Qualities of a Good Sermon
Each September in my introductory preaching course, I ask my students to list what they consider to be the qualities of a good sermon. On the first day of class, I always learn something new from them! I also learn a lot about what’s important to each of them when it comes to preaching.
What characteristics would make your list? For some, the priority is on the substance of the message. Others recognize that it doesn’t matter what you intend to say if you can’t say it clearly enough for the message to be understood. For others, interest is paramount — whatever the sermon is, it should not be boring!
So which perspective is correct? Like many either-or questions, the answer is “yes!” All of the above! So, here is my current list of qualities of a good sermon, in general terms. I’ll post on each of these categories in more detail, but this gives you a big picture:
Bible-Based – You may use other sources of material (as illustration, for example), but the message you preach must flow clearly from the Scriptures.
Gospel-Driven – Being “biblical” is not enough. Every sermon should connect hearers to the all important message of the Bible: what God has done in Christ.
Story-Shaped – The Gospel is a story. Our identities, our culture, our very lives are shaped by story. The best sermons have narrative gospel movement.
Spirit-Empowered – Lives are not transformed by the skills, personality, or sincerity of the preacher. The power of the sermon comes from the Holy Spirit.
Hearer-Friendly – If they have to work to follow you, communication suffers. Sermons should be clear, coherent, and well-delivered.
Culture-Engaging – We should be neither cultural warriors nor cultural wimps, but we should encounter the stories of the culture with the story of the Gospel.
Life-Challenging – Never leave the message in the realm of the theoretical, theological or esoteric. Connect the truth to life–beginning with your own!
Balanced – Neither all bible teaching (lecture), nor all illustrative story-telling (entertainment), nor all application (legalism), but a healthy balance of all three.
