Tips to Effective Preaching – Part 2

You must have an experience with the Cross. When the lame man was healed and everyone began to look to Peter and John as if they were someone great, Peter was quick to turn their attention away from them and direct it all to Jesus. He said, "why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk?"(Acts 3:12) Peter was quick to let them know it wasn’t them but Jesus. He even took it a step further to say it wasn’t even his faith but the faith that came from Jesus (Acts 3:16).

Today we might say it is Jesus coupled with our great faith and little do we realize we wouldn’t have the faith we have if He hadn’t given it to us (Romans 12:3). If we haven’t had a true experience with the cross, where we give all the glory to Jesus, our effectiveness in ministering the word will be limited at best. There will be times inevitably that people will look to us and we must take great care to continually point them to Jesus. God will share His glory with no one.

You need support. No matter how great we think we are and how great the call of God is on our life, we can’t do it alone. It was said of Peter, "taking his stand with the eleven" (Acts 2:14). They stood behind him in full support of him, his ministry, and all he was saying. If we’re going to be effective, it’s imperative that we have people who are behind us in full support, no matter what.

It’s interesting to me that just days before this Peter had denied the Lord. In the natural, they probably wouldn’t have chosen Peter. To be honest, I wouldn’t have chosen me, but God did. They knew, in spite of the failure Peter had experienced, he was the one Jesus had called and chosen, so they stood behind him in full support. Let that be a lesson for us. Let’s stand behind the man God has called. He may not be perfect, and he may go through some struggles now and then, but he’s still the one God has called and chosen.

Jesus said, "if you have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who will give you that which is your own" (Luke 16:12). Everyone needs a good "amen" corner! Others will notice those who are supportive of you and it will cause their confidence in you to be increased. If the truth be known, it encourages me when I know I have strong men and women standing behind me. When they are there and their support is made evident, it encourages me making me stronger, more confident and bolder than ever. Let’s get behind the man of God and make our support evident. As for those of us who are called, let’s realize we can’t do what God has called us to do unless there are faithful people who will get behind us.

Use voice inflection. It was said of Peter after he stood that he "raised his voice" (Acts 2:14). It doesn’t mean that he was screaming and yelling. No one likes it when people are screaming at them. A little child once said, "why is he so mad at us" referring to the preacher. On the other hand, people are bored to tears when a person is ministering in a completely monotone voice. It’s hard to keep their attention and could easily put them to sleep!

We want people to get as much out of what God has given to us for them as possible. The point is when we are trying to make an emphasis there should be a change in our voice to display the point that we’re trying to make. God will help you with this as you go on in your ministry. Often it will develop as we are impressed with the importance of what we are attempting to get across. The best thing I can say to you is, be yourself. Don’t try and be someone your not.