How to Bake a Good Sermon
Skill Builders
How to Bake a Good Sermon
5 ingredients for a biblically substantive and culturally relevant sermon.
What makes a sermon good? That has been a notoriously difficult question to answer. There are really only four kinds of sermons: biblically shallow and contextually irrelevant; biblically substantive and contextually irrelevant; biblically shallow and contextually relevant; biblically substantive and contextually relevant. The last option is the one preferred by the preacher, listener, and, no doubt, God. But what does it look like look for a sermon to be substantive and relevant? Here are five essential ingredients for the baking of good sermons.
Content
The angel said to Joseph about Mary, "that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 1:20). If the same thing is going to be said about the preacher, as it should, the sermon must say something of substance about God—Father, Son, or Spirit. I admit with shame that too many of my sermons were shallow. They might have offered good advice about marriage, parenting, finances, or time management, but they didn't ...
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Laura Shurson
Thank God for this practical and blessed snippet on preaching. Loved it!
Pastor john tronconi
Good advice I will try this using one page to is good. I like to tell a story sometimes because I can relate the sermon better than for your idears.
George
Thanks so much for this. I have been preaching every week for more than a decade (Glory to God) and I started thinking of growth... doing it better and i found myself here thru Google (thank God for Google!). I like the four points you have given exegetical information, Illustriative, Theological reflections and Practical applications. Thanks Lenny!
GS
Yes, there are some helpful suggestions but I found it amusing that all the points started with a C. Alliteration is one of the least effective tools to help people remember and often leads speakers to developing contrived words rather than those most helpful.
Megan C
Lenny hit the nail right on the head!