Practical Plans for Preaching Doctrine
Practical Plans for Preaching Doctrine
In the last post I introduced the topic that we are considering over this series of posts: preaching doctrine. In this post we’ll consider some practical plans for preaching doctrine in your church.
The Challenge of Preaching Doctrine
It seems that many people don’t want doctrine preached in the church. The very word seems to imply dry, boring messages. Many popular preachers admit that they don’t approach doctrine in their preaching because it feels a bit irrelevant to the lives of the people being preached to.
In an interview on CBS’ key show, 60 minutes, Joel Osteen, a very popular preacher and seller of books on living life, admitted that he doesn’t think about doctrine when he’s preparing his messages. Here’s a quote from a report of that interview:
Osteen readily admits that he is ill-equipped to handle Scripture properly, telling Pitts, “….there’s a lot better people qualified to say, ‘Here’s a book that’s going to explain the Scriptures to you.’ I don’t think that’s my gifting.” He spends Wednesday through Saturday in his study at home preparing his weekly message. One might imagine that he is diligently studying the Scriptures. Not so. He told Byron Pitts, “.…when I think about it, Sunday’s in a few days and I gotta get back up here and feed everybody and be my best and inspire them and have some good stories, keep them listening.…”
Thousands go to Osteen’s church to hear him preach. His books sell in the millions. Many people seem to want to hear the practical, not the “dry” foundation of the truth.
The Practical Plan For Preaching Doctrine
There are several things to keep in mind as you think about practical plans for preaching doctrine in your church.
Make Sure It’s A Biblical Sermon
Your people need to hear from God, not just from you, and not just from the wisdom of people who give direction on how to live successfully. So, when you are going to preach about the doctrine of Inspiration, or about God the Father, or about Jesus Christ, or about the Holy Spirit, make sure that you are getting your major points from the inspired Word of God.
Make Sure That It’s a Practical Sermon
When you preach on doctrine, there should be some practical applications that meet people where they live. This really isn’t too difficult.
Many years ago I preached a series of messages about God using the three “omni” statements: that God is Omnipotent or all powerful. Omnipresent, or present everywhere. and that he is omniscient, he knows everything. It was a popular series because it was practical.
When I preached on the all-powerful nature of God, I had people list the places in their lives where they needed a greater power than themselves. God’s omnipresence is a great time for a testimony or two of people who realized in a time of crisis that God was with them.
The Omniscience of God to a consideration of what God knows about you: Psalm 139 shares what God knows.
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
Where I am and What I am Doing
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
What I am facing at the moment
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
When Preaching on Doctrine in your church, make it Personal
When possible, make your message person when preaching about doctrine. What has been your personal experience with the truths that you present.
Conclusion
These are some helpful parts of a practical plan for preaching doctrine in your church. In the next post we’ll begin looking at the major doctrines of the Word that are good for a series of doctrinal sermons.
