The Art of Preaching

Sermon Preparation is an art. Preaching is an art.

However, any artist knows that becoming good at art requires special tools and a lot of practice. And preaching a good sermon is no exception. And this is where Sermon Coaching can come in. This type of coaching allows for guidance and feedback in the art of understanding the biblical text, making it applicable to today, and delivering it in a way that connects with the people. With a sermon coach, the preacher will go deeper in the initial study time and clearer in the delivery of God’s Word.

The Six basic steps of Sermon Preparation.

  • Investigate.

    It all begins with you and the text. No commentaries. No dictionaries. No extra notes. Just you and the biblical text. Observe what’s there. Make connections. Get to know the environment. And learn to listen.

  • Dig deep.

    Now, it's time to bring out the tools. Understand the words. Consult with other authors. Investigate nuances. Intent to learn everything about the text and its context. Find that gold nugget hidden in the text.

  • Build a bridge.

    Connect past truths to today’s life. Determine what this ancient text says to today’s society. Find the application for your life. A truth to be lived. A sin to be confessed. A promise to be lived. An emotion to be surrendered.

  • Structure.

    Bring it all together. Structure your sermon. Introduce the key subject. make it cohesive. Fill it with illustrations. Give it a common theme. make sure its applicable. And plan your finishing sentences.

  • Preach.

    Before you step up to the pulpit, make sure you have internaized what you plan to say. Know your audience. Eliminate the distractions thatyou can control. And then share God’s message with confidence.

  • Evaluate.

    Have a system in place that helps you to improve. People of confidence who provide feedback. Your own reflection time. And action steps to improve next time. Make it a point to get better with each sermon.

Sermon Coaching?

Any good preacher will want to improve their sermons. Why? Sermons are one of the main tools that help people understand the Bible and grow spiritually. The better the sermon, the better people understand what God communicates.

  • The coach will listen to a few of your sermons and give some feedback. Depending on the area that needs improvement, one or more of the steps will need to be studied. The next two to three sermons will apply the steps and implement the feedback from the coach.

    Ultimately, the coach will spend a few weeks accompanying the preacher as he prepares, preaches, and evaluates his sermons.

  • The preacher, the church boards, or the congregational leader might be the ones connecting with the sermon coach. What’s important is that the preacher is ok with receiving feedback and wants to improve.

  • Absolutely. Group Coaching might be a perfect way for you to train lay people for preaching, become Sunday School teachers, or become better small group leaders. The six steps of sermon preparation are not just applicable to sermons.