A Sermon is Not Just any Talk

by  DTL

A sermon is different from a talk (chat).

A talk can be a leisurely exercise with no specific aim but to commune and fellowship.

A sermon however has to have objectives. Why? Because of the role of the sermon-giver is a SERVANT OF GOD delivering a needed MESSAGE from God!

It can take the form of a talk but can not simply be any talk. The preacher has to ask himself:

"What does God really want me to say to my audience today?"

"What has God so burdened my heart TODAY that I have to 'speak His words and pour out His heart' to MY PEOPLE?"

You see, a sermon without any objective is tantamount to a waste of time.

Oh God, deliver us from sermons that are a waste of time!!!!

SERVANT OF GOD>>>MESSAGE>>>TODAY>>>MY PEOPLE

A servant of God on the puplit has to deliver a message from God. The pulpit can not speak-it's the person who preaches from it who speaks. Everybody has biases, and humility is not the issue. I do not worry about biases or humility, or the lack of it. I worry about the message. Where is the message? At a time when we are all hungry and thirsty for words of encouragment, uplifting and directions from the Word of God, we need TIMELY, COURAGEOUS, RELEVANT and CLEAR messages from God.

A prophet speaks almost always AGAINST an audience of ignorance, apathy or hostility (check out your OT). This is what makes a prophet a prophet. The quality or preparedness of the audience is A TOTALLY DIFFERENT issue from the delivery of the message. A prophet may have to adapt his message according to [the level and preparedness of] his audience, but he has to deliver his message nonetheless! There is no escape from it.

As a lay preacher (same should apply to an ordained preacher), I can not worry about whether my audience will like me or not, whether they prefer me to sooth their fur, or irritate their skin. I worry about MEETING THEIR NEEDS and HOW I SHOULD deliver the message according to God's wishes and the burden He has laid on my heart to meet those needs.

Do I make any sense?

講道七不要

講道七不要
羅天虹


1) 不要玩謙卑：一上講台便自言才疏學淺，準備不足的人不是真謙卑。若是真的才疏學淺，為何不老力進修？若準備不足就根本不應上講台啦。

2) 不要語無輪次: 說話要有分吋, 合邏輯；不真實的事不講, 不合理的事不提.

3) 不要散漫無章: 內容發展要緊湊；承上啟下，緊扣聽眾的心. 內容, 情節, 聲調要人非注意不可.

4) 不要高抬自己: 以個人經歷寓道可以，但不能過於高抬自己。什麼學位學歷, 經歷體驗…假如真的要誇口，就誇自己的軟弱, 主的剛強吧。

5) 不要低貶他人: 有某名牧常以諷次博士為樂。表面上是高舉基督，看輕小學，其實是自卑感作崇，以低貶他人掩釋自己的無知！

6) 不要隨便罵人: 愛罵人的人通常都是自視過高。如果要罵, 罵罪惡吧！肯罵罪惡的是大丈夫, 只罵罪人的是小人!

7) 不要過於長氣, 好道在乎內涵. 精簡的道往往更具威力.

How to Overcome Tone Deaf Preaching

By Tom Long

Dr. Tom G. Long is the Bandy Professor of Preaching at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, and the author or editor of 14 books on preaching and worship. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).