Good Preacher/Bad Preacher

"So they said to each other, 'Weren't our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?'"  (Luke 24:32, HCSB).


You've heard of good cop/bad cop stories, but this applies to all professions.  Jesus was a preacher par excellence and had no peers.  "When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes" (Matt. 7:29, HCSB).  There was something different about the way he taught that even the common man heard Him gladly. Jesus knew how to make that "connection" (to be on the same page) as if He were one of them--the Jews.  And He identified with the issues of the day, the problems and burdens of the Jews, and the message of grace itself--the good news.

But Jesus didn't just tell them what was on His mind, for telling isn't teaching any more than hearing is listening.  Good teachers illustrate and make their point clear, often repeating it for emphasis.  A good teacher must do certain basics to drive home that point he wants to make without losing focus:  introduction and attention-getting method, points he wants to make, illustrations of those points, and repetition or summary of what was said.  You tell them what you will say, say it, and tell them what you said.

Jesus had a revolutionary style!  He used figures of speech in His teaching and more specifically told stories, especially parables about familiar events or circumstances that drove home the point.  Jesus also used epigrams, or short, wise statements seeming like a paradox, and He also used object lessons from some accessible item or circumstance.  He also was known for how He framed questions in a Socratic manner that elicited a desired or obvious response. He would readily turn a question into another question.   He skillfully made use of metaphors people could relate to and likened Himself to familiar things in order to make the point clear.  The good preacher doesn't lose his listeners due to boredom or belaboring a point either.  He must be aware of where the flock is and sensitive to their attention span and how well he's keeping it, not getting lost or off on some tangent--stay on subject.

A sermon isn't a lecture or Bible study, it's an outreach to all the members of the body and even attendees and visitors.  A good pastor knows the difference between teacher mode and preacher mode!  There is a place for teaching in a sermon, but it's primarily preaching just like there's a place for preaching in a Bible study or teaching session.  But good preaching speaks to the heart, not just the mind; it doesn't just inform but enlightens and illuminates Scripture.  Going forward one should feel inspired, convicted, motivated, and above all, especially edified.  There is a difference between being informed and being educated.

A good sermon isn't just "interesting" but it should be "challenging." We seek to be enlightened in the Word and see Jesus come alive in it.  Just presenting facts will inform, but showing how to apply them will enlighten and illumine us.  We must not see the Word as merely something to be well-informed about; we can know the Bible and a lot about it, without knowing the Author.  The preacher can lecture on the nature of Christ quite eloquently and not even be aware of His presence and maybe not even know the Lord much personally.

We need our eyes opened to wonderful things in the Word, and all Scripture surely is profitable for doctrine, but also for instruction in righteousness (application).  If we don't go away with any application the preacher really hasn't done a complete work.  Yes, we must all preach sound doctrine, but sound preaching is more than just preaching doctrine.  Jonathan Edwards said that his doctrine was all application and his application was all doctrine.  His sermons were meant to start revivals not lecture in theology (everyone knows him for "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God").   One's passion must be in the preaching to show that it affects you before it can affect others, especially the lost.   Good preachers preach the Word, in season and out, and comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable!   

When the preacher actually makes contact with the flock, they feel he's one of them and can put himself in their shoes.  They identify with the preacher and know where he's coming from.  That's why Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me."  "... The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.  They will never follow a stranger, instead, they will run away from him, because they don't recognize the voice of strangers" (cf. John 10:4-5, HCSB).  Sheep know their shepherd!    Soli Deo Gloria!