What to Avoid in Preaching
A Lecture on Preaching Pitfalls
Scripture
Sermon Description
As the proclamation of God’s word is the task of every preacher, certain things must be avoided. These things creep into the preaching ministry and detract the man from his work. In this sermon titled “What to Avoid,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones continues his lectures on preaching and preachers and begins with a few observations on radio preaching. As this grew in popularity during his day, the radio posed new problems for the preacher which led to a sense of professionalism in the pulpit. The preacher must not be bound by time, always watching himself, tremendously interested in techniques. In contrast to this performance, he must forget himself as the Spirit leads his preaching. Other things to avoid in the pulpit include intellectualism and an affinity for too many polemics in the pulpit––always preaching what one is against as opposed to what one is for. Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns against an imbalance between exposition and exhortation. Some preachers expose the Scriptures with no exhortation to the people. Other preachers burden the people with exhortation with little exposition. As Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains what preachers must avoid, listen in and be challenged by his primary concern that the people of God receive the word of God in a manner that is clear.
Sermon Breakdown
- The preacher should avoid professionalism which leads to a routine and detached attitude.
- The preacher should avoid displaying knowledge or relying solely on preparation. The work of the Holy Spirit is essential.
- The preacher should avoid pride which takes many forms like displaying gifts, becoming a "character", or seeking popularity.
- The sermon should avoid too much intellect, emotion, exhortation, or polemics. Balance is needed.
- Polemics should be used carefully and lead to winning others, not just attacking. It can ruin a ministry if overused.
- Irony and ridicule should usually be avoided. They can easily be misunderstood.
- In delivery, avoid calling attention to yourself through running, smiling, greeting, joking or an affected voice and style.
- Be natural, forget yourself, and be absorbed in the message, occasion, and presence of God.
Sermon Q&A
What Are Lloyd-Jones' Primary Warnings About Announcing Sermon Topics Before Preaching?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones believes preachers should avoid announcing sermon topics beforehand for several important reasons:
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People should come to worship God and hear the exposition of His Word, not to hear about a specific subject that interests them.
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Announcing topics encourages a "pseudo-intellectualism" that emerged in the 19th century, moving away from the older practice of simply gathering to worship God and hear scripture exposition.
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It promotes a theoretical approach to truth that tends to isolate subjects from Scripture, treating the Bible as merely a collection of statements about particular topics rather than a unified whole.
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From a pastoral perspective, announcing topics allows congregants to determine what they think they need rather than receiving what God knows they need through the minister's discernment.
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It can reinforce imbalanced spiritual growth, as people may only attend when topics they're personally interested in (like prophecy or holiness) are being addressed.
How Does Lloyd-Jones View Radio and Television Preaching?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones generally opposes radio and television preaching for these reasons:
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The strict time controls and program formats hamper the freedom of the Spirit to work through the preacher.
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Media broadcasts typically require shorter sermons and more "entertainment" elements like music, limiting meaningful preaching.
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Broadcasting creates bad habits among Christians, discouraging regular church attendance since people can "hear the sermon" without gathering with fellow believers.
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It undermines the corporate life of the church by promoting an individualistic approach to hearing God's Word.
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While individual conversions may occasionally happen through broadcasts, the overall trend has been detrimental to church life and attendance.
What Professional Dangers Does Lloyd-Jones Warn Preachers About?
Lloyd-Jones warns against several professional dangers:
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Professionalism - preaching merely because you're scheduled to, losing the original motivation and passion.
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Formality and studied behavior - becoming too concerned with technique and appearance.
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Self-consciousness - constantly watching yourself rather than being absorbed in your message.
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Pride - the greatest temptation to preachers, which he suggests combating by reading biographies of great saints.
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Relying on preparation rather than dependence on God - thinking your sermon is "ready" simply because you've completed your notes.
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Displaying knowledge to impress rather than to edify the congregation.
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Relying on natural gifts (like voice quality or eloquence) rather than spiritual power.
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The temptation to become a "character" - developing quirks or oddities to be memorable.
Sermons: Preaching and Preachers
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.