5. Know your audience.
Tailor your application to whom you are speaking to. If you are preaching to teenagers, your application needs to be different than if you are preaching to senior citizens. Preaching to inmates in prison should be different than stay-at-home moms.
Know whom you are speaking to and what they are going through. And if you don’t know, ask.
6. Honor the topic/text/series you are given.
I don’t care if you don’t like it or would rather preach on something else. Follow instructions. Do your absolute best to honor the direction and intention the church sets for you. It is not about you. Help the church win.
7. Know the stage transitions.
Know when are supposed to walk onstage. Know how it will be handed off to you. Also, know how you are supposed to hand it off when you are done. Are you supposed to pray, lead into communion, introduce a song or close out the service? The transitions are important.
I went to an event once where the guest speaker was always clueless on when his cue was to come onstage. As a result, there were many awkward transitions that distracted from the message.
8. Say “Thank You.”
Make sure you say “thank you” to the pastor who invited you to preach. Thank any of the staff who help you. Thank the video and sound people. Thank the worship leader. Don’t act like a rock star. Show your gratitude.
9. Learn how to accept a compliment.
People will inevitably compliment you. Even if you don’t preach well, some people will still say “good job” out of sympathy. It’s weird, but true.
Do not be arrogant and boast about yourself: “God has given me a tremendous gift!”
Also, don’t be so humble that you brush aside their compliment: “It has nothing to do with me, sir. All glory to God.”
Repeat after me. “Thank you.” That is it. That is all you need to say. A sincere “Thank you.”
