheat yourself and the church re: preparation.

Do what fits you and what you do best. Be confident. Be yourself. Improve yourself, and be the best “you” that you can be.

Yet stretch yourself. Fewer or no notes. PowerPoint or not. Visual aids.

Speak to new groups. Expand your range. Accept every invitation you can. Imagine and create wider exposure. I’ll prepare a 15-lesson series and anticipate presenting it at Yellowstone Bible Camp in Montana, where I go as a week-long adult teacher from time to time.

Connect with your listeners – in homes, in small groups, on social media. Listen to them before they listen to you. Know their needs, circumstances, challenges, hopes, dreams, etc.

Identify your eager, expressive, attentive listeners. Establish eye contact and rapport with them as you preach. Get their feedback.

Associate with people who refresh you. Do not feel guilt for spending more time with them; you need them! Paul noted that Philemon was a “refresher” of the saints, and Paul requested that refreshment. Phm 1:7 For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother. Phm 1:20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.

Ask for ideas, questions, and concerns – regular Bible Question Night.

Form a think tank, including various generations and life circumstances.

Ask your own questions and collect responses for special occasions like Mother’s Day and other lessons as well. I preached two series from 1 Cor. I called 1 Cor 1-8, “Because You Belong to Christ …” and asked people to complete that sentence. Then I called 1 Cor 9-16, “Because You Belong to Each Other …” and asked people to complete that sentence as well. I incorporated some of their responses in the various messages that followed.

Ask your listeners, “What do you think are the marks of fresh preaching?”

Ask other preachers, “How do you keep your preaching fresh?”

Preach energetically and enthusiastically.

Note current events – sports, politics, economy, scandals. There is now a movie in the works on Samson. His mother will be played by Lindsay Wagner, the “Bionic Woman.” I’ll use that in a new parenting class that I am preparing. “There are no bionic parents!” “How would you like to have Samson as your son?”

Create a blog. Write your sermons so they can be posted. I will turn this presentation into a blog post. I will also share it with our monthly preachers’ group.

Video your sermons. Link to them via your blog posts.

See and share the lighter side of life – add some humor. One source is Readers Digest.

Add some human interest elements – stories, children in the church.

Provide application – from the “why” to the “what” to the “so what.”

Plan ahead – a series, which gets you thinking of fresh ideas in advance.

Keep a spreadsheet log – to avoid repeating yourself and force freshness.

Recycle, refresh, and re-energize Scriptures you have used before. Here are couple of ideas for doing that.

Create a new title. For example, when you are preaching Luke 5:1-11, a standard title might be, “The Miraculous Catch of Fish,” or, “Jesus Calls the Disciples.” Instead you could choose a fresh title, like “Let’s Launch out into the Deep!” or, “What’s Your Net … Worth?” A fresh title may help you approach a familiar text in a fresh way.

Create a new outline. For example, when you are preaching Luke 7:36-50, which I often title, “A Savior Who Touches Sinners,” you could outline it as …

An Unlikely Invitation – 7:36

An Unwelcome Guest – 7:37a

An Unusual Outpouring – 7:37b-38

An Unfair Assumption – 7:39

An Unequal Comparison – 7:40-46

An Undeniable Connection – 7:47

An Unimaginable Relief – 7:48-50

Preach from a Bible book you have not used in the last year or more. I discovered awhile back, after reviewing my spreadsheet log, that I had not preached from Lamentations in quite some

time.

Share the pulpit with coworkers, missionaries, preachers in summer series, and elders.

Why study the Bible genealogies?

This Sunday our attention will be directed to Genesis 4:17-5:32. What might at first glance look like only a list of names is actually an important part of the Genesis narrative. There are 2 genealogies here, one for the descendants of Cain (4:17-24) and one for the descendants of Seth (5:1-32). As we begin, a few general observations about these two genealogies:

   *In addition to Cain himself (the first murderer), his lineage includes the first polygamist, Lamech. 

   *Lamech receives more attention in this genealogy than anyone else, mostly b/c of his violent & boastful nature. It may be that he is somewhat symbolic of the entire line of Cain, but this isn't clearly stated.

   *Cain's lineage also includes those who developed important aspects of human civilization: Cain himself builds the first city, & his descendants are the first to become nomadic shepherds, the first to develop the musical arts, & the first to forge instruments of bronze & iron.

   *Seth's line is the only one of the two which gives the number of years the people lived. These are quite long & have been the subject of much discussion. Their longevity may be an indication of greater righteousness than Cain's descendants, but again, this is not stated. Some have conjectured that these numbers may not be literal, but if they are symbolic in some way, no one has ever adequately explained what they symbolize or how they are to be understood. It seems better to take them at face value & conclude that, prior to the flood, people just lived longer. But  as sin continued to take its toll on the human race, human longevity declined sharply. (See Gen 6:1-2, which wouldn't make much sense w/out taking the large numbers of chapter 5 literally.) 

   *Seth's line contains the interesting note about Enoch, the man who "walked with God," & who "was not, for God took him." He was apparently one of only two people who were able to enter God's presence w/out experiencing death. (I think you know the other one. See also Heb 11:5-6, which also mentions Enoch.) Both Enoch & the boastful, violent Lamech of Cain's line are the seventh generation in their respective families. It is unclear whether or not there is any symbolic significance to this, but Enoch seems to be Lamech's opposite counterpart. 

   *Seth's line leads us to another righteous man, Noah, who eventually becomes the instrument for the survival of all humanity.

   *There is considerable overlapping of names in the two genealogies, but we need to be careful not to confuse the individuals b/c of their names. (For example, Cain had a son named Enoch, but he isn't the same as the Enoch who "walked with God.")

Some scholars see these two genealogies as representing the development of two opposite strands of humans, one evil & the other righteous. This may be correct, but we have to be cautious since the text doesn't explicitly say that. We have to remember that, even if Seth's line is generally more righteous than Cain's, even Seth's descendants were all sinners, too. Likewise, we aren't told that all of Cain's descendants were evil. What we can say is that there seems to have been more righteous people in Seth's line than in that of Cain.

Now, a word about biblical genealogies. They are seldom given simply to provide information or even to establish succession, although they sometimes do that. More often, they have a theological purpose. Take for example the genealogy of Jesus which begins Matthew's Gospel. While it does establish that Jesus is fully qualified to be the Davidic Messiah, since He descended from David, it does much more. It also sows that all of God's promises to Abraham & his descendants are now being fulfilled through the coming of the Christ. Likewise, it illustrates that Jesus was a real person & not a myth, since a myth doesn't need a genealogy. It also shows God's willingness to work through all kinds of people & to save all kinds of people, since the genealogy contains both Israelites & non-Israelites, both men & women, & some notorious sinners as well as some famous saints. 

So when we come to the genealogies of Gen 4-5, we need to ask, what is their function, & what message do we get from them?

1. They show the spread of the curse of sin. It all started with A&E, but it continues in the lives of all their descendants. Particularly in the line of Cain, sin manifests itself in some terrible ways, particularly in the person of Lamech, as noted above. This doesn't suggest that all of Cain's descendants were evil people & that all of Seth's were good. Some were worse sinners than others, but all were sinners.

There are some positive developments among Cain's line also, such as the building of cities, the development of music, shepherding, & instruments of bronze & iron. These were great technological developments. But the problem is, all of these advances soon became tainted with sin, too. Everything positive  that humans develop is eventually turned to evil purposes. (Ever heard of the Internet?!) So the point is, even our technological developments today can't save us from our sinful selves. Technology will never become our savior. We have to look outside ourselves & our technology to something - Someone - else to make our lives meaningful & to redeem us from the scourge of sin.

2. They show that Godliness is possible in spite of sin. Enoch, of course, is the prime example here, a man so righteous that he is spared death. He "walked with God." "Walking" is biblical terminology for the way we live ("we walk by faith, not by sight"). So just as there was a peculiarly evil man in Cain's line, there is an extraordinarily good man in Seth's.

The point is that both sinfulness & Godliness are choices that we make. We're all sinners, but we can choose to be less sinful if we desire. And just b/c we may be surrounded with people who opt to be as sinful as possible, that doesn't mean we have to yield to that temptation. We can - & must - be "Enochs" in a world of "Lamechs."

3. They show that God is at work, even n a flawed & sinful world. That's why there are bright spots (Enoch, Noah) in the midst of all the darkness. Not everything/everyone goes the way of Cain. In fact, Seth's genealogy leads us right up to Noah (5:28-29), who "found favor in the eyes of the Lord." In spite of humanity's general depravity, there was one man who was getting it right. And God worked through that one man for the salvation of all the rest.

That's really the story of  the entire Bible: God bringing order out of chaos, life out of death, & doing so by working through people just like you & me. We can't excuse ourselves from making a positive difference in the world by saying, "I'm just a sinner." True, you are. But God doesn't have to have "special" people in order to accomplish His will - just willing people, who will walk with Him & who will find favor in His sight.

For your classes:

1. How far back can you trace the genealogy of your own family? Why do you think people in the US today are generally less interested in their ancestors than were people of the past, & people of other cultures? Do our family histories in some ways affect the kind of people we become, or is that entirely up to us?

2. Read Gen 2:25-26. What do you think v. 26 means? Does"people" here include those from Cain's line, or does it refer only to the descendants of Seth?

3. Looking at 4:17-24, do you think we are supposed to understand that all of Cain's descendants were evil people? Why or why not?

4. Can you think of any development in technology that people have not turned to evil purposes? Why do you think this happens? What does this tell us about the way we should think about technological developments? 

5. What do you think about the idea that the longevity of the descendants of Seth is an indication of their righteousness? Is there a pitfall to equating longevity with righteousness? If so, what is it?

6. Read Hebrews 11:5-6. What point is the author of Hebrews making by referring to the example of Enoch? What further information do we get about Enoch in Jude 14-16?

--Dr. Tommy South