Church has become about a lot of things such as specials, offerings, activities, block parties, cantatas, Easter programs, food pantries, youth ministries and more; but may it never get away from its foundation of preaching!
Having grown up in a preacher's home, being a 'third generation preacher, and now pastoring myself, the question seemingly constantly being asked is "What are you preaching on this week?"
As a child, I asked that question and rarely gave much thought as to what all went into that preparation. For the next few weeks, I will share some things I have found out in regards to sermon preparation and how God leads as to what to preach. I am 34, am the farthest thing from an expert, and should the Lord allow me 34 more years of preaching the Word, I probably would change my writings on this subject 34 times at least. But for now, let me share what I have learned.
"What to Preach?" When I was an associate pastor and preached each week in our Jr. Church, this stressful question seemed ever present each and every week. What am I going to preach on?
One would think, with such a big Book such as the Bible, there would be plenty to preach on. Then one thinks, men have been preaching out of this Book for nearly 2,000 years, what is there left to preach on?
There are so many different types of sermons, styles to preach, and reasons to preach on...how does one go about preaching the right sermon for the right week?
Alfred Gibbs has written a good book on preaching titled "The Preacher and His Preaching." He gives Six types of sermons in his book:
1. Personal Testimony
2. Expository
3. Textual
4. Topical
5. Historical Incident
6. Biographical
If today's typical preacher would be honest, there is a seventh type of sermon now-a-days, the Internet inspired.One can just 'google' a topic such as "sermon on tithing" and find enough sermons to preach a conference on. Sort of weak though, isn't it? This type of preaching is weakening our churches and men of God and aids only to laziness and complacency and a great lack of fire from on high.
Now don't get me wrong, I do not think it is wrong to borrow from another man's brain. My dad has told me often concerning thoughts I have from the Word of God,
I am going to take that and make a real sermon out of it.
I just believe that there are too many Internet preaching pastors out there that need to spend less time 'googling' and more time studying and praying.
So, with the Lord's help, I will share what I have learned in regards to this area of sermon preparation, delivery, and archiving. Perhaps it can be of help to some one in some day ahead.
