What should you not do when preaching?

Preaching is a sacred calling and responsibility. As preachers, we have the privilege of sharing God’s word and truth with our congregations. However, there are certain things we must be careful not to do when preaching, as we can inadvertently misrepresent Scripture, confuse people, or even turn them away from the faith. In this article, we’ll explore some key mistakes to avoid when preaching God’s word.

Using Scripture Out of Context

One of the most dangerous things a preacher can do is take Bible verses out of context to make them say something they don’t really say. This distorts God’s word and misleads the congregation. For instance, Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Some preachers have taken this to mean God will help you achieve any worldly goal or ambition. However, in context, Paul is talking about being content and relying on Christ’s strength in all circumstances – not achieving self-glorifying exploits.

We must faithfully exegete Scripture in context to understand what it originally meant. Ripping verses out of context leaves people with misconceptions about God’s word.

Mishandling Scripture

Similarly, we must be careful not to mishandle Scripture by over-simplifying, spiritualizing or allegorizing texts. We need to discern whether a passage should be taken literally, figuratively, generally or specifically. For example, some preachers treat the creation account in Genesis 1-2 overly literally, without recognizing its poetic genre. Others completely spiritualize it instead of recognizing it communicates literal, historical truth.

Rightly handling the word of God takes prayerful study and wisdom. As preachers, we are responsible for accurately interpreting and applying Scripture in our sermons.

Proof-Texting

Proof-texting involves stringing together isolated verses to prove a theological argument, without regard for context. This mistaken practice imposes our own ideas onto Scripture, rather than drawing out biblical authors’ original intent. Even valid doctrines can be falsely “proved” by piecing together decontextualized fragments of Bible verses.

While building doctrinal points upon multiple scriptures is valid, we must ensure we exegete each passage accurately in context first. Cherry-picking verses as “proof texts” easily leads to false teaching.

Eisegesis Instead of Exegesis

Exegesis involves drawing out a passage’s original meaning, while eisegesis reads foreign ideas into the text. Unfortunately, it’s easy to slip into eisegesis by importing our own assumptions and agendas onto Scripture. This distorts God’s word and deceives hearers.

As preachers, we must humbly approach Scripture seeking to understand what God has said through human authors. We should pray for self-awareness regarding any biases or presuppositions we bring to the text. Responsible exegesis requires acknowledging what we don’t know and submitting our minds to Scripture.

Preaching Without Adequate Preparation

Strong preaching requires diligent sermon preparation through prayerful study. Unfortunately, some preachers fail to set aside adequate preparation time amidst other ministry responsibilities. This often leads to shallow, poorly-supported sermons lacking scriptural substance.

Such sermons not only fail to feed the flock, but can distort God’s word when preached without textual grounding. As stewards of Scripture, we must prioritize sermon preparation and not preach until we’ve prayerfully studied the biblical text at hand.

Neglecting Difficult Passages

Certain biblical texts challenge our understanding, such as passages on God’s judgment or Israel’s conquest of Canaan. Some preachers avoid wrestling with these difficult texts, preferring to focus on more straightforward, uplifting passages.

However, all Scripture is God-breathed and useful (2 Timothy 3:16). Neglecting difficult texts stunts our understanding and leaves people ill-equipped to interpret them. Responsible preaching prayerfully explores biblical difficulties instead of avoiding unpleasant truths.

Lack of Gospel Clarity

In our desire to preach “practical” life advice, it’s easy to minimize the gospel of salvation in our sermons. Yet the gospel is Christianity’s heart and centerpiece. Preachers must continually clarify how every passage relates to Christ’s redemptive work.

Vague moralizing or simply listing biblical principles fails to ground the faith in the saving grace of Jesus. Our teaching should always explicate how the text informs the gospel message on some level.

Prioritizing Stories Over Scripture

Stories and illustrations help hearers connect biblical truth to real life. However, some preachers value captivating anecdotes over substantive biblical exposition in their messages. Interesting stories may entertain listeners, but they easily obscure the passage’s meaning.

Our sermons must major on the biblical text, not peripherals. Stories and illustrations should support Scripture, not eclipse it. Strong preaching dives deeply into the passage first before surfacing for air with concise, clarifying illustrations.

Major Errors to Avoid When Preaching

Having explored some introductory pitfalls, let’s examine three major errors to avoid at all costs when preaching.

1. Distorting Scripture

Whether from inadequate study or overt heresy, distorted preaching perverts God’s word. Paul warns, “…we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God” (2 Cor. 4:2).

Tragically, church history contains many examples of preachers deliberately twisting Scripture. We must stalwartly commit to rightly handling God’s word, allowing it to correct us. We should feel trembling awe at the privilege of opening the Bible before God’s people.

2. Putting Personal Opinions Over Scripture

Some preachers interject excessive commentary and tangents, effectively elevating their own opinions over Scripture. But our ideas must remain subordinate to God’s word.

Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word…correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Tim 4:2). Preaching should unfold the text’s original meaning, not primarily showcase our own perspectives. Our task is to submit to Scripture, not pontificate on personal pet interests.

3. People-Pleasing

Fear of man tempts some preachers to soften hard biblical truths to avoid offending listeners. But tailoring our preaching to tickle ears distorts the uncompromising gospel. Paul says preach the word “in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2) – whether it’s well-received or not.

Watering down offensive scriptural teachings may garner larger followings, but we are called to fidelity. Jesus himself lost crowds when his teaching became too costly to follow (John 6:66). We must preach truth unhindered by concerns of approval or attendance.

Practical Habits For Faithful Preaching

We’ve surveyed key mistakes which undermine gospel preaching. Thankfully Scripture also provides positive habits to cultivate faithful preaching. Let’s explore some practical disciplines to help keep our pulpit ministry centered on Christ:

Prayerful Reliance on the Spirit

Since preaching aims to transform hearts, our teaching must be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Just as Paul testified “my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power” (1 Cor. 2:4), we must depend on spiritual illumination – not just rhetorical skill – to preach effectively.

Regular prayer preceding sermon prep humbles us and invokes the Spirit’s aid to understand and apply God’s word. We should plead for courage to preach Scripture fully and call people to repentance. Zealous prayer is essential for fruitful preaching.

Thorough Exegesis

We’ve already touched on this vital practice. Diligent exegesis prayerfully interprets the text in its historical-grammatical context to discern the original Spirit-intended meaning. While commentaries can enrich our study, we must do the hard exegetical digging ourselves week by week.

Interpretive questions to answer include: What did this passage mean to the original audience? What literary form and devices did the author employ? How does the text fit in the surrounding context? What is the flow of thought? How does this point to Christ? Our goal is not novelty, but fidelity to the thrust of the passage.

Scripture-Saturated Sermons

Great preaching feeds people actual Scripture, not just our own opinions. Our messages should brim with biblical references, quote richly from the passage, and explicate theological connections with other texts.

People need more than just a few scattered proof-texts. Our sermons must allow Scripture to interpret Scripture in showing how all of the Bible centers on Christ. This requires steeping ourselves regularly in God’s word beyond sermon prep. Scripture saturation breeds strong preaching.

Christ-Centered Focus

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for nullifying God’s word for the sake of their traditions (Mark 7:13). It’s easy to burden sermons today with sentimentality, politics, psychology, self-help or pet interests which eclipse Christ. But Jesus must remain the focal point.

Paul resolved to preach nothing other than “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). We must resist allowing cultural trends to set the agenda. Our ultimate topic is not social ills, family dynamics, finance or politics – as legitimate as these concerns are contextually – but the redemptive glory of the crucified and risen Lamb.

Relevant Application

Doctrine and exegesis are essential, but people need help understanding how to apply biblical truth. Our messages should draw out timely application to everyday challenges and equipping for ministry.

This requires prayerfully meditating on how the passage confronts modern life and culture. How should it reshape our priorities and choices today? What false worldviews does it undermine? Does it call for specific repentance and renewed obedience in any area? God’s ageless word remains piercingly relevant, and skillful application brings this home for all generations.

Guarding Our Motives and Aims

In addition to these practical habits, faithful preaching requires cultivating pure motives and aims:

Preach to Glorify God, Not Self

Preaching can easily become self-serving if our underlying motive is making a name for ourselves instead of magnifying Jesus. He said some seek positions of prestige, “that all their deeds may be seen by others” (Matt. 23:5). We must beware mixed motives.

Do we covet the limelight or praise for our oratory skills? Is a large following our ultimate aim? Church growth and engaging communication are not bad, but grow out of humility. Our driving passion must be exalting Christ’s name, not our own.

Seek to Make Disciples, Not Just Converts

Many preachers focus exclusively on evangelistic results like response cards, aisle walks and prayers uttered. But do these statistics translate into mature disciples and spiritual fruit? Overflow altars may offer hollow results if we fail at discipleship.

Biblical preaching aims for heart transformation beyond initial professions of faith. Paul’s goal was “to present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend…” (Col. 1:28-29). We should preach to see holiness and Christlike love nurtured in God’s people unto spiritual maturity.

Rely on Truth, Not Methods or Emotion

While learning principles of effective communication is beneficial, we must be wary of methodolatry – trusting persuasive techniques over Scripture itself. The power of preaching resides not in ourselves but in God’s word (Heb. 4:12) and Spirit.

Some preachers work congregations into emotional frenzies which lack lasting impact. But true revival springs from Spirit-anointed exposition. Reliance on manipulative tactics ultimately proves hollow. Our confidence rests in the inherent authority and relevance of Scripture.

Conclusion

Scripture warns that not many should become teachers, since preachers incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1). Handling God’s word is solemn business. By avoiding key errors and developing wise practices, we can preach faithfully and bear enduring gospel fruit in our hearers.

May God give us humility and great care to handle his word accurately. As we preach Christ crucified, risen and returning amidst cultural tumult, may we stay rooted in Scripture and Spirit-empowered. Only then will our labors prove eternally worthwhile, as God uses us to proclaim his unchanging gospel of grace to our changing world.

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