PREACHING I

What is Preaching?
What Preaching is NOT
 Preaching is not the delivering of an essay
“in which one gives his comments on life
and passing events.” (Bishop Gerald
Kennedy)
 Preaching is not a theological lecture,
though every sermon must be
theologically sound.
 Preaching is not for the entertainment of
the congregation.
 Preaching is not an oratorical exercise.
What Preaching IS
 Evaggelidzo – means announcing the good
news. (Acts 8:12)
 Kataggallo – may be translated to
“preach” (KJV) or “proclaim” (RSV).
 Kerusso – means to cry or proclaim as a
herald. (Ex. I Cor. 1:23,24)
 Laleo – means to talk or to assert
something. (Ex. Mark 2:2)
What Preaching IS
 Parresiadzomai – is to speak openly,
boldly, fearlessly, unreservedly. (Ex. Acts
9:27)
 Pleroo – is to fill or to make full. (Romans
15:19)
 Parakaleo – means “exhortation” (KJV) or
“preaching” (RSV). (I Tim. 4:13)
 PREACHING, therefore, according to the New

Testament is good news proclaimed with

authority by a herald sent by God, who asserts

something openly, fearlessly and fully in order to

strengthen, challenge, and exhort others to follow

Jesus Christ.
3 Forms of the Word of God (Karl Barth):
1. The proclaimed form – the actual
proclamation that exalts Christ and draws
people to him.
2. The written form – the Holy Scriptures
3. The revealed form – apprehended by
faith

( The personified/incarnated form –Jesus Christ)

How are we therefore to understand the

preached word as the Word of God?

 In authentic preaching the preacher
allows God to speak.
 When we speak of the sermon as
the Word of God, we mean that our
human words, with all their
limitations, are being used by God
to transmit God’s Word.
The Sermon and the Holy
Scriptures

“The substance of one’s preaching should be

drawn from the Bible.” –Donald G. Miller
The Sermon and the Holy
Scriptures

“The preacher’s message must be derived,

not from current events or current
literature or current trends of one sort or
another, not from the philosophers, the
statesman/woman, or the poets, not even,
in the last resort, from the preacher’s own
experience or reflection, but from the
Scriptures.” – John Knox
The Sermon and the Holy
Scriptures

“The Bible belongs essentially to the very

source of preaching. It is not only true
that preaching should be biblical;
authentic preaching has to be. Thus the
sermon is the Word of God only in so far
as it is an exposition of the written Word.”
– John Knox
The Sermon and the Holy
Scriptures

“The purpose of preaching is to explain the

Scriptures. Without the Bible there can be
no preaching.” – Karl Barth

On the other hand, “it is possible for a

sermon to appear biblical, but is actually
missing the drive of biblical truth.”
The Sermon and the Holy
Scriptures

On the one hand, there are sermons that

are preached without text, but textless

sermons are not necessarily unbiblical.

The Sermon and the Holy
Scriptures

“It is conceivable that a sermon can be

thoroughly biblical in essence without
being based upon a specific passage of
Scripture.” – Frederick W. Schroeder
The Sermon and the Holy
Scriptures

“If it is possible to preach a quite unbiblical

sermon on a biblical text, it is also
possible to preach a quite biblical sermon
on no text at all.” – John Knox
Preaching and the Church

“The one great preacher in history is the

Church. And the first business of the
individual preacher is to enable the Church
to preach… He/She is to preach to the
Church that he/she shall also preach from
the Church.” – P.T. Forsyth
Preaching and the Church

Preaching presupposes a church and that

whenever the church fades into a mere

religious club or into an exclusive social

organization, preaching is sure to decline.

Preaching and the Church

The pastor’s primary duty is not to the world

but to the church. When he/she speaks to
the believers it is that they may be
strengthened as a Christian community
and equipped for their ministry. He/She
has to declare the church’s word, and to
utter the church’s faith, in order that
he/she and the church together may
declare them to the world.
Preaching and the Church

While preaching is the word of the Church,

it is also the word addressed to the
Church.

Now this Word of God, which the church

proclaims in faithful obedience to Jesus
Christ, is also the Word addressed to the
world.
The Sermon and Human Needs

“Our message should be one of healing the

broken-hearted, restoring confidence to
the fearful, making each man/woman feel
important, and proclaiming how
man/woman may find life.”
- Bishop Kennedy
Preaching and the Preacher

 The preacher’s conversion experience

 The discipline of study
 The preacher as a pastor
Definitions of Preaching
Definitions of Preaching

“Preaching is the proclamation,

interpretation, and application of the
biblical truth which is the Word of God by
a preacher to people through human
communication.” – Changbok Chung
Definitions of Preaching

SERMON is a speech delivered in a Christian

assembly for worship by an authorized person
that applies some point of doctrine usually drawn
from a biblical passage to the lives of the
members of the congregation with the purpose of
moving them by the use of narrative analogy and
other rhetorical devices to accept that application
and to act on the basis of it.” (History of
Preaching by O.C. Edwards, Jr.)
Definitions of Preaching

Preaching is an act of communicating

faithfully the Gospel through the spoken
word.
Definitions of Preaching

Homiletics – a study of the art of

preaching
The Minister as Preacher
The Minister as Preacher
Preaching is the crux of the ministry.

Jesus indicated the importance of

preaching when he inaugurated his
ministry in Nazareth with these words
from the prophet Isaiah in the Old
Testament. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me because he hath annointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor…to preach
deliverance to the captives;…to preach the
acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-
19 KJV).
The Minister as Preacher
Preaching was primary among the tasks
which Jesus assigned to his apostles. In
Mark 3:14 we read, “he appointed twelve,
to be with him, and to sent out to preach.”
Luke tells us (9:2) that Jesus “sent them
out to preach the kingdom of God.” Peter
testifies in Acts 10:42 that Jesus
“commanded us to preach to the people.”
And his final appearance to the apostles
Jesus issues “The Great Commission,”
saying, “Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15).
The Minister as Preacher
When we turn to Paul we discover that he
conceived of his ministry mostly in terms
of preaching. In I Cor. 1:17 Paul says,
“Christ did not send me to baptize, but to
preach the gospel.” On another occasion,
after a vision appeared to him in the
night, saying, “Come over to Macedonia
and help us,” Paul went immediately,
“concluding that God had called us to
preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16:10).
And in his charge to Timothy, Paul lists
first among his instructions, “Preach the
word” (2 Tim. 4:2).
The Minister as Preacher

Because of his preaching-centered concept

of the ministry, Paul sets forth most nobly
and clearly in New Testament the high
calling of the preacher. In Romans 10:17
Paul presents the charter of the preaching
ministry when he says, “faith comes from
what is heard, and what is heard comes
by the preaching of Christ.”
The Minister as Preacher

Preaching belongs to the realm of

revelation and redemption. “God is making
his appeal through us.” The sermon is a
channel of divine grace and knowledge. In
so far as God in Christ is present and
active in the sermon, preaching has a
sacramental quality about it.
The Minister as Preacher

Preaching was the central function of the

ministry in the primitive Church. This is
not to say it was the only function. There
was also the ministry of the sacraments,
the ministry of healing, and the ministry of
building up the Body of Christ through
teaching. But preaching was primary.
The Minister as Preacher
Today it is important to reaffirm the fundamental

significance of preaching and to recognize the

relationship of the minister’s role as preacher to

his functions as priest and pastor. Let us consider

some of the obligations of the preacher if he is to

meet the opportunities of the pulpit.

The Minister as Preacher
1. Give priority in the budget of his time and
energy to the preparation of his sermons.
“Any seminary graduate who thinks he is a
finished product is finished.”
2. Set aside a regular time for the study and
sermon preparation.
3. Read as widely as possible.
4. Re-read some of the books you used as
textbooks in seminary.
Significance of Preaching:
 There’s the stewardship of words.
 Using words to proclaim the Word.
 The instrument of God’s redemption.
 Divine truth through human personality.
 Central in public worship.
 Basic to the pastoral ministry.
Kinds of Sermons:
 Expository
 Topical/Thematic
 Textual
 Biographical
 Autobiographical/Testimonial
 Dialogical/Multilogical
 First Person
 Narrative
Parts of a Sermon
Parts of a Sermon:
 Subject/Topic/Theme/Title
 Text/Scriptural Basis
Introduction

}

 Body main parts
of a sermon
 Conclusion
 Illustration
Main Steps in Sermon Preparation (Ilion T.
Jones):
1. Select the text, general subject or idea
for the sermon.
2. Put the subconscious mind to work.
3. Browse in your library and gather
material.
4. Brood over the material.
5. Settle upon specific subject and theme
and exact purpose.
6. Make a tentative outline.
Main Steps in Sermon Preparation (Ilion T.
Jones):
7. Prepare a complete, detailed outline.
8. Fill in the outline with ideas and
illustrations.
9. Write out the sermon in full.
10. Revise and reshape.
11. Get the sermon in your system.
12. Prepare yourself.
Basic Laws of Good Sermon Structure:
1. Unity
2. Order
3. Symmetry
4. Progress
Main Parts of the Sermon: Introduction

This part of the sermon introduces the

theme or main idea of the sermon which
leads to the discussion of the body. It gets
the attention of the listeners.
Humor/stories should establish rapport not
for their own sake.
Purposes of Introduction:
 To avoid abruptness both on the part of
the preacher and the congregation.
 To gain the goodwill of the hearers.
 To arouse the interest of the hearers.
 To let the hearers know what you are
talking about.

John Ellison compares the introduction of the sermon to the

main door entrance of a building which the occupant or
visitor enters.
Main Parts of the Sermon: Introduction

In sum, an introduction should be

interesting, appropriate, friendly, clear,

and varies from week to week.

Various Approaches in the Introduction of Sermons:
 Textual Approach – starts with the text
and directs the attention of the first
paragraph or two on it.
 Contextual Approach – the interpreter
starts with the background to make a text
clear and luminous.
 A personal experience
 A startling statement
 A news item
Various Approaches in the Introduction of Sermons:
A statement of a problem
A question
A reference to a book
A reference to the season
A humorous incident
Main Parts of the Sermon: Body
A sermon must possess the rhetorical
elements of fidelity, coherence, and
progression as well as structure which
reflects the content of the Scripture on
which it is based. The order of the points
of the sermon may differ from that in
which they appear in the Scripture to suit
the occasion of the sermon, the needs of
the congregation, or purpose of the
preacher.
Principles in the Composition of the
Outline of the Body:
 Succinct statements
 Parallel statements
 Proportional statements
 Mutually exclusive statements
 Contemporary statements
Suggestions in Writing Sermons
a) Choose words well.
b) Brevity.
c) Use sensuous rather than abstract words.
d) Rely on strong nouns and verbs to carry
the weight of the thought.
e) Adjectives and adverbs should be used
sparingly.
Andrew W. Blackwood’s suggestions for
writing the sentence:

a) Avoid making a detour within a sentence.

b) Keep the subject close to the predicate.
c) Keep most of the sentences short.
Main Parts of the Sermon: Conclusion
The conclusion is the moment in which
listeners can come nearest to seeing the
whole idea, central thought and all at one
time. It constitutes the most single
element of the entire construction.
The conclusion should bring the truth
home to the minds and hearts of the
hearers with all the concentration and
force that the preacher can muster.
Forms of Conclusion:
 Poetry/Illustration
 Shock or surprise
 Benediction
 Invitation
 Exhortation
The Use of Illustration

Illustrare – (Lt.) means “to light up.”

Functions of Illustration:
a) Illustrations primarily explain the subject.
b) Illustrations may prove or clarify a
proposition or truth.
c) Illustrations may stir human interest.
d) Illustrations may arouse the conscience,
convince the congregation, and clinch the
truth.
How to collect Illustrations

 Develop an alertness toward life in order

to think illustratively.
 Illustrative materials flow from what the
preacher reacts, feels, and acts – all of
life becomes a reservoir of illustration.
The Use of Illustration

“The best illustrations are those which come

to you as the harvest of your own reading
and observation… Be your own
anthologist.” – James S. Stewart
Cautions in the Use of Illustration:
a) Avoid putting yourself at the center of too
many.
b) Illustrations should be kept short.
c) Do not lie in illustrations.
d) Illustrations must be real.
e) Know your illustration and know how to
tell it. See it, feel it, shorten it, expand it,
master it, and repeat it.
f) It is a good precaution to file away the
illustrations which you use.
Methods of Delivery
 Without notes
Three principles for this method:
1) Saturation
2) Organization
3) Memorization
 With notes
 With manuscript
Communication Skills
Communication Skills: Speech
Mechanism

The acceptance of God’s call to the

ministry carries with it the obligation to do
everything in one’s power to learn how to
utilize his speech mechanism effectually
and to keep it operating efficiently.
Communication Skills: Sound
Production
a) The human voice is a wind instrument.
b) Sounds originate in the larynx, a boxlike
structure at the top of the windpipe
composed of muscles and cartilages, and
popularly spoken of as the voice box.
c) As the sound comes from the vocal cords
it must be reinforced by the resonators –
the nasal cavity back of the nose,
possibly sinuses and the mouth cavity.
Communication Skills: Word
Production

Producing sounds is not speaking. One

speaks when sounds are incorporated in
words. Words are composed of vowels and
consonants.
3 Things to do for Proper Production of Words:
1. Learn to sound the individual letters
distinctly.
2. Learn to articulate all syllables and keep
them distinct.
3. Learn to articulate words and keep them
distinct.
Communication Skills: Do’s and
Don'ts
1. Watch the rhythmic singsong or “holy
whine.”
2. Do not bawl or bellow.
3. Do not drop the voice in the last words of
the sentence; sustain it to the end.
4. Project the voice instead of elevating it.
5. Use natural tones as in conversation.
Communication Skills: Do’s and
Don'ts
6. Avoid monotony. Aim at variety of pitch
and force.
7. Study timing by use of pauses.
8. Learn to be your own critic.
9. Learn what words to emphasize and how
to pause to do it.
10. Exercise self-discipline.
Communication Skills: Visible
Communication
1. The problem of avoiding bad habits.
2. The problem of forming desirable habits.
Desirable habits have to do with 3 things:
 Posture
 Expression of the face.
 Gestures with arms and hands.

3. The problem of centering attention upon

the message.
Rules for Speakers (Walter Robinson)
1. Be prepared.
2. Speak distinctly.
3. Look your audience in the eyes.
4. Favor your deep tones.
5. Speak deliberately.
6. Cultivate earnestness.
7. Be logical.
Don’ts for Speakers:
 Don’t be afraid of your voice.
 Don’t forget your audience can think.
 Don’t be ashamed of your opinions.
 Don’t cover too much ground.
 Don’t forget to practice.
First Aid to Speakers:
1. Know your subject.
2. Be prepared and don’t rely on inspiration.
3. Originality comes from meditation.
4. Have a definite purpose.
5. Avoid irrelevancy.
6. Believe and feel what you say.
7. Be sincere, earnest and enthusiastic.
8. Don’t hurry into your subject.
First Aid for Speakers:
9. Wait for attention.
10. Begin in a conversation tone but loud
enough to be heard.
11. Don’t force gesture.
12. Cultivate the straightforward open eye.
13. Don’t be didactic.
14. Good diction is a passport recognized by
everyone.
First Aid for Speakers:
15. Let your grammar, vocabulary and
pronunciation be the best.
16. Cultivate a genial manner.
17. Pauses are of great oratorical value.
18. Write much and often.
19. Read aloud and regularly.
20. The best way to learn to speak is to
speak.
Rules for Speakers

Delivery – raises issues such as one’s

visual presence, one’s listener-perceived
personality, one’s method of presentation
and one’s displayed performance.
Rules for Speakers

Intonation – is the sound pattern

produced by variations in the voice. It is
the rise and fall of the voice; pitch, i.e.
modulation. Moreover, intonation refers to
the pattern of stress. When there is
unchanging intonation, the delivery
becomes monotonous.
Rules for Speakers

Tone – is the quality of a person’s voice.

It can be defined as a person’s manner of
speaking. It is also one’s characteristic
style or manner of expressing oneself
orally.
 Dimensions of Effective
Preaching
1. Relevance
2. Preacher’s Persona
3. Theological/Orthodox
4. Sermon Structure
5. Effective Communication
6. Biblical/Exegetical
7. Delivery/Style
The Role of the Holy
Spirit
The Role of the Holy Spirit

“Preaching is not the activity of man/woman

alone; it is not merely a man/woman who
is speaking. God is speaking through
him/her.” – Leslie Tizerd
The Role of the Holy Spirit

“Without the presence of the Holy Spirit

there will be no power, and even the most
eloquent preaching will be ineffective.”
- James M. Boice
The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit works through human

responsibility in the preaching ministry.
Preachers must acknowledge their function
as agents. Idle preachers often try to
appropriate the work of the Holy Spirit as
substitute for hard, unremitting sermon
preparation, delivery, and results.
General conditions required in the encounter bet.
the Holy Spirit and human responsibility:
1. The preacher must be born again and
know that he/she is truly a converted
person with sins forgiven and within the
servanthood of God.
2. The preacher must live a clear life and be
utterly sincere about the call and
commitment to the ministry.
3. The preacher must pursue in-depth study
of the Bible.
4. The preacher must live a life of prayer.