Preach Sermons, Not Commentaries

The useful part

Listen to Theology Refresh → Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. It is so hard and impregnable that it takes divine weapons and skilled soldiers to regularly invade it with the truth.

How it works

• As I see it, though the sermontary and the sermon share similar aims, they differ in their means.
• The lessons end where the section ends, and if time remains, a thought of how this applies is offered.
• Listen to other sermons, try to reproduce their outlines, and analyze how they did.
• Place for Structure Let's conclude by examining one of Spurgeon's sermon outlines, noticing beforehand how he felt about sermontaries.
• Truth in Battle Array Hearing some preaching today gives me the same disorientation I have had watching my children play in the front yard — one moment they are in the sprinkler, the next playing with toys,...

What to take from it

Because the sermon refused to rally around a main point, the saint is left with a random collection of his or her favorite points. Weekly, men equipped by the Spirit of God urge the dead to live and the sorely tempted to flee to Christ, to cling to Christ, firing God's very words at their souls to save them. Sermontaries Some Reformed preaching has taken on a professorial character.

Example or evidence

• It can feel more like reading through the Proverbs than through Paul — golden truths scattered on the floor rather than a sustained, building argument.
• The sermon should (usually) build around a main idea, and the divisions unveil aspects of that idea, progressing to a climax.
• Only the most personally appealing pavers stick in the mind.
• We love to study Scripture (and should) but tend to package what we have learned rather hastily into the weekly sermon.

Details worth keeping

Preach Sermons, Not Commentaries | Desiring God Less fluff. He has indeed, and men preach sermons proclaiming those words. These sermon arrows should be burning, precise, and piercing.

Related coverage

• Desiringgod: Rigorous exposition isn't at odds with engaging preaching. Pastor John encourages pastors to work for creativity when technical, abstract sermons feel easier. Listen Now
• Crossway: Learning to preach persuasively takes work. It requires effort—effort beyond exegesis. As a preacher, you need to possess command over not only what you say but how you say it.
• Desiringgod: Solomon is not an easy book to preach.
• Crossway: Gunner Gundersen discusses the importance of preaching and practical advice for listeners to pay attention, think deeply, and be receptive to the sermon each Sunday morning.