This might be a series, so I  put #1 in the title. Knowing me though, it could be the first and the last. Nevertheless, I have a few things on my mind that I want to share with other preachers in hopes that it might be helpful, and I’ll just dish out one today. Here it is:

Live with the text.

If you are going to be preaching on a text, you need to have some time to live with the text. That means, you need to allow time to “let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16). Here are some reasons why:

1. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is the teacher of all things who guides us into all truth (John 14: 26 & 16:13). One thing I have learned is that if we want to really hear from God we will have to wait on God. Listening to the Holy Spirit in a real meaningful, transformational way takes more than a few hours on a Saturday evening. Additionally, we have no right to teach others what the Holy Spirit has not first taught us. This does not only mean only doctrinally, but practically. Not in mere theory but in praxis. Allow time for the Lord to correct and transform your own thoughts and behavior before you call others to do the same. This does not mean we have to be perfect or have it all together before we preach–we won’t. It does mean that we need to lead in what we preach and that means we will have to live with the text a while before we call others to do the same.

2. Speaking of Jesus, the Scriptures say that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Dwell with Jesus in and through the Word before you stand to proclaim Jesus in and through the Word. The people we speak to rightly expect that we have “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Before Jesus ever allowed His boys to preach for Him, he required that they be with him (See Mark 3:13-14). Our hearts and minds and lives and preaching need more time with Jesus.

3. Jesus spent time with real people in the real world. If the only time we interact with our text is in the study we run the risk of being merely  students in the pulpit and not people in the pulpit. When God wanted to communicate most throughly to humanity He became human (See Hebrews 1:1-3 & 1 John 1:1-3). If we are going to communicate the text most faithfully to people we need to be people of the text. We have to allow time for the text to interact with us as we interact with real people in the real world. This will yield the best illustrations and applications of the text, and this takes time. This concept alludes to something called the exegesis of life which we will talk about next time.

What I am not saying is that you need to study more… although maybe you do. May God have mercy on the preacher who is a lazy student! The best preachers are also the best students. What I am saying is that we need to live more! More living with and in and through the text, so that the Word is fleshed out in us and then ultimately through us as we endeavor to faithfully proclaim Christ to others.

Each time I add to this series (if ever again), I will recommend a book on preaching. There are many, and it takes self-control to just mention one right now. There are books on preaching that I like that are both old and new, but since I like old things best (guitars and books in particular), I will start with an oldie but a goodie:

Preaching by G. Cambell Morgan

This book is simply wonderful and very worth owning. The copy I have was printed in London in 1955 and I am sure it is out of print. Many of the best books in existence are out of print. You can find out of print books at abebooks.com. Whereas Charles Spurgeon was known as the “Prince of Preachers”, G. Cambell Morgan was known as the “Prince of Expositors.” You can read a little more about G. Cambell at theopedia.com.

My prayer is that we would live and preach Christ faithfully to a culture that needs Him desperately.

britt