Dr. M. Ray McKay, homiletics professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the 1950’s, gave this advice to his class of aspiring young preachers: “Don’t preach because it is eleven o’clock on Sunday morning; preach because you have something worthwhile to say.” Dr. McKay believed that we should have this as our goal every time we stand in the pulpit on Sunday morning. It was good advice.
To preach two sermons every Sunday week after week and year after year is not the easiest thing a person can do. Choosing the Bible passage God would have you use as a foundation for your proclamation, organizing your material in an interesting way, and presenting it in an effective way is a challenge.
A few years ago I saw a list of eight types of sermons. The comments about them are mine:
The “Cotton Candy” Sermon: Very sweet and full of air, but when bitten into, nothing is there. By the time parishioners reach the parking lot, the sermon’s content has evaporated into thin air. Christians grow spiritually when they are fed by sermons that are scriptural and candid, but not when they are candied.
The “Stuffed Olive” Sermon: Pleasantly fashioned, pleasingly tart, stuffed with intellect and seasoned with a little humor, but very low in spiritual calories. It is often colorful, but has no heart.
The “Jello” Sermon: Features shaking, prancing, quivering preaching, and lots of action. It is colorful, but cannot provide the kind of balanced diet that Christians need in order to grow spiritually.
The “Leftover Turkey” Sermon: Meat you suspect you have been served before, but disguised enough that it is good for one more Sunday. The second time around it is sometimes served in hash form. The church sign outside a church in Shreveport, Louisiana proclaimed: “All new sermons – no reruns.”
The “Hot Tamale” Sermon: Usually preached when the preacher is in a bad mood and takes it out on the congregation. It usually doesn’t have as much to say about heaven as it does about the other place.
The “Buttered Toast” Sermon: Designed for special groups – such as pulpit committees or a pastor’s conference where a minister wants to impress his fellow pastors.
The “Cup of Coffee” Sermon: Usually preached during a stewardship campaign. It often includes an attempt to get those who listen to share the inner flavor of their lives with others. It attempts to “perk” people up by challenging them to give more, but leaves them feeling soaked and strongly bitter the next day because they have not been faithful stewards in the past year.
The “Manna from Heaven” Sermon: Easily recognizable because its primary feature is “Thus saith the Lord.” Of the eight sermon types only those that qualify as “Manna from Heaven” are packed with vitamins and iron. They alone have the power to nourish believers and equip them for ministry.
Hopefully, you hear more “Manna from Heaven” sermons in your church on Sunday morning than you do of the other seven types. They will always be based on the truth found in God’s Word, will seek to meet the spiritual needs of those who are listening, and will be delivered in a spirit of love.
A sermon doesn’t have to be everlasting to contain eternal truth. Every preacher should keep in mind the maxim: The mind cannot retain what the seat cannot endure. In other words, if a preacher hasn’t struck oil by twelve o’clock each Sunday, it is probably because he is using a dull auger or is boring in the wrong place.
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