As Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Baptist Seminary, I teach our PhD course on Higher Education.[1] Every time I teach that course, reviewing educational strategies challenges me to improve my preaching by applying some of those strategies. Here are some ideas that have helped me (I hope . . . ):
- Plan. A good teacher plans for each course, each class, each lesson, and each assignment. Many preachers I know would also benefit from purposeful, prayerful planning.
- Have goals in mind. We call these goals “student learning objectives” – brief statements that describe what students will do to illustrate their learning. Without ignoring the leadership of the Holy Spirit, preachers, too, need some sense of what our hearers might do in response to the preached Word. If we can’t state these goals, our sermon application will probably be unclear.
- Give relevant homework. Well-designed homework reinforces teaching and prepares students for future material. Preachers should not be afraid to challenge hearers with specifics based on biblical teachings and principles (e.g., “Dads, your homework this week is to tell your kids at least one Bible story. Talk to them at breakfast, take a walk with them after school, or spend time with them before bed”). Help your hearers apply the Bible.
- Assess learning. Teachers know the importance of checking their students’ learning along the way (formative assessment) and at the end of their teaching (summative assessment). Wise preachers also work with their staff, their small group leaders, etc., to evaluate whether their hearers are growing through the preached Word. That’s intentional sermon-based discipleship.
- Reflect on your teaching/preaching. Some of the best teachers I know review their teaching after every class period. They consider what worked, what didn’t, and what improvements are needed. Preachers should do the same after every sermon.
- Get feedback. To be honest, many teachers don’t like the subjectivity of course evaluations; yet, it seldom hurts us to let others critique our efforts. Likewise, no preacher is ever so good to not need honest feedback. Take a risk—ask for it.
- Improve. Assessment, reflection, and feedback that do not result in stronger teaching become only words on a piece of paper. It’s no different for preachers; if we haven’t intentionally sought to improve our preaching for some time, we may have reached stagnation.
What idea most helps you here? Let us hear from you.
A good writer spends a lot of time reading. Teachers will continue to take classes and workshops throughout their career in order to stay certified. A pastor could get busy and fall into the habit of “putting out” all the time without taking anything in. In addition to reading the scriptures and commentary on them, I think it’s important to read books on preaching, biographies of church leaders, and maybe take a class every now and then to stay on top of what the “young guys” are learning. I read a lot of blogs and news type articles from the Christian Index, Baptist Press, the Christian Post, etc. The local church leaders in our association meet together on a regular basis to pray for another, talk about what’s going in our community and… listen to a sermon. Preachers need to hear to good preaching.
Thanks, Clark.
I am considering writting my MA Dissertation on this subject in the Southern Irish context, where congregations are small, international and there really is no continuing formal or summative appraisal of congregants learning at the end of a preaching series or book. Am I write to assume that in the US with the bigger Churches, their adult Sunday School classes would be complimented with either or both assessments of attendees?
Thank you for your insights Chuck.