Home Pastors Articles for Pastors 30 Rules for the Hillsong Australia Preaching & Teaching Team

30 Rules for the Hillsong Australia Preaching & Teaching Team

8. REINFORCING—NEVER CONTRADICTING—OUR CULTURAL VALUES.
Wherever you are speaking, you must respect the cultural values of that platform. Encourage the congregation to engage with what is local and relevant.

9. FROM A NEW TESTAMENT PERSPECTIVE.
By all means, use the Old Testament, but always through the lens of the New Covenant of grace—through the cross of Christ. Otherwise we are in danger of preaching law and condemnation rather than building people up.

10. A REFLECTION OF THE LIFE YOU ARE LIVING, NOT JUST THE SERMON YOU ARE PREACHING.
Be authentic. The best messages come out of our own struggles and journeys. People sense authenticity as well as a lack of it. No matter how professional or eloquent you are as a speaker, you won’t build anything into people’s lives if you lack authenticity.

11. A REFLECTION OF YOUR PERSONALITY, NOT AN IMITATION OF SOMEONE ELSE.
This was one of the hardest lessons for me to learn but one of the most important. You’ll always be your best if you are being yourself—it’s not about being perfect or about a certain ‘style.’ Be your best self and don’t use this freedom as an excuse to support rebellion or negativity.

12. AFFECTS PEOPLE’S MONDAYS, NOT JUST SUNDAY.
In other words, your message needs to be applicable to people’s daily lives. The greatest compliment someone who is doing well in life can give me is to say, “All I’ve ever done is to take the principles that have been taught in church and put them into practice.” I love hearing that sort of testimony!

13. NOT STRAYING INTO THINGS YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND.
Stay within your boundaries. Keep learning, but don’t preach outside your understanding. Stick to what you know but also continue to grow in what you know and in your knowledge of the Word. 1 Timothy 3 in The Message says of the leader, “He must know what he is talking about.” Preparation is a discipline.

14. REFLECTING WHAT WE ARE FOR, NOT AGAINST.
Remember, our lives should reflect what we are for and not just what we are against. Preaching always against things leaves people feeling downcast.

15. LEAVES PEOPLE FEELING BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES THAN WHEN THEY CAME IN.
I intentionally approach every service by trying to create an encouraging environment. The world doesn’t input positive messages into people very much—between the newspaper and the television, people are starving for messages of hope and encouragement!

16. EASILY TRANSITIONED INTO AN ALTAR-CALL.
If people are being impacted and reached during your message, then the altar call moment will be a smoother and easier transition. (HOWEVER, you cannot let your confidence be measured by how many people get saved when you speak.)

17. NOTEWORTHY.
Are people taking notes? Make sure people understand what you are saying, that there is substance to it, and that you are not boring. Be compelling and helpful to people.

18. SEES HUMOR AS A BONUS, NOT THE GOAL.
Humor is a tool, but it is not the goal. If you are not good at being funny, don’t try. Any use of humor should serve the message—but never build your message around a funny story or joke.

19. PREACHED FROM NOTES YOU’D BE PROUD TO SHOW ME.
You should have some content in your notes: Key statements, scriptures, examples. Content—not neatness—is the goal. Your notes should reflect the hard work you’ve put in.

20. EXALTS JESUS AND BRINGS GLORY TO GOD.
Be deliberate about this. “God” means many things to many people, so ensure you are presenting Jesus. People don’t need motivational speeches, they need the Word of God and AN EMPHASIS ON Jesus Christ.

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bh@churchleaders.com'
In 1983, Brian saw a need in Sydney's north-western suburbs for a contemporary, life-filled, Bible-based church, and started Hills Christian Life Centre in the Baulkham Hills Public School hall on Sunday 14 August 1983 with just 45 people. It is now Hillsong Church, which comprises four major worship centers (Baulkham Hills, Waterloo, Southwest and Brisbane) plus a citywide network of connect groups, extension services across the city, and growing congregations in London, Kiev, Cape Town, Paris, Stockholm and Moscow.