I believe that the best model to follow in the history of preaching is Jesus. It isn’t John the Baptist, Paul or any contemporary speaker alive today. Jesus was the master communicator.

The Bible says in Matthew 7:28 that “the crowds were amazed at Jesus’ sermons” (LB). Why? Because both the content and the delivery came straight from the Father. Jesus said in John 12:49, “The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it” (NLT).

When I’m preparing a message, I ask eight questions to help me prepare. The first two are about what to say and the final six are about how to say it:

1. To whom will I be preaching? Jesus always started with His audience. He even knew their thoughts. So the first question in my mind is about the audience to which I will be speaking, and I try to picture them in my mind. And there are always three ways to get people’s attention with a message: Speak about things people value. Speak about things that are unusual. Speak about things that threaten us.

All three break through the listening barriers that people naturally have. The goal of preaching may be moving people from where they are to where Christ wants them, but we must start where they are.

2. What does the Bible say about their needs? I search through the Bible for everything I can find on the subject, using every reference tool I can get my hands on, including tools on the Internet and even my mobile devices. Your understanding of the Bible’s purpose will determine your preaching style. The ultimate purpose of the Bible is not to teach Israel’s history or even doctrinal facts. It is to transform our character, according to 2 Timothy 3:16. That means preaching must always be related to life!

Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.