WHY SOME PREACHERS GET BETTER BUT OTHERS DON’T
Michael Tan
Can preaching be taught?
Well, there is no denying that a preaching course and some coaching can help anyone become a better preacher. But what about someone who seems to be unable to improve from his first sermon? Frequency doesn’t necessarily make one a better preacher. What makes the difference?
The most frustrated preachers are the ones who have a sense of duty, but not a burning calling. The call to preach is likened to a fire in one’s bones ignited by the Holy Spirit that cannot be extinguished. Not even by any cynical, indifferent or dull of hearing listener. The preachers’ willingness to work at their preaching is an expression of their conviction that God has called them to preach and preach well they must. Apart from a burning calling, preaching is nothing more than a TED talk spiced with religious jargons.
The most uninspired preachers are the ones who don’t want to know the truth about their preaching. We dread any feedback that is negative. We cringe when someone comments that we seem unprepared or have failed to make a connection with the congregation. We would rather not hear from our spouse because she is probably the most truthful critic. But when we are able to receive the most brutal of feedbacks and stomach the ugly truths about our sermon or delivery, there is hope. All preachers must have a teachable spirit and must be willing to pay the price of personal discomfort in order to improve, get better and be effective. The truth may hurt but it is better that than the audience getting bored to tears or worse, death! As we preach, we are in the service of the biblical text and our feelings are not the point.
The most boring preachers are the ones who don’t show passion. Most preachers and pastors are passionate about the Word of God. We are passionate about teaching, inspiring and helping our congregation. But, alas, even if we do feel passion, we do not always show passion. If our preaching or teaching does not convey passion, then our audience will not be moved to be passionate about it either. Jesus the preacher and teacher was definitely a hundred percent passionate. Why else would farmers, fishermen, peasants, homemakers and other women come and endure the Middle Eastern sun for hours just to hear him? A great sermon is one preached with incredible energy by someone who fills it with all of her soul and emotion. As a preacher, you must be willing to go beyond your inhibitive (introverted) personality and comfort zone to preach the Word in the way it deserved to be preached. When the Word of God grips you in the pulpit, you will probably never be boring again.
The truth is that God still uses the preaching of his Word which is an oral event to speak to his people in the face of digital media and slick presentations. Preaching is often described as truth through personality. It is who we are that speaks louder than our words. If we have a burning calling, a teachable spirit and a passionate heart and are willing to get out of the natural comfort zone of our personality, I believe we can become better as preachers and ultimately as followers of the One we are preaching about.
than our words.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Following Jesus to the Cross
We are thankful for our first series of Eagles Rendezvous Bible Study this year by Seah Jiak Choo on Journeying with Jesus … A Study in Luke’s Gospel. Her systematic teaching and textual insights were greatly appreciated by the audience. Seow Teck Keong, a regular attendee, remarked, “Although I had known that Capernaum was the base of Jesus’ ministry when he was in Galilee, the possible reason for choosing it because it was a major town on the highway to Damascus was new to me. There were many such new insights I gathered as she taught.”
Another participant was touched by the compassion of Jesus in this gospel. She commented, “The healing of the centurion’s servant, the raising of the widow’s son who died and the sinful woman who anointed Jesus were examples of Jesus ‘experiencing their pain in His heart.’”
Regular attendee Tan Nguan Sen reflected succinctly the thrust of this series, “For us, life is a journey too. We know that one day it will end. But until then, we need to live out God’s purpose. And we need to be willing to adjust our plans according to His timing just as Jesus did in His journey to the cross.”
The second series will begin on April 4, 2020 running for 7 consecutive Saturdays. It will be conducted by Michael Tan on Confront or Conform … When Compromise is the Norm – Lessons from 1 & 2 Kings. To register, go to www.eagles.org.sg/er
UP NEXT – A MUST FOR ALL
PREACHERS AND TEACHERS
EPPI Conference 2020
PROCLAMATION IN TODAY’S DIGITAL AGE
Fri – Sat, Jul 31 – Aug 1, 2020 at Faith Methodist Church Singapore
Speakers: Ken Shigematsu, Paul McGee, Raymond Fong, Philip Lyn, Scott Lindsey, Joseph Chean, Ho Boon Tiong, Edric Sng
EPPI Conference is equipping, enabling, encouraging and empowering preachers and Bible teachers to commmunicate more effectively.
Philip Lyn is a pastor-doctor. He is the senior pastor of Skyline SIB Church, Kota Kinabalu, and also a practising medical specialist. He trained at Oxford and London and currently leads a team of ten bi-vocational pastors who are non-salaried and full time in both church ministry and the workplace, like him. He has spoken widely at conferences in many nations and is married to Nancy. They have three adult children.
Learn from him about Challenges of Bi-vocational Preachers – Balancing work and ministry in a demanding and disruptive world at EPPI Conference 2020.
Register at www.eagles.org.sg/eppi2020
WHY SOME PREACHERS GET BETTER BUT OTHERS DON’T
Michael Tan
Can preaching be taught?
Well, there is no denying that a preaching course and some coaching can help anyone become a better preacher. But what about someone who seems to be unable to improve from his first sermon? Frequency doesn’t necessarily make one a better preacher. What makes the difference?
The most frustrated preachers are the ones who have a sense of duty, but not a burning calling. The call to preach is likened to a fire in one’s bones ignited by the Holy Spirit that cannot be extinguished. Not even by any cynical, indifferent or dull of hearing listener. The preachers’ willingness to work at their preaching is an expression of their conviction that God has called them to preach and preach well they must. Apart from a burning calling, preaching is nothing more than a TED talk spiced with religious jargons.
The most uninspired preachers are the ones who don’t want to know the truth about their preaching. We dread any feedback that is negative. We cringe when someone comments that we seem unprepared or have failed to make a connection with the congregation. We would rather not hear from our spouse because she is probably the most truthful critic. But when we are able to receive the most brutal of feedbacks and stomach the ugly truths about our sermon or delivery, there is hope. All preachers must have a teachable spirit and must be willing to pay the price of personal discomfort in order to improve, get better and be effective. The truth may hurt but it is better that than the audience getting bored to tears or worse, death! As we preach, we are in the service of the biblical text and our feelings are not the point.
The most boring preachers are the ones who don’t show passion. Most preachers and pastors are passionate about the Word of God. We are passionate about teaching, inspiring and helping our congregation. But, alas, even if we do feel passion, we do not always show passion. If our preaching or teaching does not convey passion, then our audience will not be moved to be passionate about it either. Jesus the preacher and teacher was definitely a hundred percent passionate. Why else would farmers, fishermen, peasants, homemakers and other women come and endure the Middle Eastern sun for hours just to hear him? A great sermon is one preached with incredible energy by someone who fills it with all of her soul and emotion. As a preacher, you must be willing to go beyond your inhibitive (introverted) personality and comfort zone to preach the Word in the way it deserved to be preached. When the Word of God grips you in the pulpit, you will probably never be boring again.
The truth is that God still uses the preaching of his Word which is an oral event to speak to his people in the face of digital media and slick presentations. Preaching is often described as truth through personality. It is who we are that speaks louder than our words. If we have a burning calling, a teachable spirit and a passionate heart and are willing to get out of the natural comfort zone of our personality, I believe we can become better as preachers and ultimately as followers of the One we are preaching about.
than our words.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
Following Jesus to the Cross
We are thankful for our first series of Eagles Rendezvous Bible Study this year by Seah Jiak Choo on Journeying with Jesus … A Study in Luke’s Gospel. Her systematic teaching and textual insights were greatly appreciated by the audience. Seow Teck Keong, a regular attendee, remarked, “Although I had known that Capernaum was the base of Jesus’ ministry when he was in Galilee, the possible reason for choosing it because it was a major town on the highway to Damascus was new to me. There were many such new insights I gathered as she taught.”
Another participant was touched by the compassion of Jesus in this gospel. She commented, “The healing of the centurion’s servant, the raising of the widow’s son who died and the sinful woman who anointed Jesus were examples of Jesus ‘experiencing their pain in His heart.’”
Regular attendee Tan Nguan Sen reflected succinctly the thrust of this series, “For us, life is a journey too. We know that one day it will end. But until then, we need to live out God’s purpose. And we need to be willing to adjust our plans according to His timing just as Jesus did in His journey to the cross.”
The second series will begin on April 4, 2020 running for 7 consecutive Saturdays. It will be conducted by Michael Tan on Confront or Conform … When Compromise is the Norm – Lessons from 1 & 2 Kings. To register, go to www.eagles.org.sg/er
UP NEXT – A MUST FOR ALL
PREACHERS AND TEACHERS
EPPI Conference 2020
PROCLAMATION IN TODAY’S DIGITAL AGE
Fri – Sat, Jul 31 – Aug 1, 2020 at Faith Methodist Church Singapore
Speakers: Ken Shigematsu, Paul McGee, Raymond Fong, Philip Lyn, Scott Lindsey, Joseph Chean, Ho Boon Tiong, Edric Sng
EPPI Conference is equipping, enabling, encouraging and empowering preachers and Bible teachers to commmunicate more effectively.
Philip Lyn is a pastor-doctor. He is the senior pastor of Skyline SIB Church, Kota Kinabalu, and also a practising medical specialist. He trained at Oxford and London and currently leads a team of ten bi-vocational pastors who are non-salaried and full time in both church ministry and the workplace, like him. He has spoken widely at conferences in many nations and is married to Nancy. They have three adult children.
Learn from him about Challenges of Bi-vocational Preachers – Balancing work and ministry in a demanding and disruptive world at EPPI Conference 2020.
Register at www.eagles.org.sg/eppi2020