Mastering Contemporary Preaching

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My stories must illustrate. I must avoid trying to make myself look too good or too wise. The rule to follow: An illustration should illustrate the truth, not elevate the speaker.
—Haddon Robinson

Gone are the days when preaching meant an aloof, authoritarian lecture. An impersonal preacher, these days, is almost a contradiction in terms. People today have come to expect personal preaching—vulnerability and self-revelation.

When people comment on my sermons, they rarely mention the sermon's logic, structure, or persuasiveness—even though I try to include each of those elements. More typical is the comment: "I appreciated the message, but what I appreciated most was your vulnerability. You really got through to me. You let us see you."

Today's audiences expect the preacher to be personal and winsome. This means not only speaking to the personal needs of people, but also using illustrations out of the preacher's life experience. This is what many people listen for and a gauge by which they judge a sermon.

Bringing yourself into the pulpit requires some special skills, because it has potential dangers. Here are some of the pitfalls and how to avoid them.

I sat in one church not long ago, listening to a preacher make a point about Satan's tactics: "Normally, you get up in the morning and get to work at 8 o'clock. But on Sunday, you have to get to church by 9:30. Even though you have an extra hour and a half, somehow everything goes wrong." Then he personalized the point. "This morning my wife and I had a terrible argument, and frankly we haven't gotten things settled. I hope we can deal with it this afternoon."

His point about disruptions of schedule and Satan's influence was suddenly lost. Everyone ...

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