When a man is initially called into ministry, it’s not usual that he possesses fully developed skills to preach God’s Word to a congregation. Exceptions exist, but the normal course for a man who is called into ministry is to prepare himself to preach by studying and practicing homiletics (along with all other pastorate studies).
What Exactly Is Homiletics, and Why Should We Care?
Let’s be honest, not all preaching is good preaching. We’ve all had to endure some painful Sunday mornings where we’d rather watch paint dry than listen to another second of the pastor’s sermon. Homiletics is the art of crafting a sermon, and proper use of it can mean the difference between pews full of dull, glazed-over eyes and pews full of people gripped and pierced by God’s Word.
The reason homiletics matters to the congregation is because their growth and maturity is greatly impacted by the effective preaching and teaching of God’s Word. That’s because the Holy Spirit Who sanctifies us moves and works through God’s Word. If a pastor is not effectively preaching God’s Word, he is starving his sheep and dulling the glory of Christ. Good preaching, however, isn’t entertainment; instead, it is God’s Word effectively and truthfully communicated by the pastor.
The Ancient Roots of Homiletics
Homiletics is closely tied to the art of public speaking. In the ancient world, homiletics would have been a highly valued skill since rhetoric was especially prized and was used by people such as philosophers and poets. Paul addressed this in his speech to the Greeks at the Areopagus (Acts 17, esp. v. 28). This may even be hinted at in 1 Corinthians 2:4 where Paul states, “we did not come to you in cleverness of speech…”
Homiletics has a long-standing history among God’s people who were entrusted with His Word. Ezra provides a great example of this. Ezra 7:6 tells us Ezra was “skilled in the law of Moses, which Yahweh, the God of Israel had given.” The inference is that Ezra knew and proclaimed the law to the people. Ezra 7:10-11 adds weight to Ezra’s example of the discipline necessary to preach God’s Word effectively, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of Yahweh and to practice it, and to teach His statute and judgment in Israel.” Ezra 10:10-12 shows us Ezra admonishing the people from the Word of the Lord. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra read aloud the book of the Law along with the Levites who explained, gave insight into, and provided understanding of the Word (vv. 2-7).
By the time of Christ, the Bible and other sources regularly mention teaching in the synagogues (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:15; John 6:59). Almost the entire chapter of Acts 13 is devoted to the narrative about Paul (later joined by Barnabas) preaching the gospel to a large assembly in the Pisidian Antioch synagogue. As mentioned above, Paul’s sermon on the Areopagus is a wonderful example of fruitful homiletics where Paul strategically tailors his sermon to the Greek culture without compromising truth.
The early church fathers, including Clement of Rome, John Chrysostom, and Augustine set the benchmark for the second through eighth centuries. Editor Beryl Smalley, in “The Study of the Bible in the Middle Ages,” put it succinctly: “St. Jerome gave the medieval scholar his text and his learned apparatus; St. Augustine told him what his aim should be.” It has impacted homiletics since their time.
Our modern age has preachers who span the whole gamut of preaching styles. Their homiletics range between topical, expository, textual, and evangelistic. Pastors’ approaches to preaching a sermon are dictated by their end goal, whether that be to expand on a topic, thoroughly exegete a passage, or provide application, etc. Preaching styles tend toward topical messages which address today’s life issues. Adding personal or other stories, many preachers illustrate their sermons to create a personal connection to their audience, often using modern technology (and even AI) to boost the force of their message.
Why Does the Bible Emphasize Preaching?
Through effective preaching, God works through His Word. The Holy Spirit works through His Word. As John Calvin said, “The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, and the two are inextricably connected.”
When they voiced what the Lord said to them, the Old Testament prophets proclaimed, “Thus says the Lord” (Exodus 4:22; 5:1; Joshua 24:2; 1 Samuel 2:27; Jeremiah 28:13, etc.). Their first charge was to get it right according to what the Lord told them to proclaim. The prophets were the preachers.
The New Testament commands that the Scriptures be preached, and it also gives practical guidance and examples of preaching.
2 Timothy 4:2 commands us to “preach the word; be ready in season out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and teaching.” There’s never a time when preaching God’s Word is prohibited by the Bible.
In Romans 10:14-15 Paul writes, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!” He follows this statement up with a key truth, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
One more verse will add an exclamation point to our call to preach the Word of God. 1 Corinthians 9:16 is clear about the state of one who refuses to preach the Word, “For if I proclaim the gospel, I have nothing to boast, for I am under compulsion. For woe is me if I do not proclaim the gospel.”
Can Homiletics Make a Difference in How We Preach?
It is the hope of seminary professors, church congregations, and the Lord himself that an astute study and practice of homiletics will make a huge difference in how a pastor preaches. Learning how to prepare and present a sermon stands alongside knowing Scripture. They work hand-in-hand because a preacher should know his audience so he can address their gospel and life needs. For a pastor to present theology well, he should employ the language of his congregation. Doing so will enable him to connect Scripture with real-life applications.
Homiletics in its purest form is a labor of love for the pastor, and his love is first and foremost for God, for handling His Word rightly, and also for his congregation. The pastor shouldn’t be consumed by what he would like to say, but by what his congregation needs him to say (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). This distinguishes effective preaching from ineffective preaching
Many an audience member has drifted off to the drone of an ill-equipped, seemingly uninterested pastor. Homiletics stokes the fire of biblical exposition and delivery so the pastor’s fervor for sharing God’s Word is warm and inviting—even on fire with excitement. The clarity, passion, and structure of a pastor’s message matters as he shares the life-changing truths of God’s Word. Pastor Scott T. Brown imparts a truism about the relationship between a pastor and his congregation, “As the pulpit goes, so goes the church.”
What Are the Essential Ingredients of a Great Sermon?
Four key components of a great sermon are prayer, exegesis (studying the Bible and getting the meaning out of a passage), contextualization (a message faithful to God’s Word and which connects to the listeners), making sure it’s a Christo-centric message (i.e., centered on Christ since Scripture’s whole purpose is to exalt Him), and application (how can each church member apply the message to his or her life). After that comes more prayer as the Lord leads the pastor in delivering the message.
Pastor Chip Thornton shares a thoughtful and organized approach to crafting a sermon that’s faithful to Scripture and relevant to listeners (He credits SBTS seminary professor Al Fason with the steps).
He suggests:
1. Study the text on which you plan to preach.
2. Employing excellent hermeneutics, discern the single meaning of the text.
3. State the timeless principle of the text (Thornton says, “The timeless principle is the bridge between the ancient text and the contemporary context. It conveys how the text is relevant today.”)
4. Determine the Major Objective of the Sermon (MOS). What do you hope to accomplish in this one sermon at this one time for this one audience?
5. Compose a sermon title to keep yourself on track.
6. Draft your sermon outline.
Pray for humility, a right rendering of God’s Word, and to make much of Jesus.
Is Homiletics Just for Pastors, or Can Anyone Benefit?
The Bible tells us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
God is able and does work through anybody, with or without official schooling, to preach and share Christ in daily life. Whether you are a pastor, a Bible teacher, or an everyday student of the Bible (or even a writer who expounds Scripture), all Christians use God’s Word to edify, encourage, and counsel each other, as well as to evangelize. In this way, homiletics helps the entire church as we strive to conform to God’s Word and will.
Homiletics serves both the preacher and the church. When God’s Word is communicated using excellent homiletics, the congregation is better able to grow in their faith and conform to God’s will. The Holy Spirit sanctifies the believer’s heart by conforming us to God’s Word. With His help, we understand the Word, are instructed and inspired by it, and gain wisdom on how to speak the truth to others. Homiletics, therefore, plays a crucial role in helping God’s Word resonate in the heart of the believer.
How Does Homiletics Help Us Proclaim the Good News?
Homiletics also helps us to know how to best share the Good News of Jesus Christ. The gospel message is like a foreign language to a nonbeliever. It is helpful, therefore, to consider how to effectively communicate the gospel because the darkened mind won’t grasp the Gospel on its own (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).
When we study the practice of excellent homiletics, it helps us communicate the gospel more effectively with our audience. And a keen desire of all the church should be clarity when testifying about Jesus to others. Don’t let homiletics scare you; use what God gives you to proclaim His Good News in a winsome, engaging, and heartfelt way.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Rawpixel
