Bible-Based
No evangelical preacher I know would think of making a list of “qualities of a good sermon” without including “Biblical” at or near the top of the list. But what do we mean when we say the sermon should be biblical? We may not have such a ready answer for that one!
Read these words from Graeme Goldsworthy:
It is easy to claim to be biblical, but much harder to translate that into the way we read the Bible and shape our thoughts, lives, and ministries. Using Bible texts, focusing on biblical characters, or using well-worn clichés that are asserted as biblical are not in themselves a guarantee that our preaching is essentially biblical. (Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture, p. 12)
Ouch!
What, then? If “using” the Bible in our sermons doesn’t make them “biblical,” what does? The key issue is the relationship between the biblical text and the message. When we “use” the Bible to support the message, it’s our message and we’re just claiming God’s endorsement. When the message flows from from the biblical text, the message is God’s and he speaks through his Word.
If you want to be a biblical preacher, you should develop a process that ensures, as much as possible, that the message you preach flows from God’s Word and not your mind. There are a couple of common approaches that are pretty precarious in this regard. Topical Preaching develops a topic logically around a number of points, seeking a prooftext or two for each one (or perhaps seeking the texts first and developing points around them.) Textual Preaching uses a very brief text or phrase from the Bible as a the foundation for the sermon. It’s possible for either of these to be biblical. There may be moments when, for example, you just need to address a particular topic from a general perspective using multiple texts, or a key phrase can be well-treated in its historical context to address a need for contemporary hearers.
However, for the bread and butter of a biblical preaching ministry, I recommend Expository Preaching. This term means essentially that we seek to “expose” the text — to lead our hearers to discover its meaning and apply it to their lives. How does the process work? I’ll address more details in other posts, but here are seven key steps:
Focus on a single text. This doesn’t mean you can’t bring in other texts, but use them sparingly, and primarily to throw light on the meaning of this text — not just as cross references or additional proof for your argument. Also, make sure the text you choose is a complete unit of thought.
Look broadly. Take the context seriously. Consider the verses around the text, the chapter, the book it’s in — and where it fits in the overall revelation of the Bible.
Dig Deeply. Learn everything you can about the words, the grammar, the historical background, the related customs, etc. found in the text.
Summarize succinctly. Try to state the meaning of the text as simply as possible in a single sentence. Let this be the guiding message — the source of the main idea of the sermon.
Organize Clearly. Make sure any secondary ideas have two qualities: They also flow from the text, and they relate directly to the main idea (above).
Apply Appropriately. Be sure not to leave the message in the past. Think through how this text speaks to your life, and the lives of your hearers.
