How to Preach With the Authority of God
You can spend your time finding the best story to tell. Or you can spend your time figuring out how God wants you to preach.
And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
Luke 4:36
What do you use to make people impressed with your preaching?
Stories
Comedy
Quotes
Commentaries
Concordances
Or the authority only God can give?
How do you know if you’re relying on the authority only God can give?
First, how much prayer do you give to your sermon?
Not, “Bless me” prayers.
Rather, “Bless them” prayers. Like…
“God, how do you want to give Life into people’s souls through this sermon?”
“God, how do you want to transform those listening?”
“God, what demons do you want to defeat to break people free?”
“God, how do you want to advance your kingdom through our church with this passage?”
Second, do you see people break free of what chains them?
Those far from God.
Those who are in service every week.
Do people feel safe enough to share what they need to break free of?
Third, do those who Hear & Follow Jesus advance his Kingdom?
When God moves, his people can’t sit.
They will start to advance his Kingdom because of what he does inside of them.
Fourth, are you transformed because of what God does inside of you?
Your study and preaching is not for them out there.
It’s for you. Not you too.
You first.
Are you preaching to transform others?
Or do you preach because God is transforming you and you want others to experience the same?
God is not done transforming you. He is doing a work inside of you so that he can use that work to grow others in the Life he wants to give them.
Let him break you free too.
Then the people listening will experience an authority no story can give.