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Many preachers today seem to be reasonably adept at exhortation, telling their listeners what they should do, must do, need to do, etc. That is a key element in the preaching task (in fact, exhortation is a gift of the Spirit, according to Romans 12:8).

But exhortation alone isn't enough.

Exhortation without identification, inspiration or application is unlikely to produce life change in the listener. And, of course, that is the goal (or should be) of all preaching. Let me explain what I mean by each of those terms.

Identification

Preacher, in the first few minutes of your sermon, your listener needs a compelling reason to pay attention, and there is no more compelling reason than for you to identify with his or her need. What John Watson (pen name: Ian MacLaren) wrote is true of churchgoers, too: "Everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

They enter your church with many needs, some of them huge: a faltering marriage, a wayward child, unemployment, a scary diagnosis, etc. The preacher's earliest task is to identify with a person's need in such a way that holds out a promise that he or she may just be better off in some way by the time the preacher concludes.

Inspiration

Another often neglected task in contemporary preaching is inspiration. That is, the preacher neglects to touch my emotions. It is good to smile or laugh, but it is better to feel my eyes water, my heart leap or my soul shout. I'm not talking about emotionalism, but inspiration. The former is empty, the latter is critical for the preacher who wants to see lives changed.

Application

Finally, preacher, please give your listeners a helpful, practical way to put your exhortation into action. If you preached on loving one's neighbor, challenge me to show that love in some practical way today or this week—perhaps by learning my neighbor's name or mowing a neighbor's lawn. If you preached on prayer, invite me to pray for ten minutes each morning this week. If you preached on baptism, have the baptismal full and ready for a response. Urge an action on me.

Give me a tool to live out your message through the coming week. Call it homework. Call it life application. Call it whatever you like, but please don't let me leave church without having at least one answer to the question, "What am I supposed to do with this information—this week? Today, even?"

Bob Hostetler (website: DesperatePastor.com)

Bob Hostetler is a writer, editor and speaker from southeastern Ohio. His 30 books, which include Quit Going to Church and the novel The Bone Box, have sold over three million copies. He has coauthored a dozen books with Josh McDowell. Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences and retreats. He has been a disc jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor and, with his wife Robin, a foster parent to 10 boys (though not all at once).

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Edward Matthews Ogundo avatar

Edward Matthews Ogundo

commented on Jul 13, 2013

These three points or factors are very crucial in the preaching of an anointed preacher. We must touch lives by encouraging and challenging people to live the gospel. Thank you Bob for the insights.

Edward Motshabi avatar

Edward Motshabi

commented on Jul 13, 2013

This will be a well structured sermon if we consider all this points,thank you so much for highlighting this. God Bless you Bob.

Lloyd Vorderstrasse avatar

Lloyd Vorderstrasse

commented on Jul 16, 2013

Well put. Three very important pieces to every sermon. Very encouraging. Thanks for sharing.

Rev Friday Okonkwo avatar

Rev Friday Okonkwo

commented on Jul 18, 2013

This is quite inspiring and very practical in every sense of it. Thanks

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