Sermons are composed of words, and every sermon rises or falls on the words that preachers choose to deploy. The words preached come with the power of life and death, so the preacher must carefully choose his words.
The point is not so much eloquence as it is intentionality. Over the years, as I have monitored my own preaching and observed others, I have come to realize how intentionally using a few key words will strengthen most any sermon. For example, consider these five.
1. Bible
“The Bible says,” a phrase popularized by Billy Graham, is one of the sweetest refrains a preacher can offer. It implies so much: God has spoken, his Word is accessible, his Word is true and authoritative, and this is his Word for you.
Make sure your congregation leaves not just exposed to the Bible, but inundated by it.
Intentionally using the word Bible reinforces the authority of the Scriptures and the authority of the sermon. Further, specifically citing the text you are quoting or referencing adds punch. Make sure your congregation leaves not just exposed to the Bible, but inundated by it.
2. Look
Better still, invite the congregation to look in their Bibles with you. Throughout the sermon, saying “Look with me in verse 2” or “See with me in verse 7” continually pulls your hearers into the text.
As you do, your hearers are able to draw a direct line from the text to your point of emphasis, enhancing your sermon’s clarity and biblical weight. Moreover, your hearers will learn how to study their own Bibles, as they see how you have studied yours, leading to a maturing congregation.
3. Repent
Perhaps some pastors avoid the word repent because it sounds too draconian, too judgmental, or too confrontational. But to call for repentance is actually a gracious, inviting act. For those seeking forgiveness, repentance is the doorway through which one enters the room of God’s grace.
‘Repent’ was a common word in the book of Acts, and it should be in our preaching as well.
Repentance is not just an act at one’s conversion; for the Christian, it is a way of life. Repent was a common word in the book of Acts, and it should be in our preaching as well.
4. You
To preach is to call for a verdict—to press the truth of God onto the lives of your hearers—and it is impossible to do that without using the word you. Sadly, many preachers have an unhealthy aversion to confrontation and an accompanying inability to pronounce the word you.
There comes a time when the sermon should transition from the third person plural “we” to the second person singular “you.” Too much “we” and “us” hollows out the sermon, gutting its full force. It is impossible to preach pointed sermons without using pointed words, so do not be afraid to use the word you.
5. Jesus
Most importantly, make sure you point your hearers to the Word himself—Jesus. In our world of superficial spirituality and ambient religiosity, opaque God-talk is not sufficient. If you have preached a sermon without featuring Jesus, then you haven’t preached a Christian sermon.
It is impossible to preach pointed sermons without using pointed words.
And whatever you do, do not use generic, all-encompassing “faith” talk as in “faith journey” or “faith life.” Faith never saved anyone. Jesus saves. Model the dogged Christ-centeredness of Charles Spurgeon; eschew the oblique nonsense of “Oprah Winfrey spirituality.”
Preaching is too consequential to settle for subpar sermons. These five words will help any preacher up his game. Make sure to intentionally deploy them.
A version of this article appeared on Jason Allen’s blog.
Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels?
In an age of faith deconstruction and skepticism about the Bible’s authority, it’s common to hear claims that the Gospels are unreliable propaganda. And if the Gospels are shown to be historically unreliable, the whole foundation of Christianity begins to crumble.
