Purpose-Driven Preaching
PURPOSE-DRIVEN PREACHING
Communicating to Change Lives
(An Overview of the Method of Rick Warren)
Adapted from Rick Warren’s conference
I. God’s purpose for man is to be like Jesus. (Romans 8:29)
To be Christlike means to:
Think like Jesus (Phil. 2:5)
Feel like Jesus (Col. 3:15)
Act like Jesus (Col. 3:17)
The objective of Purpose-Driven Preaching is to develop:
Christlike Convictions (What you believe)
Christlike Character (What you are becoming)
Christlike Conduct (What you do.)
*The Biblical problem stated:
“Anyone who listens to the Word but does not DO what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:24-25 (NIV)
When we get people to look at, to remember, and to do God’s Word, they are inevitably changed!
*The Contemporary problem stated:
Most preaching only gets people to look at the Word, but they don’t remember it and they don’t do it.
“Never before in the history of the United States has the gospel of Jesus Christ made such inroads while at the same time making so little difference in how people actually live.” – George Gallup
II. God’s purpose for the Bible.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable… for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
“THAT the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
The purpose of the Bible is life change. Specifically, to change our character (perfect, mature, complete)
to change our conduct (good works)
to change our convictions
“The Word of God is not to teach us to prattle or be eloquent and subtle… It is to reform our lives, so that we desire to serve God, to give ourselves entirely to him, and to conform ourselves to his good will.”
– John Calvin
“The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.” – D.L. Moody
Implication: If I intend to be a biblical preacher, my messages must always be life oriented not just knowledge oriented, application oriented not just information oriented.
III. God’s purpose for preaching. [Eph. 4:11-13 (NIV)]
*The purpose of preaching is the same as the purpose of the Bible (to change character and to change conduct.)
*There is both a personal and a corporate purpose in preaching and teaching. (Col. 1:28, 1 Tim. 1:5-6)
How does this life change happen? Answer: Application
“If people are not sharing their faith in your church, if they’re not having a quiet time, if they’re not living godly lives, then you need to change your style of preaching. You are obviously not seeing lives changed through the Word of God. So what is the problem? The problem isn’t the Word. The problem is your preaching style!” – Bruce Wilkinson
IV. God’s purpose for the preacher is that we are to be bridge builders (metaphor for application)
TIMELESS PRINCIPLES
Then Bridge Now
Timeless Bible Text Application People’s needs today
THE WORD THE WORLD
Past Revelation where lives change Current Situation
THEN NOW
What was What is
INTERPRETATION IMPLICATION PERSONALIZATION
(Timeless Truth) APPLICATION
Commentators Communicators
like to live here like to live here
More familiar with More familiar with
the streets of Jerusalem the streets of his community
The challenge of preaching:
To declare eternal truths that never change and apply them in a world that is always changing.
“The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” 1 Chron. 12:32 (NIV)
“If you preach the Gospel in all aspects with the exception of the issues which deal specifically with your times – you are not preaching all the Gospel.” – Martin Luther
Four stages of bridge-building
1. Study the text. (Exegesis: Investigation, Observation and Interpretation) What does it mean?
2. Find the timeless truth. (Implication: Universal Principle) *Ask: What response is called for by this text?
3. Think of your audience, (Contextualization) their needs, their hurts, sins, pains, etc.
6 things I know about every audience:
- Everybody wants to be loved
- Everybody wants their life to count (meaning, purpose, significance.)
- No matter how wealthy or successful life is empty without Christ.
- Many of these people are carrying a load of guilt.
- Many are consumed with bitterness (from past offenses.)
- There is a universal fear of death
1. Apply the truth to their need. (Personalization)
Why aren’t more sermons built around application?
- We assume people will make the necessary connection.
- We “leave it to the Holy Spirit.”
- Personal application is convicting and makes people feel uncomfortable.
- Because we haven’t applied it in our own lives.
- Because it takes more time and effort in preparation.
- We are afraid of being simplistic and practical.
- Because we’ve never been taught how to do it.
- We haven’t realized the importance of it.
“I always make this my rule: That those- who hear me may profit from the teaching I put forward… If I have not that affection, and do not procure the edification of those who hear me, I am a sacrilege, profaning God’s Word.” – John Calvin
The Danger of Teaching Information Without Application
- Knowledge without application produces pride/arrogance.
“Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” 1 Cor. 8:1 (NIV)
2. Knowledge without application brings judgment.
“Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 4:17
How Much of a Sermon Should Be Application
Some New Testament Examples:
Paul: Romans: 50% Application (most doctrinal book in the Bible)
Ephesians: 50% Application
Galatians: 100% Application [?]
James: 100% Application [?]
I Peter: 60% Application
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: 90% Application
*Doctrine should never be divorced from application!
V. Becoming a Purpose-Driven Preacher
Our marching orders: The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20)
One goal of true purpose-driven preaching is textual honesty and obedience!
Another goal of true purpose-driven preaching is a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Jesus always expected people to do something as a result of His preaching.
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:17 (NIV) Luke 10:37
“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matt. 7:26 (NIV)
“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matt. 12:50 (NIV)
Matt. 7:21, John 14:23-24
“Blessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28 (NIV)
All the New Testament preachers emphasized conduct.
John the Baptist (Matt. 3:8), James (James 1:22, 2:14), John (1 John 3:19-You only really believe the parts of the Bible you do/obey! – 1 John 2:17, 1 John 3:18, 1 John 2:3), Paul (Eph. 5:8)
What I’ve Learned About Preaching For Life-Change
1. All behavior is based on a belief – belief precedes behavior.
2. Behind every sin is a lie that I am believing. (Titus 3:3)
3. Change always starts in/with the mind. (Romans 12:2) Think…Feel…Act.
4. To help people change, we must change their beliefs first. (John 8:32)
5. Trying to change people’s behavior without changing their beliefs is a waste of time.
6. The Bible term for “changing your mind” is repentance.
7. You don’t change people’s minds, the applied Word does. (1 Cor. 2:13b, 2 Sam. 23:2, Zech. 4:6)
8. Changing the way I act is the result or fruit of repentance. (Matt. 3:8, Acts 26:20b)
9. The deepest kind of preaching is preaching for repentance. John the Baptist (Mt. 3:2), Jesus
(Mt. 4:17, Mk. 1:15), The 70 (Mk. 6:12), Peter (Acts 2:38), Paul (Acts 26:20b), John (Rev. 2-3)
10. To produce lasting life-change you must enlighten the mind, engage the emotions, and challenge the will.)
Every message comes down to 2 words: Will you?
——————————————————-
Make money blogging: click here to find out more