Appearance
You may be wondering what appearance has to do with a good sermon. The reality is people see you before they hear you, and your appearance can either help or hinder the sermon. You never want your suit to get more attention than your sermon. Don’t be too flashy, and certainly don’t be too shabby. Your appearance must be appropriate for your audience. Also, for God’s sake, please use an iron. It’s hard for your audience to hear you talk about “a church without spot or wrinkle” when your clothes are full of them! Watch your appearance … because the congregation is.
Clarity
The greatest sermon has no effect if people don’t understand it. Sermons must be clear in order for people to hear. Some preachers treat sermons like doctoral theses, but sermons are designed to reach the “least of these.” Like my pastor, Bishop Alfred Owens, always taught me, “We must always remember we are feeding sheep … not giraffes.” The goal is not to be high and lofty in our preaching but to preach with clarity and simplicity so the sheep can graze on the Word.
HEAT!
Preaching must be done with passion! This is not a matter of style, but it is a matter of conviction. The preacher must preach like he or she believes the message … or no one else will. When we preach with conviction … the message is convicting. The purpose of preaching is to produce a change. When we bring the heat, we are stirring the congregation toward positive change. Listless preaching leads to lifeless congregations. Preach with passion, and God’s power will manifest!
