Tips to Effective Preaching

Let’s look at some real examples of effective preaching. Our text will be from Acts 2 where Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, and from Acts 3 where the lame man was healed while they were on their way to the temple.

In both of these instances Peter ministered in such a way that thousands were saved. I think we can learn a lot from Peter (Acts 2:14-38 & 3:12-26).

Study. As you look at these two messages from Peter, you will see that he had studied the word. In both instances he was suddenly given the opportunity to preach, and he was "instant in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). There is no shortcut to "studying to show yourself approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

When I first started preaching, after pioneering our first church, I would minister on a different book of the bible every service and we had three services a week! I used no less than seven commentaries on each book. After researching them thoroughly, I would then seek the Lord as to how He wanted me to present the message and what kind of application He wanted for His people.

This took a lot of time and effort, but it was well worth it. It placed ample research under my belt to draw upon later when I wouldn’t have as much time. Taking shortcuts to in depth study will rob you of the rich jewels that the Lord desires to give you from His word and Spirit.

Memorize the Word. There is nothing more powerful than the Word of God. Peter, in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, quoted large and obscure passages of scripture. He didn’t pull out a scroll and start looking things up, he knew them by heart. We have the promise that His word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:10-11). It is sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). The word will do more in the hearts of people than I ever can. When I was first saved I made up my mind that I wanted to give people God’s answer to the problems of life and not only what I thought. My opinion is not worth much, but what God has to say is of eternal value.

Nothing has helped me in my preaching and teaching more than the memorization of scripture. Even if people have a hard time taking it all in, it will go on to work in their lives for years to come. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would "bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever he has said unto us" (John 14:26). His promise is that He will bring the appropriate scripture to us when it is needed the most. It was said of Jesus that when He was in a house in Capernaum, and there was so many people crowding into the house that there was no longer any room, that "He preached the word unto them" (Mark 2:2). It’s the word that makes our ministry truly effective as it did Jesus’.

Be dependent upon the Lord. Jesus said, "apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5) If we’re going to be effective preachers and teachers of the word we’re going to have to be in complete dependence upon Him. Peter learned this the hard way. Remember he said to Jesus that, "though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended." And again, "though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee" (Matthew 26:33 & 35). I think Peter meant his commitment but you see he was depending on himself and not Jesus. He had a very hard lesson to learn. When he stood on the day of Pentecost I believe he was no longer leaning on his own strength but completely on God’s.

I honestly feel sorry for those who have so many strong natural abilities. It’s hard for them not to depend upon those natural strengths instead of depending completely upon Him. I know that any thing of worth coming from my life is totally and completely Him. I believe God has gifted me with an ability to handle His word, but I also know without a doubt it’s all Him and that I can never get up to minister without His divine aid. Every time I cry out to Him, letting Him know that unless He does it through me, it is bound for disaster. Let’s abandon any self confidence and self dependency and place it all on the Holy Spirit to do His work through us. It’s only what He does through us that will have any true and lasting effectiveness.