Information applied is what creates transformation. And that’s the purpose of preaching.
Strong preaching aims to communicate information that inspires application that leads to transformation.
I’m not removing God from the process. God is the only one capable and responsible for life change. Still, we are given the opportunity every week to create the best context for God to do what only he can do. Information isn’t enough.
Take a look at your last sermon. Where was your focus? What was your goal? Did you prioritize information or application?
I suspect the 51% of pastors who don’t believe their sermons are “strong” say so because they aren’t seeing the fruit of transformation. If you feel like this, I get it. I spent a good bit of time in student ministry as a volunteer and then as a pastor. I would preach about making wise choices only to see the students do the opposite all week! They’d come back Sunday, and we’d talk about it again. Rinse and repeat.
Strong preaching comes from refocusing on what to do with what we say.
Here are four specific ways you can improve in strong preaching by refocusing on a greater purpose:
1. Always preach to application
If you can’t answer the question, “What do I want people to do?” I’m not sure you’re ready to preach the message. You may be enthralled by the interpretive work and the insights you see, but information that doesn’t lead to application negates transformation.
Part of my job is helping pastors and leaders grow as communicators. In my communications masterclass, I cover this in detail, but let me give you a quick overview of application.
When we think about application, we tend to think of direct “do this” instructions. And that is certainly one version of application. We call that imperative application. If you suggested everybody “does one good deed for another person each day for the next week,” that would be an imperative application.
But there are two other versions of application you can integrate into your sermon: Indictive and introspective.
Indictive application presents a new truth to believe. Introspective application provides people with a question to ponder. Both often lead to a more imperative application in time, but these versions of applications are potent pathways to transformation.
Make sure every message has application elements if you hope to see the fruit of transformation.
2. Give God the responsibility for the results
I mentioned my years speaking to students. They don’t listen well, and they follow even less. Unfortunately, adults aren’t much different, although they pretend to pay attention better than students.
Once a more seasoned pastor told me that I was responsible for the work, but God was responsible for the results. I’ve never forgotten that assertion. It has been so freeing for me as a pastor and communicator. I will always work hard on a message, but what people do with what they hear is between them and God. That’s not an excuse for me to be lazy. It is an opportunity to free me from all of the responsibilities outside of my control.
