Balanced Preaching

Balanced Preaching

Observation reveals that many preachers fail from a lack of balance in their lives and work. Good men of talent and dedication are lost to the Lord's work because their imbalance neutralizes or destroys their work. The following study in contrasts can help a man be balanced in his work.

Be sure of yourself but not cocky. Paul knew whereof he spoke (II Tim. 1:12), but he was a humble man. Confidence inspires men to listen, cockiness turns them away in disgust.

Be bold but not brazen. Boldness is a virtue in preaching (Acts 4:13). To be brazen indicates intemperance, lack of good judgement and poor taste. God's man will carefully weigh each word chosen and each thought expressed.

Be plain but not cruel in your delivery. Plainness, clarity and simplicity are attributes which Jesus expressed. People will even request that we tell them plainly (John 10:24). To be plain one need not be cruelly blunt and frank. Common sense dictates this. A mother's baby may be homely, but you would no say so. A dying man may look terrible but you would not tell him that. A man's mother who died in sin is lost. There are two ways to discuss her fate. To say she is frying in hell is not in order.

Be kind but not compromising. There is the temptation in being diplomatic to become unable to take a stand against sin at all. One can be kind and considerate and yet uncompromising with sin and error. Jesus exhibits this balance in the case of the woman taken in adultery (John 8:1-11). Again we see it in his reclamation of Peter at Galilee, following the resurrection (John 21:15-19).

Contend for the faith without being contentious. The first is commanded (Jude 3), the latter is condemned as sinful (Tit. 3:10). The church has suffered greatly from preachers who were contentious in the name of contending for the faith. Often they were merely contending for their opinions or for recognition.

Speak with authority like Jesus did (Matt. 7:20), but be not arrogant. Not only will a proud, arrogant preacher be rejected by his audience, he "shall not stand in (God's) sight (Ps. 5:5).

Be firm but don't be stubborn. There is a vast difference between being "steadfast and unmovable" for truth and righteousness (I Cor. 15:58), and being stubborn. Stubbornness is as idolatry (I Sam. 15:23). It brought deadly judgement upon the nation of Israel (Jer. 11:8). Stubbornness seems to be a common malady among ministers. If not overcome, it can be fatal.

Preach with determination but do not dominate the flock. Without the first, you will soon give up. But God invested congregational authority in the hands of elders, not preachers (I Pet. 5:2). Since you have the advantage of special training and the support to devote full time to the work, you will be tempted to think and insist that things always be done your way. Remember that even elders are warned against lording it over the flock (I Pet. 5:3).

Learn to be relevant in your preaching but no at the expense of neglecting the old paths (Jer. 6:16). God's truth is timeless and the most relevant preaching is solidly based on the first century gospel (Matt. 24:35).

Your preaching should be scholarly but never over the heads of the common people. Every preacher should strive to know all he can about every passage of scripture. The acid test of effective preaching is not how well one has mastered the ancient languages or logical formulas, but if the children can grasp you message and understand their duty. It is still the common people who are most receptive (Mark 12:37).

Make your lessons both doctrinal and practical. There is the tendency to emphasize one to the neglect of the other. To neglect doctrine leaves one zealous but liable to fall into error (Hos. 4:6). To neglect the practical leaves us lifeless like the church in Sardis (Rev. 3:1).

Be enthusiastic but not hysterical. Zeal in service is a spiritual necessity (Tit. 2:14). Zeal without knowledge leads to such excesses as persecution (Rom. 10:1-2) or pentecostalism.

Use some humor in your preaching but do not be frivolous or clownish in the pulpit. Jesus no doubt drew smiles with his example about straining tout the gnat and swallowing the camel (Matt. 23:24). There must be a clear distinction between a comic and an evangelist for Christ. Ours is the world's most important message. Its must not be lost in the roar of laughter.

Put the kingdom of God first in your life (Matt. 6:33), but never neglect your family. Pity the man who saves a thousand others and loses his own children to Satan. Above all else, Noah saved his wife and children. Sadly, many have neglected their duty to their mates and children in the name of serving the Lord.

Have faith but don't be foolish. Faith will venture into new fields and work in hard places. But it is not faith to go without thought or plans for your support and survival. That is foolishness. Jesus had faith abounding but he would not leap off the temple (Matt. 4:5-6).

Be dedicated but do not abuse your health. We must be willing to spend and be spent (II Cor. 12:15) but since we are made of flesh and blood we must have a reasonable amount of sleep and an occasional day of rest. Even beasts of burden need such (Ex. 20:9-10). Good men have been disabled and some have needlessly died young because of their dedication. Do not defile God's temple with overwork (I Cor. 6:19-20).

Always be willing to sacrifice for the Cause but do not encourage your brethren to be negligent in so doing. If you do everything they will be tempted to do nothing. Learn to lead them in service to God. If you bear all the burdens you will not help them to grow spiritually. Paul learned this lesson at Corinth (II Cor. 11:6-9).

Preach the Word (II Tim. 4:2)! Preach all the Word (Acts 20:27)! Preach the truth in love (Eph. 4:15)! Let you moderation be evident to all (Phil. 4:5 KJV).

Back -- or go -- Home