Do You Preach a Good Sermon?

This was found on the Acts29 Blog.

8 Qualities of a Good Sermon

I asked people on Twitter to share the characteristics of what they thought comprised a good sermon. I compiled their helpful thoughts and came up with 8 qualities.

1. Gospel-centered

Leads to the cross and trust/surrender in Jesus. Uses the Scriptures to unearth the heart not behavior. Bringing people to repentance Did Christ need to die for this to be true? Having the main thrust of the passage explained & applied in a way that grips and changes me Missional/Evangelistic

2. Bible-based, exegetically-sound (Intelligent but not academically arrogant)

3. Empowered by the Holy Spirit

4. Preached through a passionately changed man

5. Relationally-connected

Displaying honesty and authenticity Inspirational (not just informational) Challenging and encouraging Humbly and compassionately Engaging (not boring) Contextualized Winsome

6. Simple, memorable and concise with clarity of thought

7. Bible-generated points of application

Answers the question, "So, now what?"

8. Leads to the worship of Jesus

Preaching with Smoke, Fire, Blood and Water

Kevin Bruursema, Location and Teaching Pastor at New Life Community Church in Chicago offered these nuggets on preaching in an email to me.

Smoke

Good preaching sets an aroma/atmosphere/environment that opens the way for the voice of God.

Fire

Good preaching has the fire of living passion and illumination. Fire is an element that can be harnessed for good use; can be used to destroy evil things; Fire can also hurt good people if used improperly. Fire illumines and gives insight

Blood

Good preaching only really happens if the preacher is bleeding his own blood with his message. He's suffering the truth in his own life and it lives through him. Good preaching has to flow from a preacher who is being cleansed with Christ's blood through repentance and obedience.

Water

Good preaching brings refreshing, restoration and life. It brings renewal and resurrection.