Here's one to consider adding: Preaching is an Isaiah 6 moment! It begins and ends with a sense of genuine awe before God. It was F. F. Bruce who noted in his commentary on 1 Thessalonians that prophecy is "proclaiming the mind of God by the power of the Spirit." A preacher must understand that, in a very real sense, they are speaking on behalf of God when fortified by the Spirit. Preachers are not merely sharing information gleaned or knowledge learned; they are engaged in something supremely important that could change lives in the present and for eternity.
Two thoughts on this. As well as teacher and pastor, the preacher must be a prophet - in the sense of forth-telling not fore-telling - telling people what God wants them to know. And on a more mundane level, I gleaned more practical help about preaching from a civil engineer's course on public speaking and presentation than I ever did from evening classes on preaching at Spurgeon's College!
I've seen people take very strong positions on whether preaching should be expository or thematic. The churches I've attended have mostly been thematic by default, so I'm not deeply invested in these debates. Still, I wonder if your recommendations are influenced by (or influence) the choice between expository and thematic preaching. If you have a position on the thematic v. expository preaching discussion, I’d love to hear it!
Here's one to consider adding: Preaching is an Isaiah 6 moment! It begins and ends with a sense of genuine awe before God. It was F. F. Bruce who noted in his commentary on 1 Thessalonians that prophecy is "proclaiming the mind of God by the power of the Spirit." A preacher must understand that, in a very real sense, they are speaking on behalf of God when fortified by the Spirit. Preachers are not merely sharing information gleaned or knowledge learned; they are engaged in something supremely important that could change lives in the present and for eternity.
Two thoughts on this. As well as teacher and pastor, the preacher must be a prophet - in the sense of forth-telling not fore-telling - telling people what God wants them to know. And on a more mundane level, I gleaned more practical help about preaching from a civil engineer's course on public speaking and presentation than I ever did from evening classes on preaching at Spurgeon's College!
I've seen people take very strong positions on whether preaching should be expository or thematic. The churches I've attended have mostly been thematic by default, so I'm not deeply invested in these debates. Still, I wonder if your recommendations are influenced by (or influence) the choice between expository and thematic preaching. If you have a position on the thematic v. expository preaching discussion, I’d love to hear it!
As a pastor/preacher for 31 years and counting... You're right on the money Dr. Bird. Good stuff.
Some really good advice. I'd also add the ability to use the delete button on a computer or the ability to use a red pen for editing purposes!
Well said. I follow a similar pattern in my own preaching.