Pastor’s Study Blog

5 quick Tips to Preaching Doctrinally Sound Sermons

Volume 1 – Issue 3

By: Bishop Designate, Jay Offer

By the time a minister reaches the office of Pastor, they should have been exposed to the sermon writing process. In fact, this process should be well established and come as second nature to the new pastor. Unfortunately, as we discussed in other blogs, the preparation for pastorship may not have been at the level necessary for you to get off to a great start. Some pastors only let their preachers exercise their gift at rare and special occasions. Others may not let their preachers preach at all. I know of some pastors that demand sign off privilege before their preachers accept an outside engagement. All of these practices puzzle me. How do you expect anyone to master a craft if they rarely get to use it? There is only so much to glean from practicing in front of a mirror or the infrequent short sermonettes to the reluctant captive audience of your spouse and children.

As I have repeatedly said, my blog is for the new preacher and pastor to help develop thoughts on how they can grow and lessons that spur them to think about how they can be better mentors to their up and coming ministry teams. It is also a check point for experienced pastors who need reminding of the awesome responsibility of grooming the next generation of pastors. At this point let me be clear, no pastor owns any preachers. Everyone called by God, belongs to God and we are only stewards over them. We are charged as pastors and bishops, to, as Bishop Paul Lee often said, cultivate their gifts. Every minister is as the coins left to the care of the master’s servants while he was away. Upon his return, the more the investment grew the more pleased he was. I would dare to be the kind of servant who did not bring gain to the master’s investment.

As I begin to reveal these helpful hints to become better at our calling, let us all be mindful that preaching is not a competition, (wink-wink. There are leaders who pit one preacher against another), but an opportunity to glorify God through our humility and willingness to be used. If you are under the leadership of someone who does not understand what I have shared to this point, you might need to go down in prayer over God’s will for you. This notwithstanding, 2 Timothy 2:15, I have had too many conversations with ministers who are at their wits end because they are not being groomed for the work that God has called them to. This paragraph is a whole blog topic of its own. I promise we will return to it.

It is a sacred mandate for preachers to ensure that sermons are doctrinally sound. This simple principle of integrity of the Gospel ensures unity with others who are preaching. Scriptures call us to be united in Christ. That doesn’t mean just to agree with the other folks we worship or spend time with. It requires that we preach the same Gospel that Jesus taught, that Jesus taught Peter to preach. That Jesus accosted Saul on the Damascus Road and commissioned him to preach as Paul. As the Bible intends, the same Gospel, under the same blood and with the same authority as the same holy spirit as was preached in the first century, shall be preached in the 21^st century. Here are five tips to help you reach this goal:

Diligent and Prayerful Study of God’s word:

This is in concert with your personal Bible Study and studying for messages that God has sent you on a journey to discover. Please note that there are times when the Lord needs to speak to you through the word for you. Every hallelujah moment in the word is not a sermon to be preached to the masses. It may be just for you. When we study scriptures meant for our personal consumption, we can fail to catch the point that God wants us to learn and experience. Remember when we are in a relationship, sometimes the conversation is private and personal.

Through Prayer the Lord will reveal messages to you. When he does this, it is important to not forsake personal Bible study but keep both personal and preparatory study. As the Lord sends his messaging to you, it is important to remain in prayer and keep your eyes wide open for what the Lord is showing you. Keep your ears keen on the Lord speaking through events happening around you. The type of study you engage in must be deep studying of the relevant passages from the Bible or religious texts. Understand the historical and cultural context of each passage to ensure precise interpretation.

In understanding the context of a scripture, you must use your Hebrew and Greek lexicons. I have uncovered places where I could have really tripped up and bent a message based on my feeling rather than what God wanted to reveal. We also must realize that there is historical context that holds significance. I recently preached on Psalm 24. Verse 9, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.” If you are studying this it may be useful to know in was common practice with construction of gates to have them not swing in or out. But they were lifted up in channels on each side of the gate. This prevented the gates from being rammed or forced open in battle. In verse 8, battle is referenced, so how does an impenetrable gate and battle work into the interpretation of this scripture? Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Consult Reliable Commentaries and Resources:

In recent years I have noticed that there are a lot of commentaries and self-proclaimed authoritative works to interpret the Bible. I have found Matthew Henry, written in the early 18^th century, to be an interesting start to researching. Though I have learned that he is but one man. There is the Pulpit Commentary in the 1880’s Edited by H. D. M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell. Then there is the New Interpreters Bible Commentary, first printed in 1994, Edited by Leander E. Keck. There is a plethera of materials. Just ensure that they are biblical commentaries, theology books, and resources from trusted theologians and scholars to gain insights and different perspectives on the scripture. As new publications come out, be careful because we have seen and witnessed the Deconstruction of Christianity movement come in. The deconstruction movement operates in such a way that their motives and intent are hidden and at times compelling. The rules of research are there for a reason. Confirm that when dealing with history and use of languages you have sources that are based upon primary sources (historical documents, public records, peer reviewed data and studies, proven hypothesis, etc.)

Engage in Prayerful Reflection:

Luke 18:1, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” One of my most prominent epiphanies was the extraordinary power of prayer and the fact that I needed a little more power in my prayers. It is fitting to ask for wisdom and divine understanding as you prepare a sermon. Please do not forsake the importance of the leading of the Holy Spirit. He is there for the express purpose of teaching you, giving you clarity, revealing truths, and providing power in everything that you do for Christ.

I cannot overstate that without prayer, you will fail at everything you try on behalf of the Kingdom. If God is not in it, then it isn’t worth your time doing it. Once I had to preach for an important occasion. No need for details, it is too embarrassing even today. I did not pray through the process, and it was the worst sermon I ever preached. Personally, I felt like it was the worst sermon ever preached in the history of mankind. Never forget to pray. Seeking divine guidance can bring clarity and insight into the interpretation of scripture. If you are locked in with the spirit, it will preach itself in most cases.

Peer Review or Theological Mentorship:

As you grow in ministry you will begin to recognize mighty preachers of the Gospel who you can bond with. You are not alone. In the beginning of my ministry, I was assigned a mentor within our church’s ministerial staff. To this day, we are both pastors and we enjoy just sharing a phone call occasionally. Usually, after we catch up on personal stuff the conversation flows to what is happening in ministry and how the Lord has been directing us. It is in these times that discussion of sermon ideas and interpretations come up. It is important to note that you need to make sure that you do this with fellow pastors or mentors who are knowledgeable in doctrine. They can offer feedback and ensure that your sermon aligns with sound theology. It is also helpful to review your past sermon prep. Everything is a learning opportunity. However, do not substitute peer review for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Prayer and the Holy Spirit take precedent over our peers.

Focus on Core Doctrines:

This key is critical for a preacher. Doctrinal issues arise every time you speak. Even plain conversations. The pulpit is a very powerful and dangerous place for one who does not preach the true Gospel. The Bible states it clearly three times within the synoptic Gospels the penalty for leading people astray. Those scriptures can be found in Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2. The Holy Bible is the only authoritative guide to proper doctrine. Even that sentence that I just shared is doctrine. The doctrine of God’s inerrant word.

It is important to make sure your sermon aligns with the core doctrines and beliefs of your denomination. Harvest is non-denominational, which means that our guardrails are found solely in scripture. Today’s culture requires us to delve into some pretty rough waters as we guide people away from society’s norms into the realm of heavenly principles. Subjects such as same-sex marriage, pornography, infidelity and sin among leaders in the church and how to deal with all of them cause great strain on congregations because pastors are not speaking on them and are weak in their approach. The Gospel is the good news. Do not preach fake news. Tell it like it is. There once was a study of college age believers. In that study, overwhelmingly, they preferred that a preacher tell the truth and let them process the information and make an educated choice in their faith walk. They absolutely rejected the premise of telling them what they wanted to hear. That is interpreted as leading them to destruction. Fittings for neck millstones are now occurring in the room through the double doors. Avoid branching into controversial or less-established interpretations without thorough research and understanding of how Jesus approached such matters.

You also should consider that you may have to stand alone one day. This cannot be a deterrent, but a place where your journey and an increase in faith may occur. Consider Matthew 7:13-14 (NASB), “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

BONUS TIP:Become a worshipper. That is right. Become a worshipper because worshippers have the best relationships with Christ. It is in worship that an intimate exchange on a spiritual level takes place. When you engage in your personal praise and worship time EVERY DAY, the Holy Spirit is released into the atmosphere around you, he becomes alive in you and it unlocks the understanding, and the mechanics necessary to write a powerful word for the people. Imagine if Jesus had fed the 5000 with rotten fish. That would have ended his ministry right there. But when you give fresh fish and fresh bread, the people are hungry and will eat that up quickly and come back for more. Fresh, hot bread is something there is no substitute for. You should be able to drift into worship mode with hands lifted up, voice crying out to God with no hesitation. Psalm 66:1-4, “Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; makes his praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are your works! Through the greatness of your power your enemies submit themselves to you'”.

Pastors and ministers alike can better ensure that their sermons are faithful to doctrinal teachings and resonate with their congregation in a meaningful way. I will keep you in my prayers that the God who created us and sustains us will be a strong tower for you and pour his Spirit out upon you as you faithfully discharge your duty to feed His sheep.

I pray that this has been a blessing to you. If you are not a registered partner with The Pastor’s Study, please connect with us and let’s journey together toward excellence in ministry for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.