Ten Tips for Post-Modern Preaching
Yesterday at the ATL Church Planting Network's monthly gathering, Bob Cargo and Shane Wheeler provided the training segment, focusing on gospel-centered preaching in a post-modern context. Here are ten tips that I gleaned from their helpful presentation.
- We must exegete both the text and our culture.
- Continually distinguish the gospel from religion.
- Always be reading a top 10 best seller to stay current.
- Know the questions people would ask in the text and how it applies to them.
- If we wound with the law, we must heal with the gospel.
- I must deal with my own heart before preaching / preach as a broken man who needs the gospel as the chief of sinners. So don't just prepare the message; prepare the preacher.
- Preach to minds as well as to hearts (emotions/affections) and motives, emphasizing that the power for change and the right motive resides in gospel-faith (Jesus is my righteousness), not self-effort.
- If I am not believing the gospel, I am under the influence of an idol -- idols must be uncovered in sermons and replaced with the gospel.
- Speaking to non-Christians, addressing their issues, questions, fears, etc. (even if they are not yet present) in sermons will equip Christians to share with non-Christians. If we preach this way, non-Christians eventually will be present.
- Can my message pass Bryan Chapell's 3AM test? If roused from sleep at 3am on Saturday night, could I state clearly and confidently the main point of that morning's sermon? In other words, would hearers be able to tweet the main point of the message (140 words or less)?
