It is indeed a privilege to give a few words of introduction to this graduating class of theological students. Your classroom work is about over. You have learned your theology. Your language study has been completed. Your course work is done. You are about to launch out into a lost world. What can I say on this occasion that might help to make you good ministers, fruitful laborers?
Permit me to confine my remarks to the subject of effective preaching. If you are to succeed in your chosen profession, it will be because you are an effective preacher. Your success will be in proportion to your ability to preach effectually.
Jesus was a preacher. The greatest recorded sermon is the sermon on the mount. He taught His disciples how to preach effectively. They learned well His lessons. Pentecost is an illustration of their success.
A sermon is measured by its results. Unless something happens as a result of the sermon, something is wrong. The minister who does not get results should find out why.
The very first requisite of a good sermon is—"Have something to say." Regardless of high polish, smooth utterances, and attractive manners, unless you have something vital to say that moves people, your audience will soon leave you. Always come before an audience prepared. Never come before the people under the compulsion of "having to say something." This is like "occupying the hour," which is about all one does who is unprepared. There is a vast difference between "having to say something" and "having something to say." One is a forced, empty experience that leaves a congregation cold and lifeless—just so much talk. The other is like a refreshing spring of water, overflowing with life and energy.
Good preaching comes from much reading. It means days spent with noble minds in research and study. Unless you are willing to pay this price, you will never be an effective preacher. Unless you make preparation for good preaching first in all your plans and activities, you will soon be looked upon as a nonprofitable worker, or at best just another mediocre preacher.
In addition to study, you must spend much time in meditation. Effective preaching is impossible without much prayer. The sermon you preach on the Sabbath will tell much about how you spent the hours of the week. Take time to talk with God.
Effective preaching is clothed in simplicity—simplicity in language, simplicity in form, and simplicity in content. In other words, the sermon should be easily understood by the listeners. If a sermon is not understood, it is just so much wasted effort. One is struck with the simplicity of Jesus' preaching. He stated great truths in clear, simple language. His illustrations were drawn from the familiar, everyday things of life.
Someone has described some preachers as having the instinct of an aviator. They announce a text, taxi a short distance, then take off from the earth and disappear in the clouds. After that only a high-flying sound is heard—high above the heads of the hearers. Dr. Moffatt says, "Unless your tongue utters language that is readily understood, how can people make out what you say ?"
If you have something to say, and people understand you, that is good preaching. Truth that is vital to life can be stated-in terms that the average hearer can comprehend. Little words are better than big ones if they will express the thought. It has been said that you do not need a bushel basket with which to carry a pound of butter.
A sermon must be judged by the response it awakens, the conviction and converting power it brings. If it touches no one, then something is lacking. If your sermons are to touch men, then they must be made for men. Christ talked to men's hearts. His discourses always dealt with human beings and their problems, their needs, their temptations and sins, their weaknesses and failures, their diseases and disappointments, their aspirations and their hopes. His sermon on the mount was for the meek, the mourners, and the merciful; for the peacemakers, the persecuted, and the pure in heart.
The effective preacher speaks with authority. He is conscious of Bible proof for what he says. He will not make statements that cannot be proved. He believes what he says, and says what he believes. The pulpit is no place for vagueness or doubt. People do not come to hear this. They come to have these thingscleared away. Remember, people will not believe what the preacher only half believes.
Avoid falling into preacher habits, mannerisms, and faulty speech. Almost unconsciously preachers do this. These may be such small things as toying with a watch chain, clearing the throat, or talking in one key, but these all hinder effective preaching, and jar sensitive nerves.
In your sermons do not read a lot of quotations. Your listeners can do this. If it is necessary to read a quotation or give authoritative proof, it is much better to copy it on a card, rather than read it from a book. The moment a minister opens a book before the people, unless it is a very exceptional book and a very important statement, he loses the interest of his hearers. Much reading and effective preaching do not come from the same pulpit.
Be serious in your work. Never belittle your high and holy calling by being cheap and flippant in your personal life or in the pulpit. Bear a dignity befitting the high calling of the gospel minister. A minister should be dignified but not dull, humorous but not flippant, well read but not bookish, deep but not obscure.
"It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." Preaching is one of God's most effective means for saving men. It always will be. There is a vast difference between the "foolishness of preaching" and "preaching foolishness." To the worldly-minded the preaching of the gospel may seem foolish, but to those who believe, it brings salvation. May God make each and every one of you effective preachers, men who will do much in giving the last message of mercy to a lost and dying world.
