Jared Moore

The goal of preaching is to excellently allow the Word of God to stand on its own.  In order to reach this goal, here are 5 things that you cannot do.  The other 5 things will be posted tomorrow.

10. Over-repeat yourself.  There is repetition for emphasis, and then there is repetition for annoyance.  Discern between the two by listening to other preachers.  Perhaps you should ask your wife if you over-repeat yourself.  Wives are great assets to pastors because they will often tell you the truth.  Church members are often overly-kind except for the few “preaching experts” in every congregation.

9. Form your own sermon points first, and then find a text to fit your points.  Rarely will you find a text to fit your points; instead, in order to make the text fit, you will pluck the text out of context.  The text should form your points, instead of you forcing your points onto a text.  If you force your points on a text, it is impossible for the Christians in the pew to submit to your teaching and enjoy the Lord through the specific text you are preaching from.  (Granted, you are probably still preaching truth that is found elsewhere in the Bible; at least, I hope!)

8. Be very animated like Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld.  Everyone will either enjoy you or be terribly annoyed.  If they leave the service thinking about you, regardless if it’s positive or negative, your sermon failed.  Remember that the goal of preaching is to excellently allow the Word of God to stand on its own.  So, don’t be distractingly animated, and do not wear flashy suits or style your hair in a flashy way.

7. If you have a dry, boring personality, be overly-boring.  Do not talk in a monotone voice.  The goal is to excellently allow the Word to stand on its own, not to make the most-wonderful book ever written the most-boring book ever written.  You may be so concerned with detracting from the Word that you just want to stand up and read in a monotone voice.  Don’t do it because there is no proof in the Scriptures that any of the prophets, Christ, or apostles did such things when they spoke.  In other words, when you overly-bore so you won’t detract from the Word, you actually detract from the Word, just on the opposite end of the spectrum.  Note* If you are a master of the English language like Jonathan Edwards, then you may be able to get away with this.  If Edwards had preached like Whitefield, he may not have lead anyone to the Lord, for souls would have been too mesmerized by him to get to Christ.

6. If you have a humorous personality, be overly-humorous.  The goal is to get your hearers to enjoy the Word of God, not to enjoy you.  If they leave thinking “what a funny preacher,” then you preached a terrible sermon.  The Word of God must be on their heart and mind when they leave; and if God is not on their mind when they leave, then they shouldn’t be able to lay this at your feet.