1) The Bible contains poetry, exposition, theological analysis, parables, historical accounts, song and more. Valid styles of preaching are just as varied; a.k.a. The “More than one way to skin a cat” Principle.
2) Which style of preaching is the style most likely to get your heart racing and the blood pumping through your veins? That’s probably the style of preaching that you should be attempting.
3) Preaching is not about you, and preaching is all about you. Understand this paradox in the following way: Bring the unique fingerprint of God’s image in you to your listeners, while doing all you can to not inflict the unique flaws of your sinful nature on them.
4) Read Ephesians 4:7-13 carefully. It is not the preaching that is the gift, but the preacher. Would your congregation describe you as a gift?
5) Passion, communication skills, and an understanding of the psychology of storytelling? Excellent. Emotionalism, being clever for the sake of being clever, and manipulation? Not so much.
6) One of the best skills a preacher can learn is discerning when being mocked, misunderstood and ignored is your own fault, and when it is just a Romans 8:17 thing (you only get to share in Christ’s glory if you share in his sufferings).
7) You need to put into words what God is already trying to teach His people, rather than what you think they need to learn. Therefore, the best preachers are the ones who know how to listen.
