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Focused Leadership (Spiritual Intensity)Building a Foundation of Preaching Ministry

Building a Foundation of Preaching Ministry

Week 2

Preaching with Deep Content

1. The primacy of content over rhetoric.

Two aspects of the preaching ministry: the sermon and the preaching.

The sermon is written. The preaching is verbal.

The sermon is what the preacher does before the preaching.

The sermon is the direction. The preaching is the culmination.

A great sermon can be undone by bad preaching.

A bad sermon can be saved by great preaching.

Over time…great sermons delivered with great preaching makes a great preaching

ministry.

Two unique parts to a sermon The content and the rhetoric

The content is what the preacher will say. The rhetoric is how the preacher will say it.

The content is the substance of the sermon. The rhetoric is the style of the sermon.

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God inspired content transforms the preacher into a prophet. Effective rhetoric allows the

preacher to become all things to all men so they might reach some.

A sermon with great content and weak rhetoric will leave the people unaffected and the

preacher confused about the people.

A sermon with great rhetoric and weak content will set an unhealthy appetite into the

people and leave the preacher confused about him or her self.

2. The content begins with God.

The Preacher is God’s messenger delivering God’s message.

Sermon content is not opinion or speculation…it is divine decree.

Sermon content is therefore limited to Biblical truth applied to the people by Holy Spirit

enlightenment.

The preacher must have a great knowledge of the Bible and church history

The Biblical Story

Systematic Theology

Practical Theology

Heresies and revivals

Great men and women

Great writings

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The content of the sermon is more than accurate doctrine…it is doctrine set ablaze by actual

relationship with God.

What spiritual truths are stirring in you these days?

What truths do you believe God wants to say to the people?

In your relationship with God, what has God been speaking to you about?

What verses have you underlined in the Bible lately? (because it was powerful to you)

What truths are burning in you that you have to talk about to someone? 1 Corinthians 9:16 16For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

The preacher himself must be convinced that the content originated from God.

The preacher must learn how to “hear God” for himself before He hears God for his

people.

The best practice for getting new God inspired content is having a fresh and vital

relationship with God. (Fresh Bread)

When a sermon’s content originates with God, the sermon is infused with divine light and

spiritual life. This gives the preacher prophetic confidence.

3. Great content is deepened as the preacher lives it out.

The sermon content has helped the preacher before it will help the people.

The sermon content is tested in the preacher’s real life.

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If the sermon is not actually helpful to the preacher, it is not worth preaching.

What has this truth solved in your life?

How has this truth benefited your character, marriage, parenting, finances, career or

faith?

Personal application of the content gives the preacher the ability to preach the content with a

depth that connects with a deeper place in the people.

Personal application of the content gives the preacher the ability to preach the content with

nuance of real life application.

Without actual application, the preacher will not be able to apply the content to the people

in a way that is actually helpful.

Without application, the preacher will become general and unhelpful.

Without actual application, the content will be philosophical and theoretical rather than

earthy and practical.

4. Great content is worded with real people in mind.

A preacher must pray with the mystics, think with the philosophers but talk to the common

man. Matthew 22:18-22 18But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21“Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

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Great content is boiled down to a single memorable sentence.

Great content is simple to understand.

Use the most everyday words possible.

Use the most simple sentences possible.

Use the most relevant illustrations possible.Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Great content is worded simple to let the people know the answer to three specific questions. Matthew 19:21 21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

What truth does God wants them to know?

What does God wants them to do about this truth?

What does God wants them to feel about this truth?

Great content comes from a preacher who obsesses over words and phrases.

5. Avoid basic mistakes in developing great content.

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Mistake #1 Too much content in one sermon.

Mistake #2 Not enough time deepening the content through personal application.

Mistake #3 Content too general to be helpful.

Mistake #4 Content too specific to apply to everyone.

Mistake #5 Content applied to the wrong congregation.

Preaching with Forceful Intention

The intent of preaching is always conversion.

A sermon is more than a lecturing or a speaking.

A sermon is more than a Bible study.

A sermon is more than a conversation.

A sermon is more than a motivational talk.

A sermon is God’s truth calling for life transformation.

If it didn’t call the people out, invite them up and require them to make a choice then it

wasn’t a sermon. Acts 2:40-41 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

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A sermon always calls for a response. Joshua 24:15 15But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

The preaching intention is a blend, blur and balance of kerygma and Didache. Colossians 2:6-7 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Kerygma means proclamation.

Didache means instruction.

1. Understanding Kerygma (Gospel Intention) Acts 2:17-41 17“ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 22“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him: “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. 28You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ 29“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ’ 36“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this

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corrupt generation.” 41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Kerygma is the proclamation of the Gospel. Acts 3:12-26 12When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. 17“Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ 24“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Kerygma is essentially for non Christians. Acts 8:4 4Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Kerygma is the truth of Christ explained.

Kerygma reminds us of the deepest truths of our faith.

People’s deepest need is spiritual.

People’s greatest problem is fallenness in Adam.

People’s first solution is restored relationship with God through the work of Jesus.

Kerygma calls people to conversionActs 8:35-36 35Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?”

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Forgiveness in Jesus.

Followership of Jesus.

Kerygma is about eternal salvation. Romans 1:16-17 16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Kerygma reminds us that every passage points to Jesus. 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

A preaching ministry without kerygma becomes a self help seminar. Colossians 2:16-23 16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. 20Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

2. Tips to preaching with “kerygma” intent

Engage the mind, the emotions and the will in your call for conversion.

Engaging the mind

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i. Explain the gospel clearly without being complicated.

ii. Explain the gospel using Scripture.

iii. Explain the gospel using metaphor and illustrations.

Engaging the emotions

i. Use testimonies to bring the power of the gospel into everyday life.

ii. You must embrace the weight of the moment personally.

iii. Remember that people will sense if your motives are self centered, people

pleasing or ambitious.

iv. Do not present God as a weakling who would rather die than be alone.

v. Do not present God as an angry judge who wants to send people to hell.

Engaging the will.

i. Make the people do something to respond right in the moment.

ii. Don’t soft sell the gospel.

iii. Don’t hard sell the gospel.

iv. Give permission for people to not be ready but still be in journey.

Separate spiritual awareness from spiritual conversion.

Spiritual awareness is a kindness from God in which He opens our eyes to see Him and

the truth.

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Spiritual awareness is the first step of conversion but it is not conversion.

Spiritual conversion is a surrender of the will to God done by the person.

People who have been spiritual awakened will fall spiritual asleep without spiritual

conversion.

Separate spiritual awareness from personal conversion for people.

Actions to take in the moment of response.

Make sure they are responding to God and not to you.

Give time for the Holy Spirit to move.

Get their information for follow up.

3. Didache (Growth Intention)

Didache is life instruction.

Didache is the real life implications and practical applications surrounding the gospel. Titus 2:1-10 1You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

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The Gospel has character implications and applications.

The Gospel has marriage implications and applications.

The Gospel has parenting implications and applications.

The Gospel has career implications and applications.

The Gospel has value implications and applications.

Didache is essentially for Christians. Acts 2:42 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Didache is about spiritual maturity. Hebrews 6:1-3 1Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.

Didache reminds us that every passage of Scripture invites us to maturity in Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:6-13 6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

A preaching ministry absent of didache becomes shallow and repetitive.

4. Tips to preaching with force of “Didache” intent.

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Push the application into real life.

Ending your sermon with “so read the bible more and pray more” is not effective

application.

You have to spend time with your people to know where faith and life connect for them.

Don’t teach an ideal that will never be reached.

Give your people the next step in their maturity.

Remember that application only makes sense in the context of relationship with God.

Target your application to different groups of people.

By age or life stage.

By spiritual maturity.

By people in different life situations.

Spend just under half your preaching time in application.

Say it in the first part and apply it in the second.

Application is more than the last five minutes of the sermon.

Consider of a representative group of people as you prepare your application.

You must believe God will use what you are saying to change their lives.

You must courageously call the people to maturity in Christ.

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You must connect your application to the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. Blending, blurring and balancing kerygma and didacheMatthew 11:1 1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. Romans 2:21 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 1 Timothy 4:13 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. Acts 20:20 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 2 Timothy 4:2 2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Most often when you preach you will be speaking to both Christians and non Christians.

While a preaching ministry should be balanced over time usually each sermon has an

individual emphasis.

If the sermon has a Gospel emphasis, make sure you give some instruction to the

Christians in the room.

If the sermon has a application emphasis, make sure you demonstrate how the Gospel is

the root of the application.

Preaching with Holy Spirit Potency

Understanding Holy Spirit related terms

Favor - Approval, promotion over another, to make a favorite

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Genesis 4:4 4And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, Genesis 6:8 8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Exodus 32:11 11But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. “LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 1 Samuel 2:26 26And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with people. 2 Kings 13:4 4Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD’s favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. 2 Chronicles 33:12 12In his distress he sought the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. Psalm 84:11 11For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 89:17 17For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Proverbs 12:2 2Good people obtain favor from the LORD, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes. Luke 1:30 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. Luke 2:52 52And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 4:19 19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” James 4:6 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 5In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Anointing - to pour oil over something in a religious ceremony. (Unction) Exodus 28:41 41After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. Psalm 20:6 6Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Psalm 132:17 1 “Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one. Isaiah 61:1 1The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, Zechariah 4:14 14So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.” 2 Corinthians 1:21 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 1 John 2:20 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

Gifting - An endowment of a particular capacity by the Holy Spirit Romans 12:6 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 1 Corinthians 7:7 7I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 1 Timothy 4:14 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

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1 Peter 4:10 10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

Group Discussion- Some sermons are more powerful than others. What moves God lend His power to a sermon? What causes God to withhold His power? Also, some preachers seem to have God’s power available to them whenever they speak. Why do you believe God seems to grant much power to one preacher and not less power to another?

Winning the Five Time dimensions in the life of a preacher

1. The daily mantle of preaching ministryJames 3:1 1Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 1 Timothy 5:17 17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Learn to balance soul time and sermon prep time.

Learn to walk before God daily without a cloud in the sky between you and Him.

A disobedient heart cannot often produce a life changing message.

Obedience stirs intensity for God that translates into powerful sermons. Psalm 119:97-104 97Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 99I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. 100I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. 101I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. 102I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. 103How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.

Over time a preaching ministry produces people who think, live and follow God like the

preacher. This is either good or bad.

Learn to never be lacking in zeal. Romans 12:11 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

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Preachers cannot tolerate lukewarmness in their heart or it will translate into the people.

Preachers must not only love their God. They must hate their sin.

2. The week before the preaching moment

Practice Pressing through in the layers of prayer

Layer One- Self centered praying

i. “I want to do well. I hope I don’t blow it. This could be huge for me if I win.”

ii. “Will they receive me?”

iii. Characterized by anxiety, nervousness and loss of clarity.

iv. Very difficult to prepare a message in this phase.

v. When you prepare a sermon in this phase, you prepare to please the people

rather than God. You are seeking their favor, not His.

Layer Two- People centered praying

i. “I just want to help people. I want the people to walk away full. It is not about

me, it is about them.”

ii. “Will they receive the teaching?”

iii. Characterized by focus on people’s needs, loss of continuous anxiety.

iv. Message preparation becomes much easier when you have pressed through

to this layer.

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v. Moments of powerful “this isn’t really that helpful” anxiety.

Layer Three- God centered praying

i. “I do not care if I am received, I do not care if the people are helped. Lord,

bring honor to your name. You are the one who called me to this and I trust

You. The Lord is my portion on this earth.”

ii. “Will God receive the glory?”

iii. Characterized by focus on the preachers journey and walk with God over

ministry.

iv. Moments of powerful peace and joy and clarity.

v. Must be won over and over again with greater and greater intensity as the

moment comes closer and closer.

Work your rhythms

Embrace your personal energy rhythms.

Find and follow sermon prep rhythms.

Do not neglect your family rhythms.

Practice healthy habits that will allow you to operate more clearly.

The Holy Spirit operates through your body, soul and spirit.

i. If the body is unhealthy, Holy Spirit power is hindered.

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ii. If the body is healthy, Holy Spirit power is strengthened.

Eat many small meals over a few large meals.

Go to sleep earlier and wake up earlier.

Exercise a little daily if possible.

Intentionally balance community and solitude moments.

3. The last 24 hours

Ten practices to engage in the day before preaching.

1. Obsess over the details.

2. Refine your message. Do it again. Do it again.

3. Memorize the sermon. Do it again. Do it again.

4. Practice the sermon until you believe it will land. Do it again. Do it again.

5. Clean up transitions.

6. Invite the Holy Spirit to tweak the sermon.

7. Find the God moments in the message.

8. Never stop making tiny adjustments. God honors passion for excellence.

9. Listen to a great preacher.

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10. Revisit God moments in your journey to gather confidence in divine calling to this

moment.

Seven situations to stay away from the day before preaching.

1. Distracting activities.

2. Draining people.

3. Watching TV.

4. Arguing with anyone about anything.

5. Having difficult conversations.

6. Situations that create insecurity in you.

7. Any divisive conversations.

4. During the preaching moment

Stay in prayer if possible.

Learn to stay inwardly attentive to God.

Follow His preaching promptings and leadings as they arise.

Ask God to help you stay emotionally connected in the moment.

Fight to stay emotionally self aware.

i. Do I have fear or confidence in my soul right now?

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ii. Do I have pride or humility in my soul right now?

iii. Do I have zeal or lukewarmness in my soul right now?

Fight to emotionally self manage.

i. Turn negative emotions over to God and allow Him to work on you.

ii. Ramp up the positive emotions.

Fight to become emotionally people aware.

i. Are the people disengaged or engaged right now?

ii. Are the people receiving or dismissing the message right now?

iii. Are the people emotionally connected or disconnected right now?

Fight to emotionally people manage.

i. Turn negative responses to God and ask Him for guidance.

ii. Ramp up in positive emotions.

5. After the sermon.

Love on the people. Don’t speak and run if possible.

Some will process their response.

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Some will like the message.

Some will dislike the message.

Get alone with God if possible within a few hours of preaching.

Give gratitude to God for what He did and did not do with message.

Cast off people’s praise and criticism.

Invite His feedback on your preaching week.

Preaching consistent to your personality

While preaching is guided by general rules everyone must follow each preacher carries a

unique voice.

Young preachers should master the rules while more experienced preachers must learn to find

their unique formula or voice.

The Four Voices of Communication

1. Understanding the Four Voices of Communication

Finding your voice will unlock for you the ability to speak more powerfully for God.

Your preaching voice is a unique combination of the four voices of communication.

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You learn which voices are more comfortable and natural through experimentation.

2. The Voice of a Prophet

The Nature and Role of the Prophetic Voice

A prophet’s voice is focused on God. Isaiah 6:1-8 1 n the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

A prophet’s voice is rooted in God’s power.Ezekiel 3:4-9 4He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”

A prophet’s voice calls the church to holy living.Isaiah 1:16-17 16Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

The Character of God’s Prophet

Prophets have zeal for God.

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Prophets have humility in God.

Prophets have a robust prayer closet.

Prophets have a sent and separate mentality.

Prophets carry a heavy yoke.

Growing in the Prophetic Voice

Stay in the prayer closet until you are at home in the presence of God.

Practice your prophet voice in one on one conversations.

Learn to balance truth and love.

3. The Voice of a Pastor

The Nature and Role of the Pastoral Voice

A pastor’s voice is focused on the people.

A pastor’s voice is rooted in God’s love.

A pastor’s voice calls the church to be the church.

i. Great CommissionMatthew 28:16-20 16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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ii. Great CommandmentMatthew 22:40 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

The Character of a Pastor

Love people.

Kindhearted.

Inviting

Growing in the Pastoral Voice

Spend time with your people.

Pray for your people.

Practice personal evangelism.

4. The Voice of a Preacher

The Nature and Role of the Preaching Voice

A preacher’s voice is focused on the truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

A preacher’s voice is rooted in God’s Word.1 Timothy 4:13 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

A preacher’s voice calls the church to doctrinal purity.

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1 Timothy 4:15-16 15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

The Character of a Preacher

Diligent

Christ Centered

Servanthood

Study

Sagacity

Growing in the Preaching Voice

Study the scriptures again and again.

Read theological books.

Listen to great preachers.

5. The Voice of a Poet

The Nature and Role of the Poetic Voice

A poet’s voice is focused on the words. Psalm 1:1-3 1Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

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A poet’s voice is rooted in God’s beauty.Hebrews 1:3-4 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

A poet’s voice is calls the church to worship. 1 Timothy 3:16 16Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

The Character of a Poet

Contemplative

Naturalistic

Playful

Growing in the Poetic Voice

Practice contemplative reflection.

A Poet maximizes the emotional journey of the message

i. A Poet builds his sermon with the listener’s experience in mind.

ii. A Poet anticipates how the listeners will feel when they are saying each

sentence.

iii. A Poet works emotional transitions.

iv. A Poet will give oxygen to the listeners with humor and story.

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A Poet will take the time to craft strong and compelling sentences.

i. A Poet will strengthen weak sentences

Omit needless words

Omit Cumbersome construction

Telling people what you are going to tell them

Vague adverbs

Redundancy

There is, there are…

Passive Construction (Use active construction Passive verbs pacify,

active words invigorate.)

Generalizations Be Specific

Keep parallelism parallel

Poorly thought through ideas

Express ideas negatively instead of positively

Long words Use short words

Save the best for last, or the first. The beginning and end of sentences

or phrases are prime real estate.

ii. A Poet will build strong sentences.

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Comparison

Contrast

Parallelism

Repetition

Refrain

Hyperbole

Understatement

Rhyme

Alliteration

(Other techniques: Turned Phrases: based on movies, periphrasis-

saying something in a roundabout way, wordplay)

A Poet will use the full range of figures of speech

i. Metaphor- An implied comparison between two unlike things that actually

have something important in common.

ii. Simile- A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two

fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.

iii. Allegory- Extended metaphor

iv. Parable- Extended simile

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v. Alliteration- The repetition of an initial consonant sound.

vi. Anaphora- The repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of

successive clauses or verses.

vii. Euphemism- The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered

offensively explicit.

viii.Paradox- A statement that appears to contradict itself.

ix. Understatement- A figure of speech in which a writer or a speaker deliberately

makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

x. Irony- The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A

statement or situation where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance

or presentation of the idea.

xi. Personification- A figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstraction

is endowed with human qualities or abilities.

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