Two recent events created this post.

First, I saw this golf teacher, Gavin Flo, on Instagram and heard him say with perfect inflection: “Golf’s not that hard.”

Since I only play golf maybe three times a year at most, I don’t consider myself to be a golfer. My son, Michael, is an excellent golfer and we’ve been able to get out to the driving range a couple of times and play a round or two. That means I am well aware of my weaknesses. Gavin simplifies the action of swinging a golf club and I find it a helpful way for me to learn.

Second, I received an email from a pastor whose wife heard a presentation I gave that combined hermeneutics and homiletics. The wife knew sermon preparation was posing some problems so she handed her husband the notes she took and said he might want to get in touch with me. He did and I offered to meet and talk about the process.

As the pastor described his frustration, he highlighted the fact that textbooks describe so many steps that the process of sermon preparation becomes overwhelming.

So, in the spirit of Gavin Flo, I say: “Preaching’s not that hard.” (with his perfect inflection, of course)

[I need to be honest: golf is hard and if you’ve tried it, you know that. And preaching? But effective teachers of golf and preaching have a way of simplifying the processes. Here’s my attempt to simplify…]

First, as you head into each Sunday sermon, complete this sentence based on your preaching portion: “We worship this morning by ______________.” This is your attempt to show how God designed your Text to function for the church.

Second, allow the structure of your preaching portion to determine the structure of your sermon. This is your attempt to trace the argument or flow of thought in your Text. God conveys theology through structure that may vary from genre to genre.

Third, while you are preaching, from start to finish talk to your listeners about them from the Bible. That’s different from talking to them about the Bible. God is addressing them and so are we.

Finally, while you are preaching, communicate in a way that conveys that this is life and death. This involves genuine-for-you passion, intensity, conviction. This makes the preaching authentic and real.

See. Preaching’s not that hard. And our Lord will receive glory in the church and in Christ Jesus as we keep working hard at this incredible privilege and responsibility (Ephesians 3:21).

Randal

P.S. Just like golf, you and I will spend a lifetime trying to improve our skills so let’s keep this concept of “simplify” in perspective.