How to Preach a Good Sermon

Church sermons teach the masses about the Lord and his wishes for followers, and are the showcase for any pastor or preacher. Sermons are used as an inspirational boost for church members throughout the week as well as a way to speak to the hearts and minds of those who listen. Preaching a good sermon can determine whether members remember the sermon or not. Although every sermon won't be a platinum hit, there are some sure-fire tactics to preaching a good sermon.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Paper/writing implement Bible or other scripture

1. Think about your target audience. If it is a special occasion such as Men's day or a youth service, you may want to decide on a sermon for your audience that is more targeted. You also need to title your sermon after you have come up with a general theme.

2. Prepare your scriptures ahead of time. Study and write down scriptures to back the focal points of your sermon so you are not stepping to the podium unprepared. Having scriptures at the ready will allow you to transition between your preaching points seamlessly so that the flow of your sermon is steady.

3. Write down pertinent notes without scripting the entire sermon. You don't want to sound like you are reading every single word when preaching a sermon because most people will not be moved by such robotic and planned dialogue. Jot down notes and important points and put them in order so you won't forget the exact point you are making and so you can lead the flock through your reasoning.

4. Speak from the heart. Church members, like other audiences, identify with a personal story, so speaking from the heart often means that you must involve yourself and some of the lessons life has taught you. Giving your personal testimony as witness during your sermon may help more people to connect with what you are preaching.

5. Pray before you preach. Prayer is a must before any sermon to ensure that your heart, mind, body, spirit and soul are aligned before you present yourself to the congregation. Your prayer should generally be that God guide you in your words and that your sermon be a blessing to someone you are preaching to.

6. Allow the spirit to move you. If you happen to step on stage and the open communicative line with the Lord is leading you in a different direction then what your sermon was, don't be afraid to follow it. When a sermon is preached from a genuine place in the heart, the audience is more likely to understand that it is off the cuff and that God is at work in the midst of the congregation. Allow the spirit of the Lord to move you in the direction it wishes to go because you never know who may need to hear what he is laying on your heart at that time.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the inflection of your voice and emphasize important words to draw audience attention to key points.

• Pat attention to losing your audience because a sermon is going on too long; have a cut-off point and time in mind.

Resources

• Find more helpful tips on preaching a sermon here.