What's Your Style?

One thing that fascinates me as I listen to sermons presented by brothers in Christ is how many different styles there are. Most people have a favorite style of preacher.

One danger we must avoid is thinking that a certain style is “better” than another. As long as the truth is being taught, it simply does not matter how many points the sermon has or how many illustrations are used.

Personally, I present a majority of my sermons with about 4 or 5 points. I usually try to incorporate a brief word study or two and I try my best to relate the texts to “today’s living.” Every so often I change styles just a bit in a way I think best presents the text and the truth found in it.

Others who preach are really good at presenting “one-point” sermons. They can open up one truth in such a powerful way and are often very good at illustrating their sermons. Some present sermons with multiple points (8, 9, 10 or more) and bring the major themes of a text to light in that way. Some can take a text and make it a parable, while remaining true to the original intent of the text. There are other ways present the truth, but you get the point.

Which one is the best? Here are some suggestions.

1. Listen to your elders. In a vast majority of situations, the elders have been with a congregation longer than the preacher. Also, as the shepherds, the elders should know the needs of the people. The elders in one location may honestly think, in their wisdom, that the people need one-point sermons to build up Biblical knowledge. Another eldership may think that the people know the Bible quite well, and may desire that the preacher present a lot of word studies, cross-references and other deeper material. Elders, never be fearful to present this information to the preacher so he can best serve the listeners.

2. Don’t use the same style with every sermon you preach. You, like me, may have one “dominant” way of preaching, but every sermon doesn’t need to be a carbon-copy of your others. Preach without PowerPoint sometimes. Present a lesson that has several points. Use a longer (or shorter) text than usual. Certain texts (or topics) lend themselves to different styles of presentation.

3. Don’t be afraid of series. Some hear the word “series” and they think of a year-long, drawn-out set of lessons. Series don’t have to last forever! Take two months and talk about worship. Walk through a shorter book for three months (we’re currently studying Titus in this way). Preaching in series (sometimes, not all the time!) will help you think of different ways to present lessons, since you will be looking at a more specific topic each week.

4. Ask certain preachers who are really effective with a particular style not just how they present, but also how they prepare for a lesson. It’s not just getting up with no notes, or with a full outline, it often takes a certain mindset to prepare to preach in a specific way.

What suggestions would you add?

Before leaving this topic, let me remind preachers of some words from the classic on preaching, Between Two Worlds by John R.W. Stott. As he began a chapter entitled, “Theological Foundations for Preaching,” he wrote:

In a world which seems either unwilling or unable to listen, how can we be persuaded to go on preaching, and learn to do so effectively? The essential secret is not mastering certain techniques but being mastered by certain convictions. In other words, theology is more important than methodology…Technique can only make us orators; if we want to be preachers, theology is what we need. If our theology is right, then we have all the basic insights we need into what we ought to be doing, and all the incentives we need to induce us to do it faithfully. (page 92)