Preaching Tips

Did you know….. a metaphor is a noun. Sometimes, it’s hard for people to discern whether something is a “theme” or a “metaphor.” For example, the theme of “dying” can permeate a text. But that’s not the metaphor. Most likely the metaphor is ashes or sackcloth or gravestone or blackness.…

You can enhance the metaphors you use in your sermons by using props, visuals, or using music to create more in-depth experiences. Think about ways especially to use music. For example, if you are speaking about creation, consider using music and visuals to create the experience. If you are talking…

Don’t discount non-Biblical metaphors from your basket of possibilities. I’m not saying, Unbiblical.  I’m saying Non-biblical, meaning metaphors that speak to the truth of Jesus, even though they don’t specifically or overtly appear as such in scripture. For example, bells. Bells entered the Christian tradition earlier than the Middle Ages…

This week, I am bringing up a “Sweetism.”.  One of Len Sweet’s favorite sayings is “say it slant!” It means, “make the familiar strange.” Find a way to tell the story in a fresh way with a fresh slant that intrigues, invites, and invigorates. Look at the story from a…

Allow for space, adaptation, and change in your sermon. Allow pause for the Spirit to speak. If you read your sermon verbatim, or if you are determined to follow it letter by letter, you may miss out on an opportunity for Jesus to lead your sermon right into the minds…

When Jesus read from the Isaiah scroll, he revealed his mission to the world. And yet, like many in his day and despite endless letters from Paul, we still today see that mission as merely literal. But Jesus seldom spoke literally. In fact, he let his disciples know that in…

Colors have metaphorical meaning in scripture. Whenever you see deliberate colors mentioned, you can take for granted that there is a reason he color is mentioned.  What could that color be contributing to the story at hand? What depths of meaning can be added? Where else do you find that…

Geography in scripture can contain metaphorical value too! What does the landscape look like you are reading about.  Does it reflect something about the characters? About the message? What is the weather like? Does it reflect emotional changes? Pay attention to your geography.

In the scriptures, even names can be metaphors in the scripture story. Place names and the names of people are frequently meshed especially in the Hebrew scriptures.  These names describe characteristics about the person or/and the place that will become important to the story. It’s important then to look at…

Image exegesis should be interdisciplinary exegesis when you are trying to connect scriptures to culture. In this week’s story sermon, “dust” is a prominent scriptural metaphor but also an interesting metaphor in today’s world. When it comes especially to science and religion, here is where you as a preacher can…