John Dekker's Day

10:35PM - The difference between good preaching and bad preaching

Tonight I led a Bible study on Genesis 12 – 15, and on the way home I got thinking about the difference between good preaching and bad preaching. It is essentially this: Good preaching focuses on what is central to a particular passage, while bad preaching focuses on minor points. One reason I am spending four years at theological college is to develop the discernment needed to know the difference.

This can be illustrated with reference to Genesis 15. Bearing in mind that not all Scripture is equally central...

An example of bad preaching would be that which centres on verse 11, which I consider relatively unimportant: And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. So a bad sermon might say, "We too have birds of prey that we need to drive away. We need to get rid of those things in our lives that interfere with our worship of God."

And example of good preaching would be that which focuses on verse 17, which I consider to be the key verse: When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. Here we have an example of God using an Ancient Near Eastern covenant-making ritual: the flaming torch is a manifestation of God's presence, and in passing through the animal carcases God is calling down a curse on himself if he fails to do what he has promised – the cutting of the animals represents what will happen to the one who breaks covenant. God is saying, "May I die a thousand deaths if I break my promise to Abram."

So a good sermon might be along these lines: "Here is a God who does what he says. Here is a God who understands our weaknesses, who accommodates himself to Abram's culture, and who confirms his promise to Abram when he doubts (see verse 8). And here is a God who is willing to die in order for his promises to be fulfilled."

So, what's the difference between good preaching and bad preaching?
i) Good preaching discerns the main thrust of a particular passage; bad preaching merely scatters precious thoughts.
ii) Bad preaching focuses on what we can do for God; good preaching focuses on what God has done for us.
iii) Good preaching is God-centred; bad preaching is man-centred.
iv) Bad preaching is moralistic; good preaching introduces people to God.

And last but not least, good preaching understands every Scripture passage in the light of the cross.