Preacher Training

Using the provided resources, this series will help you learn how to preach effectively, lovingly, and intentionally.

Shownotes

Today we’re starting a 3-week series called Preacher Training – with a focus on preaching sermons based on the pursueGOD discipleship resources. In this episode we introduce five questions for self-reflection to determine if you’re qualified to preach in a local church. 

Before we get to those questions, let’s talk for a minute about the PG resources.

  • PG uses podcasts on a variety of topics to offer biblical answers to everyday questions. Then we organize these podcasts into series so you can use them to make disciples at church, home, or in the world. 
  • Local churches can freely preach sermons based on our series and then point small groups, families, and mentors to the series page for sermon-based curriculum. You’re welcome to adapt your sermon as needed.
  • Ultimately, PG curriculum is designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more Christians to be disciple-makers. We’ll explain this philosophy of ministry in detail in lesson 2 of this series.

Five Questions before you preach:

  • Are you connected to Jesus? Preaching in the early church was a function of spending time with Jesus, not of seminary training. Acts 4:13
    • 13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
  • Are you honoring God in everyday life? Preachers are qualified by solid character and sound doctrine. Titus 1:5-9
    • 5 I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. 6 An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife,* and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. 7 A church leader* is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker,* violent, or dishonest with money.
    • 8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. 9 He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.
  • Do you care about people? Godly preachers are not motivated by ego or financial gain, but rather by a desire to help people pursue God. 1 Timothy 6:3-4
    • 3 Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. 4 Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.
  • Are you personally making disciples? You can’t lead someone to a place you’ve never been. Matthew 28:19-20
    • 19 Therefore, go and ma ke disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
  • Do you have a teaching gift? 1 Corinthians 12:29-30
    • 29 Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles? 30 Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!

Talking Points:
  • Today we’re starting a 3-week series called Preacher Training – with a focus on preaching sermons based on the pursueGOD discipleship resources. In this lesson we introduce five questions for self-reflection to determine if you’re qualified to preach in a local church. 
  • Are you connected to Jesus? It may sound obvious, but our connection with the Lord provides more than any seminary training will. Acts 4:13
  • Are you honoring God in everyday life? Preachers are qualified by solid character and sound doctrine. Titus 1:5-9
  • Do you care about people? Godly preachers are not motivated by ego or financial gain, but rather by a desire to help people pursue God. 1 Timothy 6:3-4
  • Are you personally making disciples? You can’t lead someone to a place you’ve never been. Matthew 28:19-20
  • Do you have a teaching gift? If so, it is still something that needs to be developed and exercised. 1 Corinthians 12:29-30
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Read Acts 4:13. Do you think people would recognize you as someone who has been with Jesus? Why or why not?
  3. What are some ways you connect with Jesus?
  4. Read Titus 1:5-9. What are some habits you have built to honor God daily? What are some you want to build?
  5. Based on your personality, would you tend to lean into a theological approach of preaching, or a people-loving approach? Is one of them the right way, or is there a healthy balance between the two?
  6. Who is someone that has discipled you in your walk with God, and how has that equipped you to follow suit?
  7. What are some ways to assess whether or not you have a preaching gift? 1 Corinthians 12:29-30

Shownotes

  • Real transformation happens in the shepherding context (families, small groups, and one-on-one mentoring relationships), not in the preaching context.
    • Matthew 9:35-38 (NLT) “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’”
  • The preacher’s job is to equip regular Christians to do the work of the ministry. A great sermon empowers conversations throughout the week.
    • Ephesians 4:11-16 (NLT) “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
    • Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
  • Ultimately, PG sermons are designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more people to go “full circle”.
    • Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'”
    • We build resources with one distinctive in mind: to equip the preacher to support the discipleship infrastructure of the church. If conversations aren’t happening after the sermon, we’ve missed the point.

Talking Points:
  • Real transformation happens in the shepherding context (families, small groups, and one-on-one mentoring relationships), not in the preaching context. Matthew 9:35-37
  • The preacher’s job is to equip regular Christians to do the work of the ministry. A great sermon empowers conversations throughout the week. Ephesians 4:11-12
  • Ultimately, PG sermons are designed to help people pursue God – and this means getting more people to go “full circle”. Matthew 28:19-20
  • We build resources with one distinctive in mind: to equip the preacher to support the discipleship infrastructure of the church. If conversations aren’t happening after the sermon, we’ve missed the point.
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. A sermon should extend beyond Sunday morning. Does the modern church reflect this ideology? Why or why not?
  3. In your own life, what are some examples of transformation that has happened in a shepherding context (small groups, families, mentoring relationships, etc.)?
  4. What are some ways regular Christians can be equipped for ministry? How does a preacher help equip the congregation?
  5. Describe the “full circle” preaching philosophy. What does it mean to be a “consumer Christian”, and how does it go against this philosophy?

Shownotes

The Three C’s of Preaching

  • PG sermons are designed to give you a simple skeleton for your sermon. The preacher’s job is to prayerfully put “flesh” on it using scripture, exposition, and personal stories.
  • Prep with the “3 C’s” in mind. Be clear. Be concise. Be compelling. Great preaching engages everyone – seekers as well as believers, young and old, male and female.

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

  • Ethos speaks to the credibility of the speaker. Are you believable? What qualifies you to preach in the first place?
  • Pathos speaks to the emotions of the audience. Why should they listen? Have you prepared the message in a way that connects to them?
  • Logos speaks to the logic of the message. Does it make sense? Have you connected the big idea to the talking points with simplicity in mind?

Talking Points:
  • Today, we’re wrapping up our preacher training series with some hands-on tips for delivering powerful sermons.
  • PG Sermons focus on two key frameworks to deliver better sermons: the three Cs (clear, concise, and compelling) and Aristotle’s ethos, pathos, and logos.
  • It’s important to connect with everyone—seekers and believers, young and old, male and female—to deliver messages that hit home.
  • Clarity and conciseness are key. It’s important to stay compelling and interesting, while avoiding information overload.
  • An effective sermon relies on a few different levels of connection: Are you a credible speaker? Does your message relate to people? Does the flow of your sermon make logical sense?
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Reflecting on the “three Cs” framework (clear, concise, compelling), which aspect do you find most challenging in your own preaching or listening experience?
  3. It’s important to engage both seekers and believers, young and old, male and female. How can you ensure your messages resonate with such diverse audiences? What groups are harder for you to reach, and how can you change that?
  4. Think about the ethos, pathos, and logos approach. Of these three areas, which is hardest for you to convey? Easiest?
  5.  How do you think preachers can improve their ability to connect emotionally with their audience while maintaining logical coherence in their message?

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