Commitment to Biblical Preaching 5.14.2026

    No one’s goal is to be non-Biblical, un-Biblical, or anti-Biblical. The problem is not the concept it’s the execution. And execution often comes down to intentional habits that yield reliable results. Virtually everything I say in this space about preaching, what I write in other books and essays, what I teach when given the opportunity to address the issues around preaching and teaching the Scriptures, virtually every address in every context will speak about intention, process, and work ethic. A commitment to Biblical preaching is in a sense, less about theology than it is about ethics. I will not dwell on this unnecessarily as I am currently composing a book-length exploration of this topic but there are a few ideas worth repeating and some which I have not yet produced detailed copy. Let’s call these—in keeping with this month’s theme—basic frameworks for fulfilling our promise to be Biblical preachers. 

Priority of the Study

    I have said more times than I can count; “You can only have number one priority.” If you are a preaching minister and your number one priority is not preaching, you will rarely allocate the necessary time for study of the Scriptures and the attendant materials which help us to proclaim it clearly and accurately. 

    If that seems harsh—I will not apologize. Not everyone is equally smart, but everyone can work hard. Good preaching flows from good study and good study requires time and commitment. If you are not committed to determined and detailed study, if you or I refuse to keep reasonably up-to-date with developments in various Biblical studies disciplines, or if we simply question the commitment to Biblical authority of those we don’t understand, eventually our ability to pronounce “This is the Word of God for us today…” withers. 

    I am not foolish and I understand the complexities of modern ministry particularly for small to medium, rural, small-town churches. I often lament to friends that regardless of how detailed my study plans are I am basically falling a year behind every month, but the issue is not one of progress so much as process. It takes time, talent, and treasure to be adequately prepared. The whole project can be undermined by laziness. Plan to study. Execute the plan. Work hard. 

Priority of Hermeneutics

    Virtually every book I read about theology or the history of doctrine, or even the differences between various theological tribes eventually comes down to hermeneutics. How we interpret scripture, how we interpret our context, how we interpret our culture. These are all interpretive actions. To be a preacher is to be a practitioner of hermeneutics in virtually every life context. 

    Now, we don’t spell it out all the time. We won’t want to explain to people that as we peruse our social-media feeds or the news we are constantly assessing both the local and cultural conversation, but that needs to be what we do. Then, as we interpret Scripture using all the tools at our disposal, we can echo God’s divine voice into the real world we inhabit. 

    Some who declare the most loudly their fidelity to the Bible fail at this. Spectacularly. Sometimes it is a failure to understand Scripture. Other times it manifests itself a failure to understand contemporary culture. Frequently there is evident guilt of both. Preaching which does not bring Scripture to bear on the Post-Modern condition may be flamboyant, interesting, and entertaining. It will not likely be life changing. 

Priority of Composition

    If you know what the Bible says and if you are called to preach that message to our contemporary setting, and you fail to be understood—then you haven’t accomplished much. You must discover your voice, and that means writing clearly and speaking as much as you can. Don’t farm out any more than you must. If you teach Sunday School or a Bible Study, investigate the text or topic in detail and compose your own material. Write sermons you have not been called to preach. Don’t be afraid of your own drafting process. Work on your craft. Someone may be in your Church for the first time this Sunday and they need to hear the life-changing message of Scripture in your authentic voice. 

    Reading the Bible, interpreting the Bible, and writing out our conclusions clearly, concisely, and capably are the building blocks of good preaching and teaching. Without those basic skills any commitment to “Biblical Preaching” is merely an ideological formality without any meaning. 

    Pray incessantly. Work hard. Study thoroughly. Write clearly. Edit mercilessly. Proclaim with confidence. Trust God to bless the results.