HOMILETICS 4 (THE PREACHER MUST TAKE CARE OF HIS HEALTH).

HOMILETICS 4 (THE PREACHER MUST TAKE CARE OF HIS HEALTH).

A good preacher must be in his best condition physically. A good physique is an attraction in the pulpit, and it is also a basis for the good spiritual enjoyment. “health is wealth” an hungry man is an angry man” know this, it is when you are in proper health condition that you can attend rightly to spiritual matter.

Therefore have enough rest, sleep and good diet, look very neat and clean, have regular physical exercise to keep you healthy.

PULPIT MANNERISM AND COMMON MISTAKES OF PREACHERS

1. Don’t render apology for anything as you begin your sermon e.g for lateness, coarse voice, ill prepared sermon, late information to preach etc.

2. Don’t speak to yourself, be audible.

3. Don’t preach over the people or under them but preach to them (some preachers are known for pulpit scolding, denouncing the sins of politicians or their congregation or society, people resent condemnation always, they need encouragement).

4. Don’t confess your fault and weakness in the pulpit, your audience may be discouraged and may loose confidence in you.

5. Don’t steal other people’s sermon. Stealing is a nasty practice for anybody and for preachers

6. Don’t preach what you do not believe unless God’s Spirit specifically asks you to do so. But after your sermon, you must believe what God Spirit has required you to preach.

7. Do not repeat your own sermons to the same congregation; sermons should be revised often

8. Do not imitate other preachers.

9. Don’t preach without preparing you own heart. You must not prepare your sermons in a hurry or too close to the day of preaching.

10. Don’t indulge in unnecessary jokes after your sermon; your audience may not take you seriously.

11. Don’t regret after preaching a sermon nor do you wait to be congratulated.

12. Don’t preach unless you have applied for the Holy Spirit help. It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that makes the difference.

13. Don’t prepare your sermons using only one versions of the bible, you may misinterpret many passages if you use one version to prepare your sermon.

14. Do not continue preaching for a long time after you have told your audience that you are concluding your sermon.

15. Don’t use the words of un-inspired persons as your text, no matter how good they appear.

16. Don’t use the pulpit as a stepping stone to popularity. Don’t try to please people with your sermons.

17. Don’t keep the best part sermons until the last time. Say the best things first. Do not play for time when you have no point to make.

18. Don’t dress shabbily to the pulpit, be smart.

1. Don’t enter the pulpit in a hurry. Be composed. Be at the preaching ground at least thirty minutes before the start of your sermon. Avoid long prayer on the pulpit, long prayers are for your private devotion.

2. Don’t shout, shouting may indicate that you don’t have a point to make. One law professor tells his student; when you go to the law courts, if you have facts on your side, hammer it to the judge”. Then a student asked him, “but if you have neither facts no the law”. The professor replied “then hammer it on the table”.

1. Don’t use crude, coarse, unlovely, harsh and unrefined language unnecessarily in the pulpit

2. Don’t preach at a known sin of the member of your congregation. It is worse if he confess the sin in his secret to you.

3. Don’t give your back to the congregation

4. Don’t fight with your bible at the pulpit by dashing it at the lectern or keep on beating it. Treat your bible with respect, this action irritate some people.

5. In your body gesture, smile if you speak about joy, show seriousness on your face if you speak about sin, hell or judgment.

6. Length of sermon should be moderate 30 to 45 minutes. A good sermon should not wear out the people.

7. Don’t wear bathroom slippers to the pulpit rather wear good shoe.

8. Look up always and avoid stage fright. Regard the people as friend and not be scared.

9. Raise your voice the size of your congregation or adjust your microphone to your desire height and volume.

All Images from Google Search