On his Gospel Coalition blog, Paul Tripp makes some important observations on the state of preaching today. Tripp prefaces his comments by relating that he is on the road at a church somewhere 40 Sundays a year.
I am saddened and distressed to say it, but I am tired of hearing boring, inadequately prepared theological lectures, delivered by uninspired preachers reading manuscripts, all done in the name of biblical preaching. I am not surprised that peoples’ minds wander. I am not surprised that people are struggling to keep attentive and awake. I am surprised that more aren’t. They are being taught by one who has not brought the proper weapons into the pulpit to fight for them and with them.
Part of the problem is not understanding what preaching is. Tripp defines preaching as…
…bringing the transforming truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ from a passage that has been properly understood, cogently and practically applied, and delivered with the engaging tenderness and passion of a person who has been broken and restored by the very truths he now stands to communicate. You simply cannot do this without proper preparation, meditation, confession, and worship.
Further, he draws attention to one of the primary culprits.
There simply is no way that you can begin to think about a passage for the first time on Saturday afternoon or evening and give it the kind of attention that it needs. You will not be able to understand the passage, be personally affected, and be prepared to give it to others in a way that contributes to their ongoing transformation. As pastors, we have to fight for the sanctity of preaching, or no one else will.
The entire article can be read here.
Count for Eternity 