10 Misconceptions About Preaching

I once heard someone say that preaching is sometimes like a university lecture, where the information passes from the notes of the professor to the notes of the student without passing through the brain of either.

Unfortunately there are a lot of misconceptions about what preaching really is and about how you should do it. Sometimes it’s helpful to identify those misconceptions to determine what preaching is not and then you can go from there.

Probably the most elaborate pulpit I’ve ever preached from.

Here are a few common misconceptions that I’ve come across over the years.

Preaching is not:

1. A running commentary (it’s necessary but there is much more).

2. A theological dissertation (theology is important but only effective when  we  make it clear and applicable to the people).

3. A time to prove your point on minor theological issues (We need to keep our own little theological quirks to ourselves while preaching. If it is not important it doesn’t belong in the pulpit).

4. A time to complain about everyone else’s faults in the church and outside of the church.

5. A mystical/spiritual process that needs no preparation.

6. A political speech.

7. A passionate tirade about anything and everything (Let you passion be informed, biblical, prepared and logical).

8. A time to impress people with your ability to speak, tell stories or come up with unique interpretations (This is often a temptation, however, our goal should bes for people to see beyond us to Christ).

9. A step by step “self help” or “recovery system”.

10. A time to make people feel “good” or “bad” about themselves.

Preaching may include many of the elements I just mention above but when any of those factors becomes the driving force then you can know that it has drifted off course.

What is preaching then?

Here is my definition:

Personal communication of God’s Word that explains and applies truth to man’s life.

If you want a more detailed definition try Haddon W. Robinson’s definition of expository preaching.

Expository preaching

– the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through

a historical,

grammatical,

literary study of a passage in its context,

which the Holy Spirit first applies

to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through him to his hearers.

By the way, Robinson’s book Biblical Preaching: The Development and Delivery of Expository Messages is hands down the most useful book I’ve found on the art of preaching. If you have a chance, you should read it.

Question: What other misconceptions about preaching have you come across?