The Need For Great Preaching

 One thing all successful pastors have in common is that they are good preachers. I cannot see how they minister to individual people, especially in private. I cannot watch how they treat their wives at home. But I can see their activity in public. I can tell if and how they pray in a public, corporate settings. I can watch, and listen, to how they preach. Most of the larger churches in our Fellowship are pastored by men who have become very good preachers.

What makes a good preacher? I think that he must have something relevant to say, and he must know how to say it so that people want to listen. I think of course that his preaching must be both scriptural and practical. What does the Bible say, and how does that work out in the real world where we live. A good preacher saves the punchline till the end. He does not lay all of his cards on the table in point one. He knows how to save the best until last. He can often have a surprise ending that you weren't expecting. Some pastors are natural communicators. Other men have to work hard to become better at what they do.

Preaching, like the news, must be interesting, informative, and a little entertaining. And of course, true.

You can be a faithful pastor and be used by God to minister to any size group. You do not have to be a great preacher to love people. But to grow in numbers and in influence, you must become a great preacher.