Pointers for Preachers: Two Articles

The Importance of Persuasive Preaching

One of the preacher’s jobs is to persuade people away from worldly ways of thinking toward a biblical worldview. We are called to convince people that what the Bible says is true, that the implications of its truthfulness ought to matter to them, and that when its truthfulness is embraced it affects how they live every moment of their life. Since growing in holiness is a lifelong process, we need to call even the most mature Christian away from opinions that are out of accord with Scripture.

It would be nice if persuading our congregations of these things was as simple as constructing a sound argument. Unfortunately, even bulletproof logic can fail to change people’s hearts. In the midst of our sermons, we often think that we are articulating a biblical position with impeccable precision, all while the young professional struggles to see himself as a part of the story we are telling, the stay at home mom can’t see how this applies to dirty diapers, and the high school student is just plain bored. This happens every week to every preacher.

Therefore, the task of preaching requires more than theological accuracy, it requires congregational accuracy – as in accurately aiming your sermon at your congregation in such a way that persuades them to embrace the Bible’s view of life and this world. It doesn’t matter how sharp your arrow is if it’s not pointed at the target. Read more

What Shall We Preach? A Biblical Understanding Of The Gospel

How a biblical understanding of the gospel, focusing on God’s action and our response to it, will change how you preach.

The word “gospel” comes from the Old English gōdspel, comprised of gōd (“good”) and spel (“news, or story”).

This term identifies the best news the world has ever heard. The Greek New Testament words from which “evangel” derives (euangelion and euangelizomai) have roots in the Old Testament Hebrew word bāśar. This verb has to do with announcing good news and bringing news of victory, as in war.

This Hebrew word is most prominent in Isaiah 40–66, chapters that promise the coming of God’s kingly rule as the ultimate good news. It is rendered in the Greek translation of the Old Testament with the verb euangelizomai (cf. Septuagint of Isaiah 40:9; 52:7; 60:6; 61:1). Read more