10 Habits Poisoning Your Preaching

As faithful preachers, we recognize the inherent tension in our calling.

We believe in the power of God's word, knowing it will not return void and will accomplish its purpose. However, we also acknowledge the need to continuously refine our preaching craft, fanning the flame of the gift God has given us.

In this article, we're going to look at the 10 habits that (could be) poisoning your preaching.

“Becoming a great preacher, like becoming a great artist, requires a life commitment.” - Calvin Miller

Indirect Habits Poisoning Your Preaching

Like an iceberg, where a small visible portion hides a much larger mass beneath the surface, certain seemingly unrelated habits can significantly impact the quality of your preaching. 

Never Taking a Day Off

Many preachers find it difficult to disconnect from ministry. Instead of resting, they find themselves consistently neglecting personal time for hobbies and connecting with loved ones.

But research shows that 'psychological detachment from work' offers various benefits, including reduced fatigue, improved physical and mental health, enhanced marital satisfaction, and increased engagement at work.

Prioritizing rest and getting away from work will make you a healthier, more effective preacher.

Neglecting Sleep

Friend, you're not a robot.

And the irony is, even machines need to recharge.

Prioritizing adequate sleep is crucial for living, leading, and preaching at your best.

Listen to the Lord. Trust Him. You need to sleep. You need to rest.

Ignoring Sin in Your Life

You know this...

Unconfessed sin can hinder your effectiveness as a preacher, whether anyone is aware of your sin or not.

Proverbs 28:13 reminds us that concealing transgressions will not lead to prosperity.

But confessing and forsaking sin brings freedom and allows you to preach with genuine conviction and authenticity.

Dealing with personal sin is essential for effective preaching.

Staying in Your Office All Week

Listen, I get it. Diligent study and sermon preparation are crucial. But spending all your time in the office can disconnect you from the people you're called to minister to.

Engaging with your congregation, understanding their challenges, and connecting with their lives will enrich your preaching and make it more relevant.

If you want to effectively connect theology with the lives of your people, it's crucial to understand anthropology as much as you understand theology. And the best way to grow your understanding of people is to spend more time with... people.

Losing Your Love for the People

Ministry can be challenging.

If you've been in this for some time, you've had your share of trials, hurt, and even sabotage. And I'll be the first one to sit and listen and lament what you've gone through. It's now how it ought to be.

AND, the foundation of our calling remains loving God and loving people.

When your love for your people fades, it sabotages your preaching, regardless of how well-crafted your sermons may be.

Re-read 1 Corinthians 13, friend.

Direct Habits Poisoning Your Preaching

Now, let's move on to the habits that directly relate to your preaching and can hinder your effectiveness.

Reading Too Many Commentaries

Commentaries are valuable resources. I love commentaries. But when you spend too much time reading commentaries, you can miss the point of preaching. I've talked to preachers who started out as professors in the academic world, and they will be the first to admit that preaching and Bible college or Seminary level lectures are very different.

Remember...

You’re preaching the living word of God to people who desperately need to hear and obey Jesus. It’s a matter of life and death, a passionate invitation to trust and obey.

This is not a mere theological lecture delivered by a learned intellect.

Jumping Off the Text

When you use a passage as a springboard to address a personal agenda rather than focusing on the text's intended message, you're making a poisonous mistake.

Faithful preaching remains rooted in the scriptures, allowing God's Word to shape and guide the message, not personal opinions or agendas.

Having No Direct Aim

Average preaching often lacks a specific goal or point. And what results? Vague and general messages that don't get into people's hearts. Transformative preaching, on the other hand, is specifically true, addressing the particular sins and struggles of the present day with clear, relevant applications.

Specificity helps your people understand how God's Word directly applies to the particularities of their lives.

Having Too Few Illustrations

People connect with stories, visuals, and metaphors. People need pictures. They need stories. They need anecdotes to be able to see. Because they connect with seeing truth, not just hearing it. It helps them make new connections in their own life when they can see a new word-picture.

When you use sermon illustrations, you teach in a new way. You make connections that take the truth of the text 

Having a Lack of Tension and Urgency

Creating tension and urgency in your sermons helps your congregation understand the importance and relevance of the message for their lives. When you don't point out the tension and urgency in your message, it's going to be more difficult for your people to see the importance of the message.

But if you want your people to experience transformation, it's vital to point out what is at stake if they follow the Lord in this and what is at stake if they don't.

You might be tempted to believe that they already know why this is important. It's clear. But it probably isn't. 

So, clearly articulate what is at stake if they choose to ignore God's call and what becomes possible when they choose to obey.

Grow Your Preaching

If you want to be faithful to the text, prepare efficiently, and craft your sermon memorably, I’ve got just the thing to help. It’s called the 10-step guide to writing a sticky sermon and it’s yours for free. Just click here to grab your copy.