(I’ve been pulling together some notes for preacher training and thought I might post them here. As always, I’ve been inspired by the writings of John Piper and particularly his book on The Supremacy of God in Preaching.)
1. It does not stir up a holy affection for the things of God. If change does not flow from a desire to please the Father, it’s dead religion and legalism. If the preacher has not gazed on the awesomeness of God during the week, how can He reveal the Father to others?
2. It doesn’t set the heart on fire; it doesn’t enlighten the mind. We need both heat (passion) and light (revelation) in our preaching. God’s word should illuminate our way (Ps 119:5). Zeal and knowledge go together. Zeal without knowledge leads to legalism (Prov 19:2, Rms 10:2). Knowledge without zeal leads to passivity.
3. Lack of power – there’s no power without rhema and no rhema without power (Lk 1:37, ASV). Faith comes from hearing the rhema, the quickened, revealed word of God (Rms 10:17). If the word of God is not burning within the preacher himself, it is unlikely his preaching will set the church on fire. To try and “make it happen” without that spark is manipulation.
4. Lack of brokenness – good preachers have been convicted by what they preach. “There is in the Spirit-filled preacher a tender affection that sweetens every promise and softens with tears every warning and rebuke” (John Piper). This affection comes from having been in that place where we would seek to lead others. Before we wield the knife, we’d better be sure that our hearts have been circumcised.
5. Lack of intensity – conveys the impression that little is at stake and that the preacher does not really believe what he’s talking about. God’s truth is weighty. We have been given a holy commission to handle His truth (Jas 3:1)
6. Lack of a challenge. Only the Holy Spirit convicts (Jn 16:8), but God needs a man who will challenge complacency, apathy, license and sin.
7. No expectation of change. While preaching may appear to be foolishness, it is the means God uses for changing the world (consider the effectiveness of Jesus’ preaching, or Jonah’s and Peter’s). The preacher must have a conviction that God’s words + his obedience will change the world. God no more anoints passive preaching that he does a silent witness. Expect change!
October 17, 2008 at 3:29 am |
This is great. I wish pastors would tack this up in their offices and check it weekly!
October 17, 2008 at 3:26 pm |
Great Stuff!
October 23, 2008 at 5:28 am |
I like the end on the expectation of change. It is very frustrating to preach over a course of time and see little change.
May 16, 2009 at 11:55 am |
[...] have discussed elsewhere the 7 signs of mediocre preaching. In the video clip below, John Piper – a preacher at the top of his game – explains [...]