Two Pathways to More Relevant Preaching

Disclaimer: I’m biased.

I see two ways to staying fresh and relevant in the pulpit. I like one way, the other annoys me. You might disagree (you can be wrong if you want to be), but I think one hundred years from now we’ll see the importance of this issue.

Pathway #1

Begin with God’s Word. See what He said, what it meant in the “then and there” context and how it should be applied in the “here and now” context. Become an observer of culture so that you can connect the “then and there” to the “here and now” in a way that makes a great impact on lives, both individual and en masse. Give the whole counsel of God, but keep your thumb on the pulse of where people are so you don’t lose touch. Bring a word from God to a world in need.

I like pathway #1.

Pathway #2

Become an observer of culture. Find out what people need, or what they think they need. Find out what’s hot, what’s trending, and what’s relevant. Find out how the world at large is handling these issues. Dig around and find some way to connect the “here and now” back to the “then and there” of the Bible and then tell everyone you’re teaching relevant biblical truth. Act cool. Use buzz words. Look smart. Don’t bring up the stuff that doesn’t seem to make sense today.

I’m not a fan of pathway #2.

I could go on, but you hear my heart I’m sure, and agree or disagree already. That’s what the comments are for…