The Four C’s of Effective Preaching

Speaker

Any preacher who is diligently striving to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5) will want to carry out that work as effectively as possible. But how can one effectively preach the gospel of Christ? In this article, I would like to consider four points explaining how this is done. These points are not based upon personal experience, human wisdom, or any sort of formal religious training. Rather, these points are taken directly from the word of God. If one wishes to preach the word of God effectively, he must learn how the Scriptures indicate that this is done.

Be Correct

One who would speak to others about spiritual matters has a divine obligation to “do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God” (1 Peter 4:11). How does one do this? He must accurately represent the Scriptures to those he teaches. Of course, to do this, one must first understand the Scriptures himself. Paul wrote, “For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions” (1 Timothy 1:6-7). One who does not understand the Scriptures is unfit to teach the Scriptures, simply because his lack of knowledge prohibits him from representing the word of God accurately. This is why Paul impressed upon Timothy the importance of continuing to diligently study the Scriptures so that he might “accurately [handle] the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Be Concise

For our purposes in this article, to be concise does not necessarily mean that one will use few words as opposed to many words. Peter used “many other words” to persuade the Jews on Pentecost to obey the gospel and the number of those who “received his word [and] were baptized” was “about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:40-41). No one would question the effectiveness of Peter’s preaching on that occasion. Rather than imposing a strict limit on one’s word count, an effective preacher will succinctly present the gospel, limiting himself to the word of God without adding to it or altering it (Revelation 22:18-19; Galatians 1:8-9). Though he will “not shrink from declaring…the whole purpose of God” (Acts 20:27), he will refrain from promoting the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) and will avoid the “strange doctrines” and “myths” that worldly-minded brethren often prefer (1 Timothy 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Be Clear

A preacher of the gospel must strive to make the truth unmistakable. Paul said, “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech” (2 Corinthians 3:12, KJV). In teaching about miraculous spiritual gifts, Paul stated a principle that still applies today in any preaching that one may do: “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air” (1 Corinthians 14:6-9). Paul said that tongue-speaking was useless if no one understood what was being said. In the same way, people must understand what is taught in order for the gospel to do them any good. One who preaches the gospel must strive to make it clear so that all those with honest hearts (Luke 8:15; John 7:17) can understand the message.

Be Convincing

Finally, one who preaches must strive to convince others to believe and obey the word of God. Paul explained why this is important: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). Paul understood that the fate of those who did not believe in God or refused to obey the gospel was “eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Knowing this, Paul did what he could to convince people to obey the Lord. But how did he seek to convince them? Luke recorded: “And according to Paul’s custom, he…reasoned…from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence…” (Acts 17:2-3). The word of God is truth (John 17:17; Psalm 119:160). Therefore, if one is to convince people of the truth, he must make his appeal to Scripture, citing book, chapter, and verse to show others why they must believe the message he is teaching.


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