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| Photo Credit: Churchleaders.com |
What makes a sermon genuinely "bad?" (Derek Thomas)
1) When a sermon is muddled with no sense of direction it is a bad message.
When their is no coherent message sermons fail. When a sermon is not rooted in the text sermons fail short ("where on earth did he get that from?"). Logical thinking is an important component of sermon preparation and in delivery.
2) When a sermon is cerebral it is a bad message.
You need to engage the mind, the will, and the affections. Teachers must understand the difference between a lecture and a sermon.
A glorified commentary is not biblical exposition. Do not simply regurgitate what you find in commentaries.
While on the subject of commentaries their are three kinds that preachers consult: I) Technical/Original Language commentaries; II) Applicatory commentaries; III) Pastors/Expositional commentaries.
Their is something that is part of an embodied sermon that cannot be replicated even in live stream. Sermons have points and sub-points with movement and flow.
A sermon is like baking a cake. Their are basic ingredients that have to be put together in an orderly way and then you have to cook it properly.
Postscript quote: "Within evangelical circles, the decline of expository preaching in favor of topical speeches laced with personal anecdotes, insights, and examples drawn from cultural authorities communicates to God's people where we think the power and relevance of our speech really lies." - Michael Horton
Postscript quote: "Within evangelical circles, the decline of expository preaching in favor of topical speeches laced with personal anecdotes, insights, and examples drawn from cultural authorities communicates to God's people where we think the power and relevance of our speech really lies." - Michael Horton
