Twelve ingredients to put life into your preaching: |
Believe you message. Be certain you are called to preach. Get alone with God and His word until you are gripped by the truth. |
Be fully dependent on the Holy Spirit - eloquence can persuade but only the Holy Spirit can create and change. John 3:5, Galatians 3:3 |
Work hard at your material, at the background material and the exegesis. |
Create tension - not just attention. |
Be inductive - start where the people are - find the fallen condition focus (Brian Chappell). |
Think like a missionary - study the culture. |
Be filled with love for the people to whom you preach. |
Remember your character speaks loudest of all. |
Have a clear structure to your message: know the purpose of the message; people want to hear the word of God - "We preach not ourselves" |
Plan your message carefully; have a short clear introduction; delivery is important; keep to the path; use of questions to link sections; use of repetition; end well - with a bang not a whimper. |
Illustrate well |
Be passionate |