Preach The Word–s!

Most ministers are intimately familiar with Paul’s imperative to his young protégé Timothy: “Preach the Word!” (2 Timothy 4:2). It’s an excellent text, frequently cited in pastoral ordination sermons and preaching lectures.

Yet many evangelicals committed to “preaching the Word” do not seem as committed to using it much in their sermons. The preacher dutifully reads the text at the beginning of the sermon, but as his sermon unfolds, listeners hear less and less of the biblical text.

While the threefold pattern of explanation, illustration, and application comprise the essential elements of sound, expository preaching, consider how frequently–or infrequently–the actual words of the text occur throughout the message.

While there are many ways to preach a passage, consider why preachers are wise to speak (and repeat) as many of the actual words of the biblical text as possible during the sermon:

Authority

If we believe the authority of our preaching is located in the text of scripture, then we will speak the actual words of the text as much as possible.

To be clear, I am not arguing that each word of a text contains its own power apart from its relationship to other words in the passage. We are not prepared to preach until we have discovered the context and meaning through careful exegesis and sound hermeneutics.

However, once we have discovered the meaning, we will speak the actual words as much as possible because we believe authority and power are localized in the text.

Frequency

The “law of frequency” asserts that learning increases as content is repeated or emphasized. Applied to preaching, the more we speak the actual words of a text, the more likely our hearers will learn it.

Because preachers can only say so much in thirty or forty minutes, expositors committed to speaking as much of the text as possible will craft their sermons accordingly.

Unlike sermons heavily weighted in lengthy illustrations or first-person narratives, preachers committed to making much of the text will give as much time as possible to the Word itself.

Memory

Like most ministers, I have faced the challenge of being my family’s pastor. When my two sons were small, they were constantly hearing Dad preach.

Often, after Sunday morning worship, I would ask them a question. Perhaps during lunch or later, I’d ask, “What did the preacher preach about?”

This was a slightly humorous way to remind them that they were expected to listen to the preacher (even if he was their dad!) and a means to measure the sermon’s effectiveness.

It was a humbling exercise, to be sure, but it reminded me that the more I spoke the actual words of the text, the more likely they were to remember it.

So, as you “preach the Word” this Sunday, preach as much of the “words” of your text as possible!