I need to be challenged, regularly. And so do you. At least, that’s what the Bible tells me.
There are various ways this can happen, but it’s through the Word that we can expect it to happen. Preachers should clearly and prayerfully explain the Word, and apply it to people’s lives.
Head, heart, and hands
The Bible makes a good and clear distinction between teaching and preaching. I’m afraid many of our sermons can just be teaching. That’s not bad. But it’s not enough. I don’t want people to go away at the end of a sermon I’ve given, merely thinking they’ve understood the passage better. Pure head knowledge - it’s good, but not enough. When I preach, I’m trying to engage a person's head, heart, and hands.
