As a General rule How to begin preaching. 1) Understand the passage you are expounding on, 2) Study your Subject, 3) Pray about touching the hearts of your audience 4.)Listen for the Spirits leading. ) Be Humorous. “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” 6) Speak on the level of your audience.
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How to do Preaching
I’m sure you have wondered why some preachers pull the crowds and others don’t. How to Preach Effectively. You would be forgiven for thinking that how one preaches does not matter, but it turns out that it does. If you want
people to enjoy listening to you preach, then you have to learn how to do it effectively. Preachers deliver the Word of God to us when we attend services. The Apostle Paul was also a preacher who preached to the Gentiles and made Christ known to them
(2 Timothy 1:11). “And of this gospel, I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher“
When God calls people as preachers, He shows them how to communicate His message to their congregations so that they can preach effectively. He knows the hearts of those He has called you to preach to, and He can give you ideas on how to deliver His Word to your congregation. This article will look at 10 tips that will help you preach effectively.
How to Preach Effectively 1. Understand the Passage of Scripture that you will Preach
How to do Preaching – It’s important to have an in-depth understanding of the Scriptures you will use to preach so that you can use different angles to bring the message home. Even if you forget some of the points you wanted to preach about in the pulpit, knowing your message will help you know how to adjust your message. You will not have to worry about forgetting what you want to say.
God’s Word is Life immerse yourself into God’s word and listen to God’s Spirit as he will teach us all things.
John 14:26ff, 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
2. Add Some Humor
People like to laugh and if you incorporate some jokes in your preaching, you can have your church congregation in stitches even as they hear the message for the day. When people have a lighthearted moment, they are able to forget their troubles and focus on hearing the Word of God. Humor helps break the ice, especially when you are preaching to a new congregation. This way, you build a rapport with the people that you are going to minister to as you preach that day.
Being able to laugh at yourself is very human. In Jesus’ teachings, some of his teachings would bring smiles to our faces.
Solomon said in Proverbs 17:22,
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones
3. Use Stories / Speak Level of Audience
Stories help your audience understand what you are preaching to them. They help us see ourselves in the characters and show how to respond to various situations in our lives. You’ll be amazed at how
stories will make your preaching more interesting. You can get stories from the Bible or in real life that have a powerful message related to the sermon you are preaching. In fact, you can have someone with a testimony share it to bring the message home. You can call them up on the stage to share their story and encourage those who will listen.
Jesus taught with everyday examples called parables He use common things that the people were familiar with. Jesus has been called the Master Teacher. Some of the ones he used were These
Parable of the Sower ( Farmer) Matthew 13:1ff
1″ That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow.
6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:“
‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’16
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.”
- Parable of the Tares (Weeds) (Matthew 13: 24ff)
- Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31ff)
- Leaven ( Matthew 13:12ff)
- Hidden Treasure ( Matthew 13:45ff)
- Pearl of Great Price ( Matthew 13:45ff}
- Dragnet ( Matthew 13:47ff)
- Laborers in Vineyard Matthew 21:33ff)
- Prodigal Son ( Luke 15:11ff)
- Lost Sheep ( Luke 15:1ff)
- Lost Coin ( Luke 15:8ff)
- Two Debtors ( Luke 16:1ff)
- A friend at Midnight ( Like 11:5ff)
- Unjust Judge ( Luke 18:1ff)
- Pharisee and the Publican ( Luke 18:9ff)
- Talents ( Matthew 25:14ff)
- Rich Fool ( Luke 12:16ff)
- Good Samaritan ( Luke 10:25ff)
- Barren Fig Tree ( Luke 13:6ff)
- 10 Virgins ( Matthew 25:1ff)
This is not a complete list, but The speaker needs to keep in mind his audience. Speak on the level of the flock. The minister may have been immersed in Hebrew and Greek during the week, seeking to clearly understand the passage. But to the Common man
4. Engage the Congregation
Sometimes engaging the congregation when preaching can be very effective. This helps them pay attention to the message of the day. You can ask questions and have random people from the audience answer them. Ask simple questions that people will love to answer. You can also look for other creative ways to engage the congregation, e.g. putting them in small groups to discuss the topic of the day.
I always tried to mix things up, using Video, Charts, Handouts, Examples, different things to represent the thought I was getting across. When you use illustrations, it sets things in people’s minds and hearts.
Darlene and I were able to visit the holy lands, it was on a Sunday morning we visited the tomb of Jesus. We had our service in chairs sitting outside the tomb where Jesus arose. When the time for communion came we had the bread, then we had communion in small wooden cups of fruit of the vine. I will never forget that morning.
5. Have some Role Play
One thing you can do to make your preaching more effective is to have a role-play of the passage of Scripture that is your main focus. Role-playing makes your sermon more interesting and helps your congregation relate to your message. It doesn’t have to take long, maybe five to ten minutes. You can ask those in your church who love to act to help you bring your message to life through role-playing.
This can be an exciting time when you bring up people to help play out a Biblical Message. One Morning in our Children’s Church Program, Darlene and I took all the kids up on stage, we picked out a Jonah, some kids were the Great Fish, Some with interlocked arms were the ship, some were the sailors that threw Jonah overboard. the Children had so much fun, and they will never forget when The Whale vomited out Jonah.
6. Play a Short Video
If you stumble upon a short video that you feel will help deliver your sermon, use it. There are many short videos on YouTube that have great messages that can help you make your preaching more effective. You don’t have to use them often, maybe once in a while.
Today in a day and age we live in a very visual society, A minister can have access to some of the most well-made videos to help illustrate his message. With technology today, you can also have access to archaeological sites, the greatest teachers in the world can be shared with the flock.
I try whenever I teach to combine, Lecture, Study, Note Taking, and also video representations of the topic I am teaching.
7. Be Confident
Confidence goes a long way in helping you preaching effectively. Remember that God called you to preach and He is always with you as you do it. Your confidence comes in knowing that it is the Holy Spirit that helps you deliver your sermon. Those coming to listen to your sermon want to hear the message preached in a way that they understand, and you have what it takes to do it.
People will follow a Leader, For the Leader who know where he is going, people will follow.
8. Keep your Mind Focused on the Message
I’m sure you have heard preachers who deviate from their message when they share too many stories and want to say too many things. When you lose your focus, you confuse your congregation and they have no definite take out from your message. Use a few examples and keep yourself focused on what you came to preach.
9. Use Bullet Points
Try using bullet points to help you organize your message. When you have points, it becomes easy to remember the next thing you want to say, especially when you have shared stories and gone off track. Using bullet points also helps your congregation easily retain the message. You can have three to five points that form sub-topics of your message and expound on them.
Need to make your message down to the main points that you want people to remember and learn from. Then illustrate those points.
We have Joked that Minister is going everywhere preaching the word. All Biblical wandering through the bible as he speaks.
10. Use Handouts People can Take Home
I Have seen this done in several ways, but it greatly helps involve the congregation that is listening to the message. They can be asked to fill in the blanks. Record the Bible passage that is being studied to their take-home materials. Some of the Tips are
- Handouts were given to all the adults
- When people write things down it reinforces it in their memories
- many Times the Sunday meal is discussing this morning lessons
- Handouts can be passed out / involves other members in the message
- I have seen outlines put on the back of Bulletins
- Visitors that are coming to visit have something of you to take home
- Sitting and listening for a lecture can be challenging, but taking notes keeps people involved, and focused.
11. Relate your Preaching to Everyday Life
If you want to preach effectively, relate your message to the everyday issues that people face. This way, they will know how to use the Scriptures to solve their daily challenges. By knowing how the Word of God affects our lives, we are able to live by God’s Word and practice it wherever we go. When people can apply Bible verses to their lives, they are inspired to read more of the Bible.
12. Tie Your Message to Your Small Groups
It is a powerful Method for the Evangelist to take his outline, which he has spent hours praying and preparing for. Can as he prepares his message keep in mind that he can take his message. Make copies and then pass it out to his small Group Leaders. This has a lot of benefits
- Allows The Message to be reinforced
- Allows Small Groups to be guided in the teaching materials
- Promotes continuity
- Helps prevents wandering, double, tripple covering topics
- Greatly Helps your small Group Leaders. Most of them have limited Time.
- Paperwork can be structured for mid week, extra studies also
Continue to be a Student
When I listen to a teacher I can tell immediately if he is growing, studying, learning student of God’s Word / Or whether he feels he has arrived.
Conclusion
There are many things you can do to preach effectively and you can borrow ideas from others on the internet. Feedback can be a good avenue to know whether your preaching is effective. Take the time to understand the congregation you are preaching to so that you can package your message appropriately. Different generations or age groups respond differently to the style that preachers use and you need to know what works with your congregation.