2. We deliver sky-scraper sermons (one story on top of another).
I am a lover of a good story. When Austin Tucker wrote “The Pastor as Story-Teller,” he had me from the title. Then, when he invited me to read the manuscript in advance and included one of my stories, he became my best friend forever.
A well-placed story that is “just right” can take an average message and make it forever memorable.
The preacher who smugly resists using stories because “I just preach the Word” might want to reconsider. After all, Scripture says Jesus never preached without telling stories (Mark 4:34).
That said, however, we must not give our people too much of a good thing. The story should introduce or bring together, illustrate or drive home the point of the sermon. It should not become the point of the sermon. Story after story—even great, unforgettable ones—cloud the subject and bury the listener under too much “stuff.”
3. We become overly scholarly.
When I was in college and beginning to grow spiritually, I loved it when a preacher would tell us the Greek word for this or the Hebrew word for that.
But not everyone feels that way. Some people roll their eyes impatiently and practically hold their breath until the preacher gets past what they see as that little display of oneupsmanship. The pastor thinks he’s helping the congregation and actually may be blessing several. But the overwhelming majority are ready to get into something that speaks to them.
Years ago, some preaching book suggested that once a year the pastor ought to deliver a knock-out sermon that is so deep theologically his people will never again question his ability to do so. It was meant seriously, but it’s a silly notion. The pastor who sees the deeper things in the Word will not have to go out of his way to make the church members aware of his learning. It will come through in how effective a communicator he is, not by the obscure sentences he can speak or the strange words he knows.
The smarter a speaker is, the clearer he can communicate.
4. We give the hearers nothing practical.
Harry Emerson Fosdick is credited with telling preachers, “No one ever comes to church wondering whatever happened to the Jebusites.”
Those of us who love the details of history and the finer points of Bible exposition should keep this in mind. The people filling the auditorium, who are giving you their undivided attention for a full half-hour, have come to church for a hundred reasons—worship and fellowship being toward the top—but they will leave frustrated if the message does not give them some practical pointer on how to improve their lives.
This perhaps more than anything else accounts for the popular success of preachers like Joel Osteen. Regardless what you think of him or his theology, give him credit for being an excellent communicator and for leaving his audience with specific things to do once they leave the arena.
