Stage 1 – Passage Selection

Topical Preaching – Part 2

/ Peter Mead / 1 Comment

More food for thought on the issue of topical preaching.  As I wrote in part 1, it is possible to preach a sermon that is both expository and topical.  Yet generally speaking I urge people to stay in one text.  Why?

There is always more in one passage than you can preach in one sermon.  While it is possible to get the main idea and preach it effectively, that does not mean that you exhaust a passage by doing so.  By staying in one text for the whole message you give yourself a better opportunity to dig deeper in that passage.  We tend to assume people understand something when we should explain it further.  We tend to assume people apply principles when we should apply more explicitly.  Preach in such a way that people see the value of spending some time in a passage, rather than finding a superficial nugget and rushing on to another. 

Most wild safaris in the backseat of a concordance are unhelpful.  It is easy to open a concordance and find several other passages that have at least one word in common with the passage you’re preaching.  It’s common for new preachers to fill time in this way (you can’t be criticized for being unbiblical if the message is full of Bible verses!)  I’ve heard messages where we’ve been taken on a wild Scriptural safari, bouncing along uncomfortable roads to disconnected texts, catching a brief glimpse of something and then revving the engine for another ride.  More often than not these glimpses at other verses add nothing to the message or to our understanding of our “target passage.”  There are occasions when citing or reading other verses is helpful (see future post), but evaluate carefully before stealing this time and energy from your specific text.

It is stretching, refreshing and helpful for you and your listeners to soak in a specific passage rather than skimming over the surface of the old familiar favorites.  Preach your text!

What About Topical Preaching?

/ Peter Mead / 2 Comments

When I’ve taught preaching either in a course or a seminar, I’ve regularly encountered a certain question. “Why do you focus on preaching a single passage so much and not give instruction on preaching topically?”  My response is hopefully balanced but instructive to those that ask.  

There is a place for topical preaching, but not a steady diet of it.  Sometimes a situation calls for a biblical message that encompasses several passages.  But God gave us a collection of books, rather than topical studies, so we do well to usually feed on the Bible book-by-book.  I remember at seminary that the president was working his way through Luke in the family chapel each Thursday morning.  Then there was a mini-crisis on campus caused by some confusion regarding aspects of spiritual warfare.  So for two Thursdays he addressed the issues in a biblical and clear manner using expository-topical messages.  Then he returned to Luke for the rest of the semester.

Topical preaching is much more work.  For many preachers a topical sermon is a short-cut.  Instead of working in a specific text, they are free to speak on what they want using the verses they know to support their thought.  This may be topical preaching, but it is not expository-topical preaching.  Let’s say a message has three points, each with its own text.  To truly preach that message the preacher has to do all the exegetical and homiletical work in each text, while constantly re-evaluating to make sure the overall message idea is fair to the texts.  In simple terms, three passages mean three sets of study.  To preach this way well is much more work.

Since it is harder, I don’t teach it on an introductory course.  If I were to teach a series of three or four homiletics courses, with each a pre-requisite for the next, then topical preaching would be taught in the third or fourth course.  Hence in a first preaching course I would rather have people understand the basics and do them well.  It’s better to learn to ride a bike first, before introducing complicated ramp stunts.

The Holy Spirit and Your Preaching – Part 1

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When it comes to preaching, it is easy to refer to the Holy Spirit by way of excuse. How simple to bring in the Holy Spirit as an excuse not to do some difficult aspect of preparation, or to cover for a lack of attention to some aspect of the preparation process. This is very unfair. Preaching is a spiritual work, and so the Holy Spirit must be given His rightful place. Here are some thoughts that will probably stimulate other thoughts:

Preaching is our work and God’s work, not one or the other. Our responsibility for the mechanics of sermon preparation in no way negates the Holy Spirit’s role in the dynamics of sermon preparation. Likewise, the Spirit’s role in bringing fruit from the preaching event does not remove our responsibility to participate fully.

The foundational concern is the spiritual walk of the preacher. Everything that the Bible teaches in relation to the spiritual walk of a believer is also, and especially, true of the preacher. This relates to character, to life choices, to prayerful preparation for ministry and so on. This means walking in step with the Spirit, not grieving the Spirit, fanning into flame the gift of the Spirit, and living a life controlled by the Spirit.

The preparation process involves the Spirit at every step. Every stage of the process could be prefixed with the term, “Prayerfully. . .” We must prayerfully select the passage, prayerfully study the passage, prayerfully determine the author’s idea and so on. We should not work in a personal vacuum and then merely ask for God’s stamp of approval just prior to delivery.

(Ramesh Richard has a helpful appendix on the Holy Spirit and preaching in Preparing Expository Sermons which influenced this post.)

Making a Multi-Speaker Series Work – Part 2

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A group of preachers, one Bible book, and a series of Sundays. Consider the following suggestions.

3. In a longer series, have a mid-series evaluation. It is wise to avoid a series that goes so long it starts to drag. So by longer series, I mean 8-12 Sundays rather than 4-6. A time of evaluation would provide an opportunity to get together and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the series. An opportunity to highlight areas that could be strengthened by the group as the series continues. Perhaps a re-evaluation of the later sections in light of further study, or just a good chance to pray for each other and the messages that lie ahead.

4. Encourage the preachers to be a “team” for the series. It is so easy to preach as separate individuals, having no interaction between the speakers in a series. This is a great opportunity for a team camaraderie to develop. The speakers know what each other is putting into the series. They understand the goals, the emotions, the struggles. Perhaps encourage email and phone conversations between the speakers. Pray for one another. Really seek to stand together in the mission.

5. As a team, select one individual to wrap-up the series. In light of the team interaction, there may be one preacher especially suited to wrapping up the series. Perhaps the one with the best grasp of the whole book. Instead of fizzling to the finish, finish strong with a message reviewing the book in its entirety – a big picture finish.

6. Have a post-series evaluation. Share lessons learned and make suggestions for future series. Also, at the end of the series, or at the end of the year, put closure on the teamwork with some kind of thanksgiving and celebration.

Making a Multi-Speaker Series Work – Part 1

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Some churches never try.  Some always must.  How do you combine a group of preachers, one Bible book and a series of Sundays into an effective series?  First, there are some potential weaknesses worth noting.  Inconsistent explanation of the book’s historical context, flow of thought or overarching idea.  Differing perspectives on the book’s purpose or theological center.  Unnecessary repetition of illustrative or supporting materials.  A lack of repetition of key series elements making it seem like random messages that happen to be from one book.  So what can be done to make it work?

1. Consider limiting the number of speakers.  Instead of rotating through six speakers in a twelve part series, cut it down to three or four (even fewer in a shorter series).  This makes for greater continuity and ownership of the series.  If your church has six capable speakers, perhaps use the others to form the backbone of the next series.  If your church does not have six capable speakers, then why are six preaching?

2. Have a pre-series meeting of the speakers.  Have the speakers read through the book and do some initial thinking on the book’s major chunks, overarching idea and purpose, preaching sections, and a rough idea for each preaching section.  This meeting could take some time, but if we place a high value on the pulpit ministry of the church, then why not?  Also share any particularly helpful resources.  For instance, I just started a series in 1st Peter at our church and found one commentary to be very strong on the historical background of the book.  It would be better for all the speakers to read that view rather than presenting several differing perspectives.

In a few days, I’ll finish the list of suggestions.

This Piece of Paper is Different

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The stages of sermon preparation are not rigid.  They are not like the seven chapters of a book that must be covered in sequence.  They are like loose pieces of paper.  In fact, they can be loose pieces of paper.  Have a page entitled Passage Study, and one for Passage Idea.  Also a Purpose page, a message idea page, and one for message shape, etc.  For message details you probably want three – introduction, conclusion and illustrations.  You can write on any page at any time as you work through the seven stages.  But there’s one more piece of paper, one that has a specific place in the process, and yet should be ignored in certain other stages.  You might entitle it, “Questions of the Text.”

Do use this page in an initial reading of the passage.  Before you study in any detail, read through the text and write down questions of the text.  What needs explaining?  What is not clear?  Are there details, or names, or words that are begging further attention?  Anything that is not immediately clear, write it down.  This is now a valuable piece of paper.  You may study in detail, maybe in original languages, probably in commentaries.  For a period of time you will live in that text.  You will forget what it is like to be a newcomer to the text.  Just like having someone visit your country is fascinating as you watch them observing what to you is familiar, your list of questions is a clue to the experience of a non-native in that text.  Your listeners will be new to the text when you preach it.  Your questions may be similar to theirs, so the list has real value.

Do not use this page in stage 6 – sermon shape.  At this stage do not let that sheet drive your preparation.  If you do, you run the risk of preaching a list of answers to questions, a series of distinct ideas.  A string of disjointed explanations may be considered expository preaching by some, but not here.

Do use this page once you are finished.  Having crafted and written a draft of your sermon, then you can break out the list again.  Which questions are not answered in the course of the message?  If it’s a question a first-time reader is likely to have of that text, you should probably answer it at some point in the message.  You don’t want that to be an obstacle to hearing the main point.  So the first thing you wrote in the process of preparing the message can be a great tool as you run your final checks prior to delivery.

Is Your Preaching in a Rut?

/ Peter Mead / 1 Comment

It is easy to settle into a pattern of the familiar and comfortable.  We do this in all areas of life: same breakfast cereal, same choice in the restaurant, same type of movie, same store for clothes.  It is natural and usually not a problem.  But once in a while it is good to vary things.  A different salad dressing, one of those new deli sandwiches on the menu, a thriller or rom-com instead of the usual _______ (fill in the blank).  In the same way, in our preaching it is easy to get into a rut.  Perhaps it’s time to challenge yourself with something fresh:

1. Different kind of text: I don’t mean preaching from a different “holy book.”  Perhaps you find yourself always preaching epistles, or Old Testament narratives, or stories from the gospels.  Schedule something different – one of the other three above, or a Psalm, a Proverb, a Prophet.

2. Different shape of sermon: It’s easy to always preach deductively (main idea up front), or inductively (just the theme or subject up front, the main idea emerging at the end).  When the text allows for it, try the other one, or an inductive-deductive outline.  Perhaps your sermons are always a list of keyword points?  Try preaching a one-point message.

3. Different type of sermon: When was the last time you preached first-person?  Loads of options – you can be the writer, a character, an implied character.  You can visit your listeners today, or have them travel through time and visit you back then.  You can preach the whole sermon in character, or part of a sermon.  You can use costume, props or neither one.

4. Different props in delivery: If you’re used to taking a manuscript into the pulpit, try abbreviated notes.  If you’re into notes, try no notes (see earlier posts on how to do this).  If you usually project something on a screen, try turning it off and having people look at you instead.

5. Different preaching logistics: If you always preach from behind a pulpit, try removing the pulpit, or move out from behind it.  Perhaps stand on a different level, or even sit on a high stool (if it suits the sermon). 

A change is as good as a rest.  You will benefit from getting out of the rut, and you may find your people listen more attentively too!

That Message from That Text?

/ Peter Mead / 4 Comments

It is vital that the listener be able to see how the message comes from the text they are looking at. The credibility of the speaker matters, but the credibility of the Bible matters more. It matters that people listening to a sermon can look at the text before them and see how the message flows from that particular text. It is not good enough to preach truth, or to preach a sound idea. It matters that the truth and the idea come from the text presented to the people.

Some years ago my wife and I sat in church as the visiting preacher preached the gospel. The message was true, the gospel was clear. But the message was not true to that text, and the gospel was not clear from that text. His “clever” presentation of the gospel undermined the very credibility of the gospel he proclaimed.

Since you’re wondering, he preached the gospel using the three phrases from Job 41:8. First point was that we must identify with Christ (lay your hand on him). Second point, that we must remember what He did for us (remember the battle). Third point was that our salvation is not dependent on us, but on Him, there is no need to keep “getting saved” again (and you will do it no more). The text is not presenting the gospel, it is God telling Job to get in the squared circle and slug it out with leviathan.

May our listeners never leave saying, “Great message, but I don’t see how he got that message from that text!”

Peter has responded to comments on this post.

Question: Should We Cover More in Our Sermons?

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Following on from yesterday’s post, I want to address the issue of “covering more.”  Here’s the question again:

In the Church today, we find that most preachers preach for 30-60 minutes on one topic or passage. Indeed, many will take a few verses and preach on them at length.

The examples we have in the bible of Jesus’ sermons show a very different way of preaching. He seemed to cover many topics in every sermon. For instance the ‘Sermon on the mount’ covers a range of things but preachers these days tend to just take one section of it and preach for an hour on that section.

Is there any validity, in your opinion, to the idea that we labour points too long and actually ought to cover more in our sermons?

Peter M responds:

Preaching on one passage – Expository preaching does not require a preacher to stay in one passage. It is possible to have an expository sermon that goes to several passages. Yet to deal with each passage as one should tends to make the process overwhelming. I always encourage preachers to deal with one passage more fully, rather than skipping around unnecessarily. There are reasons to refer to other passages, but for some preachers it seems this is a standard practice. I suggest it is usually better to stay put in one place.  This does not mean boring preaching though.  The preacher should be as engaging and interesting as possible.  It takes some skill to demonstrate the relevance and interest in a passage.  It is better to develop that skill than to hide the lack of it by jumping around the canon.

The example of NT sermons – We can learn a lot by analyzing the sermons recorded in the New Testament.  There are different sermon forms used, clear awareness of differing audiences, and so on.  Yet it is important to remember that while the written form represents the original accurately, it is not an exhaustive transcription.  I suspect Peter preached for longer than a couple of minutes at Pentecost, and Jesus’ “sermon on the mount” was probably not delivered as it stands in our Bibles.  So it might not be wise to try to recreate the Sermon on the Mount. At the same time recognize that it is not as random as many suspect.  What seems to be one subject after another, may actually be one illustration or application after another.  For example, notice the repetitive pattern in Matthew 5:21-48 – do we have five new subjects or five specific applications of the same principle?

Amount of content in a sermon – I am not an advocate for “dumbing down” sermons or “salad preaching” (no meat).  A message should have an appropriate amount of content at the right level of weightiness for the listeners present.  Yet the goal is to communicate the main idea of the passage in order to achieve the purpose of the message.  The goal is not to impress people with content (sadly, for some preachers, this is their goal).  This wrong goal is often encouraged as some listeners tend to affirm dense preaching despite their own inability to take it in!

Some preachers should cover more, others would do well to cover less.  There is no standard rule, but the passage and the audience are both significant factors in determining how much content, both breadth and depth, should be covered in one message.

Question: Do We Labor Points Too Long?

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Question submitted to the site last week by Peter P:

In the Church today, we find that most preachers preach for 30-60 minutes on one topic or passage. Indeed, many will take a few verses and preach on them at length.

The examples we have in the bible of Jesus’ sermons show a very different way of preaching. He seemed to cover many topics in every sermon. For instance the ‘Sermon on the mount’ covers a range of things but preachers these days tend to just take one section of it and preach for an hour on that section.

Is there any validity, in your opinion, to the idea that we labour points too long and actually ought to cover more in our sermons?

Peter M responds:

Interesting question, thanks for asking it. Someone once said to preachers, “If after ten minutes you haven’t struck oil, stop boring!” Here are a few thoughts on the subject of sermon length, then tomorrow I’ll consider the issue of “covering more” in our sermons.

The solution to poor expository preaching – I usually suggest that preachers are better off focusing more on one passage and one main idea. However, it is fair to say that many preachers do make sermons and sermon points drag on too long! I think uninteresting preaching is a travesty. However, the solution to poor expository preaching is not non-expository preaching, but better expository preaching.

Sermon length – I don’t want to say too much, but a couple of comments may be helpful. I don’t think there is a “correct” sermon length. The local situation is a major factor in this, but another factor is the preacher’s ability. Some people say that people today cannot take a sermon longer than 30 minutes. I think this is a generalization. In reality people can and will do so happily, but only if the preacher is thoroughly engaging and effective. So the length of a sermon will depend on local cultural expectations (try preaching “short” in some non-western cultures!), and on preacher ability. I rarely hear a preacher than can go for an hour effectively, but there are some.

How long should a point be laboured? – My answer would be not at all, but how long should a point be preached? The nature of oral delivery requires a certain amount of time and explanation, as well as restatement, to allow a thought to form in the minds of the listeners. I was taught at least 3-5 minutes. Yet this does not mean five minutes of “labouring.” There are many tools available for communicating a point – statement, restatement, repetition, explanation, support, illustration, application and so on. So there’s no need to labour a point, but effective oral communicators know that it takes lots of planning ahead of time and some time in delivery for a point to truly do its work of forming a clear idea in the listeners’ minds.

Tomorrow I’ll give some thoughts on the example of NT sermons and the amount of content in a sermon.