By Pastor David Cox
In this article, we look the importance of preaching moral change, of using and pressing applications in our sermons.
Improving Preaching
The Non-Applying of the Scriptures
By David Cox
Summary: I examine the tendency that I see in some preachers to not apply Scripture, just talk about it, explain it, and leave it at that. An application of Scripture means making it very clear how the scriptural principles involved are applied to the believers’ lives.
What is the purpose of a Sermon? Part 1
Why do we preach? What is the purpose of our preaching a sermon?
By Pastor David Cox
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 (posts 5/1/20)
Although this would seem silly to ask, the answer might be surprising. Why do we preach on Sunday morning to a group of people? If we don’t understand what we are doing and why we are doing it, then we can never really do it right nor excellently. Without getting too involved in the whole of the Bible, let’s try to clarify why we preach a sermon.
Preaching to Offend no one
Preaching to Offend no one is an article about frankness in preaching and preaching on things that need to be addressed, but many preachers shy away from these.
This is an article which I have spoken to our people about over the years, but I just read an article, Preaching in Neutral by Brandon Cox (no relation to me, and I do not endorse Rick Warren, Brandon sat under him) and it reminded me of the topic.
Why I give a written sermon outline to my people
Why I give a written sermon outline out explains the advantages of giving your sermon outline to your people.
Many preachers like to give surprises to their people. Their sermon is one of those surprises. Actually, the people have no idea where he is headed even half-way through his sermon, and by the end, they still are lost as to what he is talking about.
Let your Yea be Yea, and your Nay Nay
Christ taught the importance of not entering into dubious speech. Deceiving speech in one where what is said is not what really is. An example here is when a preacher says that the sermon today is “Once saved, always saved: The assurance of our Eternal Salvation.” Before halfway through the sermon, he hits on Bible versions and talks on that the rest of the sermon. Say what you mean, and live what you say.
Truthfulness, even in the presentation of sermons, should be a characteristic of all Christians, especially preachers.
Don’t Ramble.
Rambling is moving about a lot without any real purpose except to hear yourself talk. You do not really fulfill the purpose of the sermon (communicating your divine message to your hearers). When you say things that don’t directly relate to your sermon, you are rambling. If you record your sermon and then listen back to it, you can identify the parts that “don’t belong”. Be heavy handed in cutting out anything that doesn’t belong in your sermon.
It is frustrating for a preacher to stand up and tell us what we are going to hear today and then he doesn’t spend hardly any time on that topic! He has lied to us, so why should we believe anything he has to say to us!
The central problem here has its roots in the sermon preparation.