Had a chance to encourage a young pastor as he disciples a man who wants to know what and how to teach a good sermon It had me review some tips my pastor gave me years ago before I went out on the mission field I hope they bless you May we constantly be pointing folks to our Lord
Teaching Hints and Tips for those Teaching
Principles for Effective Teaching
1. The message and the messenger are inseperable John 1:14 “The Word became flesh” (Incarnation) A message from the heart reaches the heart i.e. Jonah
2. Truth is truth, so tell the truth In teaching from the Scriptures you may come across a principle that is not yet worked into the fabric of your life. Share it anyway, however, just plain share the truth of the passage.
3. Preaching/Teaching are forms of Worship How??? By Exalting Jesus….giving Him glory. As you share, see Jesus in the midst of the folks….He is! This will change the way you share. John the Baptist declared “There stands One in the midst of you whom you know not.” The came to hear John and John was consumed by Jesus. He truly sensed Jesus right there with him.
4. Intent and Content are both Essential
We are not only to discuss a subject, but also to achieve an object. Where are you taking them? What do you want them to leave with? There must be an application of the Word. We are equipping them. Content is homework; intent is heartwork. Prayer is needed at this point… (go to the mountain and get the glow like Moses).
Intent 1. The passage of study
2. What’s going on with you?
3. Speak to where they are at, the people you are sharing with and praying for and thinking about.
4.What the Spirit Desires
When a sick man visits the doctor office he does not want to hear about health, he wants healing. Jesus never went to the Essene community. He confronted the Pharisees, ministers to the 95% of the people who were struggling with life…..needful and desirous of answers.
5.Intent must be clear if it is going to come through. A little mist in the mind of the speaker will create a great fog in the mind of the listener. A thought should be summarized in one sentence.
The sentence should be 1. Biblical 2.Honest 3. Relevant
4. Interesting
6.Organize or Agonize
God is not the author of confusion….teachers are! Take-offs and landings are critical.
1. Intro—-“A Hook”
2. Proposition….the big idea
3. Development…..the points
4. Conclusion….repeat what was said.
Give a lot of thought to the opening and closing. This is
where one easily loses or confuses.
7.Become a lover of language
8.Don’t explain the inexplicable…. Never put a question where God places a period!
9.Use your wastebasket…..simplify, simplify…simply Patton said it well “It is not what they say that bothers me, it is that they keep saying it!”
10. Express, don’t impress!
11.Always mean more than you say. Like the prophet coming down the mountain, there should be more depth behind the teaching.
12. The improbability of originality.
Adam was the last man with an original idea….and it wasn’t good. Don’t be a slave to originality.
13.The necessity of variety.
How are you going to make your points?
Use the imperative “We must be filled with the Holy Spirit” Use the exclamative “Be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Use the interrogative “Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?”
14.Never betray a confidence
15. Have faith in the Word
Beware of the trap of too much commentary time…meditate on the Word.
1.Read it with reverence and slowly
2.Restate the text in your own words
3.Retell the Story
4.Hebrews 4:12….the Power is in the Word!
16, Give space to the Spirit while teaching. Be willing to pause, don’t fear silence.
17. Speak to people individually…. Beware of brick walls, speak one on one, address the group who is there…not those who are absent. Beware of the evangelist/stadium mentality….visit and don’t use Christianese or wax eloquently
18. Preach a positive message….
Grace Grace and more Grace…….the gospel.
How would you preach John 8 “Go and sin no more”
With condemnation or comfort?
19. Never hide behind the pulpit Never address a personal
Matter, or agenda
20.Analyze your sermon….are these present?
Milk-meat-manna spirit-soul-body
doctrine-devotion-duty what-why-how
Are they going to do this and why???
21. The key to hermeneutics is Himeneutics: Be a Jesus person…..Jesus is the content!
Tags: teaching the Word
