10 ways to refresh your preaching

Last year we looked at 10 things that can make you feel stale as a preacher. Here are 10 ideas to refresh your preaching.

1.      Remember the Grace

I always pray that I never lose my sense of what a privilege it is to preach God’s word.  That I’ve been appointed to such a task is an awesome responsibility and privilege.

2.      Remember the Impact

We have all known the experience of preaching and seeing our sermons impact others.  God’s Spirit has taken words you’ve spoken and now people, once on the road to hell, are heading for heaven. Sinning Christians are repenting. The faithful are persevering. The discouraged are rejoicing. The saints are loving Jesus more.

3.      Remember the tip of the iceberg

Most of the impact of your preaching is not seen or heard in this life. From time to time the Lord will encourage you with words like, “Ten years ago you preached a sermon and I became a Christian.”  But that’s rare.  Remember, the Day will reveal the fruit of faithful preaching.

4.      Start Reading Again – or listening to podcasts

In other words, keep your mind stimulated. If you’re not a reader then listen and watch. If your brain has run out of ideas then your preaching will follow. For example, I daily read Bible commentaries. They stimulate my thinking and understanding and I often go away saying to myself, “I want to preach that”.  Read or listen to mind-stretching ideas, from both believers and unbelievers.

5.      Attend a Preaching Conference

A number of Bible Colleges run excellent preaching conferences (e.g. Ridley, SMBC, Moore, RTC).  Learn from gifted preachers.  It’s rare for such a conference not to get you excited about preaching.

6.      Set Yourself a Challenge

Set yourself a challenge in a sermon series.  Do a series on ‘The Tough Texts of the Bible’. If you’re not used to Topical Preaching attempt a topical series. If you’re not used to expository preaching then preach through Ephesians. Preach Revelation. 

7.      Ask the congregation

I know some pastors who, once a year, have ‘People’s Choice’. In a survey they ask the congregation what they’d like to hear sermons on. Then they preach on the four or six most popular topics/passages.

8.      Listen to other preachers

Listen to how others communicate and, as you listen, ask yourself what makes me want to listen to them – or not. Watch Ted Talks. They’re 15-20 minute secular sermons by secular evangelists. They can be a good model for delivery and they’re a treasure chest of illustrations.

9.      Get Help

Perhaps the best thing you can do for preaching is get help. Have someone coach you in your preaching. You can meet with your coach one-on-one regularly. Or form a preaching group that meets every 6-8 weeks and receive advice and feedback. Or, plan a ‘preaching retreat’ with some other preachers for a couple of days with a coach.  Contact CBP. We’d love to help you.

10.     Pray

God can inflame again your passion for preaching.  Ask him to do that.  I love to preach. I want you to love this magnificent work, as well.