Which approach do you take in your introduction? If you are typical, you probably fall into the third category – no needs. Most preaching tends to begin with some form of engaging content followed by the text, or even just straight into the text. Whether or not people want to listen to that text preached is apparently a mute point (unless you could see into the heads of the listeners, then you’d probably never ignore the issue of “need” again!)
Some cling to a “no needs” approach to sermon introduction because they are concerned about a “felt needs” approach to preaching. After all, we do not really start with the listener and then preach only to that which they feel they need. We want to do better than that. So perhaps its better to just get into the text and the message, rather than trying to address the needs of the listener in the introduction?
Thus Haddon Robinson carefully speaks of “surfacing a need” as a preacher. It is not that the listener’s felt need determines the choice of text or even the meaning assigned to a text. Nor does the speaker have to create a need for the text. No, the text speaks to a need inherent in the creature, a need that the self-giving love of the Creator will meet. So the preacher surfaces the need to which the text speaks. This approach starts from the text, but the sermon starts with the listener.
So I suggest we don’t start disconnected (“ok, enough irrelevant humor, let’s have a reading” or even “last week we were in Lamentations 3, please turn to Lamentations 4.”) Nor should we start with “felt needs” (“alright, you’re all asking me on facebook how to make life more comfortable and still be able to afford entertainment during the economic downturn, let’s turn to Judges chapter . . .”) I strongly suggest trying to start by “surfacing the need” addressed by the text. In your study it begins with the text. Then in your message you start by highlighting the need in the listeners life so they are thirsty for the passage and the message.
Biblical Preaching 
I think I understand what you are saying. I am not sure we can “create” a thirst for the passage. It is a shame that we all don’t come thirsting regularly for the word of God.
It is interesting that I was just reading in the new book, John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology the following quote:
“Calvin’s preaching was direct in its message. When expounding scripture, Calvin was remarkably staightforward and to the point. He did not launch hhis message with a captivating story, a compelling quote, or a personal anecdote. Instead, Calvin immediately drew his listeners into the biblical text.”
I hope when preaching the Spirit of God directs the listeners to God whom I trust have an interst in God.
I enjoy your site and read it most days. Thanks!
It is both needed and difficult to achieve. Some texts are easier than others by displaying a need that is obvious in our time as well as the Bible times. But others… boy do I struggle sometimes.
I found out that one of the greatest challenge is to find the right words (haven’t you said something about that lately…), not just copying blindly the vocabulary that people never come accross with outside of Church.
Anyway, thanks for this helpful post, it reminds me that I should read Robinson again. Or Sunukjian. Or both. Again…
Thank you both for the comments. Gregg, I know what you are saying. Certainly we pray for people prepared by the Lord for the preaching of His Word. You’ll have noticed that I quote Haddon’s choice of term – “surfacing” a need, as opposed to “creating” a need. The fact is that the Bible is relevant and applicable to listeners. We don’t have to make it relevant or create application. In a very real sense the “surfacing of need” in the introduction is an early form of application in the message. Since we have the conviction that all Scripture is useful (2Tim.3:16-17), our task is to demonstrate that relevance during the introduction, thereby rubbing salt on the tongue of the listeners for the message of the text – we thereby surface the need that is present rather than creating one. Usually the need is there at the point of intersection between God’s self-revelation in His Word and our fallenness (or fallen condition focus as Chappel calls it). I don’t have to worry about whether the particular passage is relevant to the listeners, my concern is to demonstrate how it is relevant and motivate them to listen to what they actually need to hear. Obviously some passages and some groups of listeners or situations may not be best suited, (consider a passage like Genesis 10 and a funeral, for instance – not the best fit), but that caveat does not negate my point.
I also read a good book on Calvin’s preaching recently, I think I reviewed it on site. We should be stirred by these men of God in the past, but not excused from our task of preaching in this generation. He, like many others, was concerned with effectively preaching in his own era to his listeners. Whether or not our listeners today are best served by immediate entrance into the text, or by a carefully planned path soon leading into a passage, well, that is up to us to figure out. Our goal is not to entertain, or compromise the truth, but to bring together the Word of God and the people listening in the most effective and God-honoring manner possible. I suspect the tried and overly-trusted “last week we were in Nehemiah 6, so let’s turn to Nehemiah 7” type of introduction might not be the most God-honoring or effective way of introducing a sermon today.
Thanks for engaging with the site. Your encouragement is certainly appreciated. Peter
Thanks for these thoughts Peter. For a good use of introductions you should check out the DVD for Christianity Explored. In them Rico always manages to draw the viewers into the theme about to be discussed in an interesting and relevant way.
I must admit that I find this particular part of the sermon the most challenging and its something I often leave to the end when I have had time to muse on the text. I’m also trying to do something similiar on my blog on Calvin’s Institutes. Sometimes a thought comes to me that enables me to anchor the chapter in today’s world. I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on my use of CSI in Chapter 5 of Book 1:
http://martynlink.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/every-contact-leaves-a-trace/
Every blessing,
Martyn