Best Habits for Passionate Preaching

By Hiram Kemp

The word passion has been defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion. It is also defined as something that is an intense or overmastering feeling or conviction. When we think about preaching, it is difficult to think of preaching that could be done in any way other than passionate. Jeremiah spoke about preaching as the word was like fire in his bones (Jeremiah 20:9). As soon as Paul became a Christian he is described as preaching boldly in the synagogue (Acts 9:20, 9:27-28). Apollos preached boldly (Acts 18:26) and powerfully showed that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts 18:26-29). As we read about the preachers in the Bible, we do not find their preaching described as lifeless, boring, or dead. Instead, those who were called by God to proclaim his message were not just told what to say, but they were expected to say it with intensity and fervor.

Jesus’ preaching was with authority, and unlike anything the people had ever heard before (Matthew 7:28-29; John 7:46). As those who want to emulate His preaching we should preach with authority but also with passion. Few would doubt that passion in the pulpit is needed. Fewer would doubt that they enjoy hearing a lesson from someone who is not only speaking the truth but also speaking it like he believes it. The question then is how do we develop and maintain passionate preaching? Those of us who preach on a weekly basis may struggle to keep the fire burning and to keep our energy up. How can we get the message across with the desired enthusiasm and excitement week in and week out? Here are a few habits to cultivate and develop passionate preaching.

Pray Yourself Hot

I’m not sure where I first heard it, but someone has said, “before we preach we should pray ourselves hot.” As you think about speaking for God, it makes sense that we would ask God for His help in doing so in a manner that would honor and glorify Him. Paul requested prayers that he would declare the message boldly as he should (Ephesians 6:18-20). If Paul needed prayers for boldness we are probably not exempt. Pray that you can communicate the text with the same tone, focus, and heart that the Holy Spirit delivered it in (Psalm 119:18). This is more than just a prayer for the proper amount of energy. This means praying that the zeal in our hearts comes across in our delivery. Pray that our nerves will not get the best of us and suppress our ability to communicate to the best of our ability. Pray that you would see the importance of the text and that those who hear you would get a sense of that importance as you preach and teach (Titus 2:15).

Read and Study the Bible Devotionally

One thing that can destroy passion in preaching is simply approaching the Bible academically. When all we want from the text is the facts our sermons will fall flat. People do not want a lecture they want the Lord (John 12:21). This does not mean we should be shallow in our knowledge or superficial in our study. It does mean that as we read and study we should be focused on how we can translate what we have learned into things that help us and our hearers love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Psalm 18:1; Luke 10:27-28). Read the Bible to fall in love with the author and this will come across in your preaching. Study the text as if God is actually speaking to you through it, and it will change the way you relay your findings to others. Passionate preaching comes from those who have fallen in love with the Lord through the printed page (Psalm 119:97). If we read and study the Bible devotionally we will be unable to hide our conviction of its transformative power when we stand before others to preach it (2 Corinthians 4:13).

Know Your Material Well

Not everyone will preach without notes or commit large sections of their sermon to memory. There are different styles and that is because God has made us all differently. However, every preacher should work to know his sermon well regardless of how he plans to deliver it.

The better we know our sermons the more time we can spend connecting with the listeners and the less time we will spend thinking of our next point or searching for our next sentence on the page. Know your material well enough to maintain eye contact and heart contact as you preach (Lk. 24:32). If you are deeply familiar with your sermon you can preach boldly and clearly because your level of comfort with the material will create freedom. Passion will bubble forth as you are so deeply invested in the material that it is delivered with ease and excitement.

Know & Love People

This is probably the most important thing we can do to preach passionately. If we know and love people passion will naturally result. Jesus knew all men (John 2:24-25) and He loved everyone (Matthew 9:36; Jn. 11:36). When we know people we will realize that people are hurting and really need to hear from a God who loves them more than they can imagine (John 3:16; Ephesians 3:17-19). When we love people we will remind ourselves that preaching matters because it is the vehicle God uses to get His word into people’s hearts (Romans 10:14-17; 1 Corinthians 1:21). Get to know people. Listen to their stories, learn of their hurts, fears, anxieties, and failings. This is not to give you a superiority complex but to help you to relate to those you relay God’s message to weekly. Love people. Do not just tolerate them, but genuinely love them (1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 Timothy 1:5). When you love people passion exudes because you stop thinking about yourself and instead think more of how the message from God can help them.

Concluding Thoughts

We all want to preach better. We want to challenge ourselves to be more effective, more knowledgeable, and more passionate. Passion is not about talent as much as it is about true heartfelt belief. If we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that only through hearing the good news of the message about him can save souls, we will preach with unquenchable passion. Pray, ponder, and pour out your heart in preaching. People will be helped and God will be pleased!

Hiram Kemp, hiram.kemp@yahoo.com