A Good Sermon Requires No Prayer

With a little study, a decent outline and a little training in public speaking, a good sermon can be produced and preached. No prayer will be neeeded. No close walk with God will be required. Purity of heart, mind and body will make no difference...when a good sermon is all that's desired.

To have a message that will reach deep into the hearts of the hearers, quicken the conscience of sinners and awaken the dead to life, a minister must be armed with more than knowledge and training. There must be life from the Life Giver residing within. This life comes from the Holy Spirit and is maintained through prayer and a steady devotional life. When such a person speaks, it will not be just a good sermon. It will be a life giving river.

May we be devoted to such a life.

so true. Lord save us from eloquently delivered dead theology.

I am reminded of the parable that Jesus told his disciples about a man who had a friend come to him at midnight and he had nothing to give to his friend.

We too have nothing to give except for that which we receive from our Father, He knows how to give good gifts to those who ask.

In Christ,

Docseth1:- I am very blessed by your posts in SI so far. Please keep posting such stuff. Even the other post where you mentioned read the Bible to practice rather than sermonizing was very useful. As a man in his early thirties, who preaches every sunday, these are valuable lessons.

A preacher is dependent not only on his own personal prayers but also on the prayers of the listeners or Church. Brother Zac Poonen often credits the Church for the conferences in which he is the main speaker. I used to think it is his humility to share credit with church. But once I got on to the pulpit, I realized how much valuable are these silent prayers of the listeners.

Amen. I also have learnt that the preparation of the preacher himself before God is more important than the preparation of a sermon.

True!

The godly life is in itself is a continual sermon being preached.

True!

True!

True!

True!

True!