The Art and Struggle of Preaching
As part of this session of Nuts & Bolts, we held a Preaching Clinic a gathering designed to equip and support pastors in their ministry. This session specifically focused on preaching—its challenges, growth, and best practices. Preaching is at the heart of pastoral ministry, yet it remains one of the most challenging and deeply personal aspects of a pastor’s calling. The process involves spiritual preparation, theological depth, emotional vulnerability, and a connection with the audience. It is not just about delivering information but about facilitating an encounter with God.
The pastors in this discussion reflected on their personal journeys—how they started, what they’ve learned, and the struggles they continue to face. Many recounted their first preaching experiences, ranging from nervous, stumbling attempts to unexpectedly powerful moments. Some recalled feeling completely lost in their notes, others spoke too fast out of nervousness, and a few experienced encouraging feedback from congregation members years later, showing that God worked through their words despite their insecurities.
One pastor recalled his first sermon as a high school student, standing before his youth group with shaking hands. Another shared a humorous but humbling experience:
“I had all my notes prepared, but I completely forgot everything the moment I stood up. I just stared at the congregation, and I’m pretty sure I talked nonsense for ten minutes. I walked away convinced it was the worst sermon ever. But years later, a former student told me that message was what led him to pursue ministry. That’s when I learned that preaching isn’t about my ability—it’s about God working through my weakness.”
These stories emphasized a profound truth—preaching is a process of growth and surrender. Even seasoned pastors acknowledged that the task never gets "easy," but they have learned to trust God more and themselves less.
Lessons Learned About Effective Preaching
1. The Importance of Engagement
Preaching is not simply about delivering a well-researched theological argument. A recurring theme was the need to balance theological depth with engagement. If the congregation is not drawn in within the first few minutes, they may disengage entirely.
First 3–5 minutes matter: The introduction sets the tone. If people are not captivated at the beginning, it is difficult to win them back later.
Encouraging interaction: Instead of simply delivering a monologue, pastors suggested integrating questions, dialogue, or moments for reflection.
Avoiding over-intellectualization: Some pastors realized they were too focused on analysis and academic depth, losing the relational and emotional connection.
One participant put it well:
"A sermon should be like a conversation with a friend—deep, meaningful, and engaging. If I lecture at my congregation for 30 minutes without considering how they are receiving it, I’ve missed the point."
2. Preaching with Authenticity and Vulnerability
Pastors discussed how personal vulnerability makes preaching more powerful. Many realized that sharing struggles, failures, and moments of doubt rather than only victories makes sermons more relatable.
One pastor observed:
"If I tell a story where I’m the hero, I distance myself from my congregation. But if I share a story where I struggled and God met me there, people see themselves in my journey."
Another added:
"People don’t need to hear how great we are—they need to hear how great God is in the midst of our weaknesses."
A few noted that Jesus’ teaching style was often filled with stories, parables, and metaphors drawn from everyday life. Likewise, the most memorable sermons are those that connect with people's real experiences rather than sounding like abstract theological discussions.
3. Trusting the Holy Spirit in Sermon Preparation
A common struggle among pastors is the burden of preparing a sermon every week. Many admitted to spending countless hours refining messages, researching theological insights, and crafting the perfect outline, only to realize later that the most powerful moments often came from unscripted, Spirit-led moments.
One pastor quoted Eugene Peterson:
"One of the mistakes we make is thinking that people come to hear from us. No, they actually need to talk to God."
This shifted the conversation toward how preachers can step back and allow space for the Holy Spirit to move. Some pastors shared their practice of leaving room for spontaneity—perhaps by reducing notes or allowing time for reflection. Others found that prayer, rather than excessive preparation, often led to the most meaningful sermons.
4. Sermon Planning: Structured vs. Spirit-Led
Some pastors preferred preaching through entire books of the Bible to ensure theological depth and continuity, while others found that thematic series based on the congregation’s needs worked best.
Expository Preaching:
Provides depth and continuity
Ensures the preacher does not avoid difficult topics
Encourages congregational Bible literacy
Thematic Preaching:
Addresses immediate concerns in the congregation
Allows flexibility to respond to current events or cultural issues
Helps focus on core theological concepts
Some churches blend both approaches, using a yearly sermon calendar that cycles through books, themes, and key topics.
Challenges in Preaching
While preaching is a privilege, it also comes with many challenges. Some of the key struggles mentioned included:
Handling Sensitive TopicsMany pastors wrestled with whether to address cultural, political, and moral issues or avoid controversy. Some felt a responsibility to speak truth boldly, while others worried about dividing the congregation.
Knowing Your AudienceCongregations vary widely—some appreciate deep theological discussions, while others need simple, applicable truths. Pastors discussed how to tailor messages to connect with different types of listeners.
Avoiding BurnoutMany pastors admitted they struggled with exhaustion from the constant demand to produce new sermons. Some recommended batch-preparing sermons, collaborating with others, or building in rest periods.
The Role of AI in Sermon PreparationSome pastors explored whether AI tools could assist in sermon research, summarizing commentaries or generating ideas. Others were wary of over-reliance on technology in spiritual matters.
Final Reflections & Encouragement
As the discussion wrapped up, pastors shared what they were taking away from the conversation. Some key reflections included:
Faithfulness Over Performance: Even when a sermon feels weak, God can use it for His purpose.
The Power of Community: Sharing the journey with other pastors offers encouragement and wisdom.
The Responsibility of Preaching: It is not about impressing people but about pointing them to Jesus.
One pastor summarized it beautifully:
"Preaching is not just about delivering a message—it’s about shaping a people. It’s about inviting them into God’s story, showing them His love, and equipping them to walk in faith."
With that, the group ended the session in prayer, reflecting on the weight and beauty of their calling. Preaching is hard work, but it is also a privilege—to share Christ’s beauty, truth, and grace with others.
Further Engagement & Feedback
Preaching is a lifelong journey of growth, reflection, and refinement. As we continue to learn from one another, we invite pastors to contribute their insights and suggestions to the
Preaching Practices Recommendations from PFLT DRAFT.
You can access the document here:🔗 Preaching Practices Recommendations
We encourage you to share your feedback, add insights, or suggest improvements in the document. Permissions are set to allow comments from anyone with the link, so please identify yourself when leaving feedback.
Let’s continue the conversation and support one another in the important work of preaching.
