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How to Prepare a Relevant and Biblical Sermon

A practical guide for preachers and teachers who want to faithfully proclaim God’s truth and connect it to real life

Preaching is not just about delivering a message—it’s about communicating heaven’s heart in a way that brings light to confusion, hope to despair, and transformation to daily life. In an age of shallow opinions and fleeting inspiration, God calls His messengers to preach with truth, depth, clarity, and compassion. This guide equips you to craft sermons that are biblically rooted, spiritually led, and pastorally relevant—sermons that both reveal Christ and renew lives.

1. Start with a Clear Preaching Approach: Expository or Topical

Decide how you will structure your message:

  • Expository Preaching: Begins with a specific Bible passage. The main points and flow of the sermon are drawn from the text itself.
  • Topical Preaching: Begins with a theme or subject, but must still be anchored in a main Scripture, supported by related verses for depth and integrity.

Key: Whether expository or topical, your message must be grounded in God’s Word, not personal opinion.

“A sermon without a central idea is like a body without a skeleton: shapeless and lifeless.” – Haddon Robinson

2. Use Biblical Tools for Depth and Clarity

Strengthen your message with proper interpretation:

  • Exegesis: Understand the historical, cultural, and literary context of the passage.
  • Word Study: Explore key words in the original Hebrew or Greek to uncover richness and precision.
  • Compare Bible Versions: Read the passage in multiple translations (e.g., ESV, NIV, NLT, NKJV) to see different angles of understanding.
  • Cross-References: Use Scripture to interpret Scripture. Connect themes across the Bible for theological consistency.

These tools ensure that your sermon is not just accurate, but deeply insightful.

3. Ask Questions that Bridge the Gap Between Culture and Scripture

“We are to listen to the Word with one ear and to the world with the other.” – John Stott

Make the message relevant by engaging the world’s mindset:

  • What does the world say or offer about this topic?
  • What do many people—even believers—assume that may sound true but isn’t?
  • What is the biblical truth that confronts or corrects this idea?
  • What is the danger if people believe the world’s version instead?
  • What is this truth not saying? Clarify to prevent misunderstanding.
  • Is there a natural law or principle that parallels this spiritual truth?
    Use examples from nature, logic, or common experience to illustrate spiritual realities. God often reveals His truth through both creation and Scripture.
  • How does this truth ultimately point to Jesus? Every sermon should lead to the person and work of Christ.

This makes your sermon prophetic—it speaks truth that confronts, redeems, and restores.

“The preacher must know the Scripture and know the culture well enough to show how only the gospel makes sense of the longings and problems of the human heart.” – Tim Keller

4. Preach to Real People with Real Struggles

“Preaching is not talking to people about the Bible; it’s talking to people about themselves from the Bible.” – Rick Warren

Don’t just teach the truth—connect it to life.

  • Understand your audience. Consider their age, context, and struggles.
  • Use real-life examples. Apply the truth to situations people face at home, school, work, or relationships.
  • Preach with empathy. Speak not just with authority, but with understanding and grace.
  • Call for response. Don’t just inform—invite change. Ask: “What does God want us to do with this truth today?”

Preaching that touches the heart will awaken faith, repentance, and obedience.

“People are not on a truth quest. They are on a happiness quest. So we must show them that God’s truth leads to true joy.” – Andy Stanley

5. Move from Explanation to Application

Truth must lead to transformation.

  • Answer the question: “So what?” What does this truth mean for daily life?
  • Give clear, actionable next steps. Whether it’s forgiving someone, stepping out in faith, or reordering priorities—make it practical.
  • Speak to different life roles. Address how the message applies to singles, parents, workers, students, and leaders.
  • Use memorable statements. Short, striking phrases help people remember and live the message.
  • Apply both inwardly and outwardly. Some truths change our hearts and mindset; others call for action and obedience.

Explanation informs, but application transforms. The goal is not just to be heard—it’s to be lived.

“People are far more interested in what works than what’s true. But if you can show them that the truth works, they’ll care about both.” – Andy Stanley

Closing Statement

A sermon is not just a speech—it’s a spiritual encounter. When the truth of Scripture is handled faithfully, unpacked clearly, and applied meaningfully, hearts are awakened and lives are changed. Preaching becomes relevant not because it entertains, but because it reveals God, disrupts lies, and invites people into a life shaped by the gospel. As you prepare your next sermon, remember: preach the Word, lift up Christ, shepherd the heart, and trust the Spirit to do what only He can do.

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