The Power of Preaching with Purpose

Welcome to The Busy Pastor Podcast, I want to encourage and equip pastors to be busy with the right things.

 

Have you ever walked away from preaching a sermon and wondered, “Did that actually do anything?” This episode is for every pastor who’s ever questioned whether their preaching is making an impact.

 

What Does it Mean to Preach with Purpose?

• The purpose is transformation.
• A good sermon might be informative, but a purposeful sermon seeks to transform.

 

How do We Preach with the Purpose of Transforming Lives?

 

Prayer & Preparation

• Start with prayer – Ask God, “What does my church need to hear this week?”
• Plan out your sermon calendar at least one year in advance.
• Purpose doesn’t mean inflexibility. It means intentionality.
• Build out your pantry.

 

Quote: “If your pantry is full, when it’s time to cook all you have to do is go in there and get the ingredients to make a good meal.”

 

Crafting the Message

• Preaching with purpose requires structure and a clear outline.
• Consider the context: What did this mean for the original audience? What does this mean for me today?
• Interrogate the statement: Why, what how when why?

 

Balance

• You need to have a balance of theology and application.
• All theology – your people won’t know what to do with it.
• All stories – your people won’t know why it matters.

 

Engagement

• Preaching with purpose requires passion.
• File away examples, illustrations, and stories. Write them down!
• Storytelling is a powerful tool, but the story should serve the Scripture, not the other way around.

 

Quote: If you don’t believe in what you are talking about, why should the rest of the church?”

What are People Supposed to do with this Content?

• Challenge them to do something.
• Consider how it applies to different types of people.
• Balance conviction and encouragement: Conviction without hope leads to despair. Encouragement without challenge leads to apathy.

 

Quote: “Purposeful preaching reminds people of who they are in Christ, while challenging them to grow.”

 

Your Prayer Each Week – That God Would Change Lives

• No change happens unless the Spirit works in the hearts of the people.
• God will use your preparation and your faithfulness to the Word in ways you can’t understand.

 

Challenge for the Week:

• Plan out your sermon calendar.
• Start each sermon prep with prayer.
• Be clear on your goal: What should people do differently as a result of this message?
• Keep Jesus at the center.

 

Recommended Resource: “Preaching: Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism” by Timothy Keller.

 

If this episode encouraged you, do two things: Sign up for the Newsletter on busypastor.org, and follow us on Instagram @busypastor.  And as always, pastor, be busy with the right things.