The Theological Art of Effective Preaching

Devotional

Day 1: Theological Consistency in Preaching

Preaching must always be theological, rooted in a comprehensive understanding of biblical theology. This ensures that each message is consistent with the grand narrative of Scripture and avoids contradictions. A preacher must delve deeply into the Scriptures, understanding the unified and systematic message that the Bible presents. This theological foundation is crucial because it provides the framework within which all preaching should occur. Without this grounding, sermons risk becoming disjointed or contradictory, failing to convey the cohesive message of the Bible. [04:03]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your understanding of biblical theology to ensure your conversations about faith are consistent with Scripture's grand narrative?

Day 2: Unity in the Biblical Message

The sermon should be a cohesive whole, not a collection of isolated truths. It must reflect the unity of the biblical message and convey the whole counsel of God. This means that each sermon should be crafted to reflect the interconnectedness of biblical truths, presenting them in a way that highlights their place within the larger story of Scripture. By doing so, the preacher helps the congregation see the Bible as a unified narrative, rather than a series of disconnected teachings. [11:45]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you approach your Bible reading to better understand the unity and interconnectedness of its message?

Day 3: Theological Depth in Evangelistic Preaching

Evangelistic preaching should be deeply theological, addressing the doctrines of sin, repentance, and salvation. Without theology, evangelism becomes merely a call for decisions rather than true Christian evangelism. This depth ensures that the call to faith is not just an emotional appeal but is grounded in the truths of Scripture. By focusing on the theological aspects of evangelism, preachers can present a more compelling and transformative message that leads to genuine conversion and discipleship. [06:04]

"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." (2 Corinthians 7:10, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how you can incorporate theological truths into your conversations about faith with others. How might this change the way you share the gospel?

Day 4: The Form and Impact of a Sermon

The form of a sermon is crucial for its effectiveness. It should be expository, arising from the text, and have a distinct form that makes it memorable and impactful, much like a symphony. This means that the structure of the sermon should enhance the message, making it easier for the congregation to understand and remember. By carefully crafting the form of the sermon, preachers can ensure that their message resonates with the listeners and leaves a lasting impact. [30:52]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you apply the principles of structure and form to your personal study of Scripture to make it more impactful and memorable?

Day 5: Completeness in Each Sermon

Each sermon should be a complete entity, even when part of a series. This ensures that every listener can grasp the message, regardless of their attendance history. By crafting each sermon to stand alone, preachers make the message accessible to all, ensuring that no one is left behind or confused. This approach respects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the congregation, providing a clear and comprehensive message each time. [46:18]

"So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11, ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that your communication of biblical truths is complete and accessible to those who may not have the same background or knowledge as you?

Sermon Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound and multifaceted nature of preaching, emphasizing its theological foundation and the necessity of a well-structured sermon. Preaching is not merely about delivering a message; it is about conveying the whole counsel of God, rooted deeply in biblical theology. This requires a preacher to have a comprehensive understanding of the biblical message, which is unified and systematic. The sermon must be more than a collection of isolated truths; it should be a cohesive whole that reflects the grand narrative of Scripture.

We discussed the importance of maintaining a balance between different types of preaching: evangelistic, instructional, and experiential. Each type serves a unique purpose, yet they are interrelated and should be grounded in theology. Evangelistic preaching, often perceived as non-theological, should be deeply rooted in theological truths, as it calls people to repentance and faith in Christ. Preaching must always be theological, ensuring that each message is consistent with the broader biblical narrative.

Furthermore, we delved into the form of the sermon, distinguishing it from essays and lectures. A sermon is not an essay, which is meant to be read, nor is it a lecture, which primarily imparts knowledge. Instead, a sermon is expository, arising from the text and its context, and it must have a distinct form, much like a symphony. This form is crucial for conveying the message effectively, ensuring that it is memorable and impactful for the congregation.

The sermon should be a complete entity, even when part of a series, with each message standing alone as a whole. This ensures that every listener, regardless of their attendance history, can grasp the message. The preparation of a sermon is akin to the work of a potter or a blacksmith, requiring effort and refinement to achieve the desired form. This labor is not for art's sake but for the sake of the people, to make the truth more accessible and transformative.

Key Takeaways

1. Preaching must always be theological, rooted in a comprehensive understanding of biblical theology. This ensures that each message is consistent with the grand narrative of Scripture and avoids contradictions. [04:03]
2. The sermon should be a cohesive whole, not a collection of isolated truths. It must reflect the unity of the biblical message and convey the whole counsel of God. [11:45]
3. Evangelistic preaching should be deeply theological, addressing the doctrines of sin, repentance, and salvation. Without theology, evangelism becomes merely a call for decisions rather than true Christian evangelism. [06:04]
4. The form of a sermon is crucial for its effectiveness. It should be expository, arising from the text, and have a distinct form that makes it memorable and impactful, much like a symphony. [30:52]
5. Each sermon should be a complete entity, even when part of a series. This ensures that every listener can grasp the message, regardless of their attendance history. [46:18]
** [46:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Opening Prayer
[00:25] - The Importance of Preaching
[00:56] - Elements of a Sermon
[01:30] - Types of Messages
[03:14] - Interrelationship of Preaching Types
[04:03] - Theological Foundation of Preaching
[06:04] - Evangelistic Preaching and Theology
[07:33] - Preaching vs. Lecturing
[09:25] - Systematic Theology in Preaching
[12:47] - Preaching the Gospel, Not About It
[16:02] - The Cosmic Scope of the Gospel
[19:06] - Doctrine and Application
[21:32] - Form of the Sermon
[30:52] - The Sermon as a Symphony
[46:18] - Completeness of Each Sermon
[51:06] - The Labor of Sermon Preparation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Ephesians 1:10 - "To be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."
Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Acts 2:14-41 - Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost.

Observation Questions:

What are the two main sections into which the sermon content is divided, as mentioned in the sermon? ([01:30])
How does the sermon distinguish between evangelistic preaching and other types of preaching? ([06:04])
What is the relationship between theology and preaching as emphasized in the sermon? ([04:03])
How does the sermon describe the form of a sermon in comparison to an essay or a lecture? ([22:23])

Interpretation Questions:

How does the concept of preaching the "whole counsel of God" relate to the idea of a unified biblical message? ([11:45])
In what ways does the sermon suggest that evangelistic preaching should be more theological rather than less? ([06:04])
How does the sermon explain the importance of the form of a sermon in making it memorable and impactful? ([30:52])
What does the sermon suggest about the completeness of each sermon, even when part of a series? ([46:18])

Application Questions:

Reflect on your understanding of biblical theology. How can you deepen your understanding to ensure your conversations about faith are rooted in a comprehensive biblical narrative? ([04:03])
Consider the balance between evangelistic, instructional, and experiential preaching. How can you apply this balance in your personal study or when sharing your faith with others? ([03:14])
Think about a recent sermon you heard. Did it feel like a cohesive whole or a collection of isolated truths? How did that impact your understanding and retention of the message? ([11:45])
How can you ensure that your personal study of the Bible is expository, arising from the text and its context, rather than just a collection of ideas? ([26:28])
Reflect on a time when you felt a sermon was particularly memorable or impactful. What elements of the sermon’s form contributed to that experience? ([30:52])
How can you apply the idea of each sermon being a complete entity to your personal Bible study or when leading a small group discussion? ([46:18])
Consider the labor and effort involved in preparing a sermon or Bible study. How can you apply this diligence to your own spiritual growth and understanding? ([51:06])

Sermon Clips

I would lay down a general proposition that preaching must always be theological always based on a theological foundation. In other words, we mustn't preach at random from isolated texts and deal with each one separately. The reason for that is, of course, that the kind of preacher who does that is always guilty of contradictions. [00:03:57]

Evangelism which is not theological is, in my opinion, not evangelism at all in any true sense. It's a calling for decisions. It may be a calling of people to come to religion or to live a better kind of life. But it cannot by any definition be regarded as Christian evangelism because, as I've said, there is no reason for what you're doing apart from these great theological principles. [00:06:46]

The preacher is a man who must have a grasp and a good grasp of the whole biblical message. And this message, of course, is a unity. So what it leads to is this: that he is a man who should know his biblical theology, which leads him on to a systematic theology. To me, there is nothing that is more important in a preacher than that he should have a systematic theology. [00:08:03]

We are to preach the gospel and not to preach about the gospel. Here is a very vital distinction. It's not always easy to put it in words, and yet it is a very clear thing. There are some men who think that they're preaching the word when the whole time they're really saying things about the word. [00:13:05]

We must present the whole plan of salvation as it is revealed in the scriptures. We must show that the ultimate object, as the Apostle Paul puts it in Ephesians 1:10, is to head up again in Christ all things, both which are in heaven and which are in earth, all things in him. [00:16:14]

A sermon is not an essay. That is something that needs to be said and said constantly because there are so many who clearly draw no distinction between a sermon and an essay. This is the one of the points at which what I was referring to the after the other afternoon concerning the danger of printing sermons and reading them comes out most obviously. [00:22:23]

A sermon is always to be expository. But immediately that leads me to say something that I regard as very important indeed in this whole matter. A sermon is not a running commentary or a mere exposition of the meaning of a verse or a passage or a paragraph. [00:27:16]

A sermon is to have as much form as, say, a musical symphony. A symphony always has form. It has its parts and its portions. The divisions are clear and are recognized, and they can be described. And yet a symphony is a whole. You can divide it into parts. And yet you always realize that they're parts of a whole. [00:30:03]

A sermon is an entity. It is a complete whole. And this must always be true of a sermon. It must always have this completeness, this form to it. And this is particularly important if you should be preaching a series of sermons. You may preach a series of sermons on the same text or on a particular passage. [00:46:18]

There may be people there who will not be there next Sunday and will go away disappointed and wondering what you're going to say and so on. And or the next Sunday people will not may be there were not there the previous Sunday and they'll feel well because I wasn't there last Sunday I can't grasp this. [00:47:50]

The labor of preparing sermons comes in. You've got to put this into form. You've got to put it into shape. I imagine that the musical composer or the poet has to do this very thing. He's got certain general ideas, certain themes suggest themselves to him. But now he's out to produce a poem. [00:51:06]

When truth is presented in this form, it is more easily assimilable by the people. It's easier for them to take it and to remember it and to understand it and to benefit from it. So you're not doing it merely because you believe in art for art's sake. The artistic element comes in for the sake of the people. [00:52:44]

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The Theological Art of Effective Preaching

Devotional

Day 1: Theological Consistency in Preaching

Day 2: Unity in the Biblical Message

Day 3: Theological Depth in Evangelistic Preaching

Day 4: The Form and Impact of a Sermon

Day 5: Completeness in Each Sermon

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

The Theological Art of Effective Preaching

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