Our Senior Pastor Brian Houston, always says that we should aim to preach to people’s Mondays. We want them to be able to take what we teach them on a Sunday and be able to apply it to their situation and circumstances on a Monday.

Ps Robert Fergusson shares in the Reach & Influence online preaching course that in order to do this we must recognise that the Bible is not only believable, but it is also doable. It can be applied.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:1, it instructs us to teach people how to live in order to please God. The Bible doesn’t just change our beliefs, but also our actions. It is applicable.

Here’s an overview of five recommendations from Ps Robert that will ensure your preaching is not only believable, but also doable.

1. Find out what pleases God.

Thankfully the Bible actually gives us clues…

• In Hebrews 11:6 it says that faith pleases Him.
• In Colossians 3:20 it says that children obeying their parents pleases God.
• Then in 1 Timothy 2:1-4 it says that prayer for people in authority pleases God; along with a life of morality.

If we’re going to teach people how to live in order to please God, we need to know exactly what is going to please God and then align our message appropriately.

2. Make it our goal.

In 2 Corinthians 5:9 it encourages us to make it our goal to please God. So if as preachers we’re going to help people, we’re going to need to make our message applicable to people.

We’ve got to know what pleases God and then make it our goal. Build your message around this goal rather than simply a topic you happen to be passionate about at the moment or humorous anecdote.

3. Live a life that is pleasing to God.

Everything about your life should be about faith in God and faith in God’s Word. Bring faith to the platform, bring faith to your life, bring faith to your choices, bring faith to your relationships.

Allow your life to be an example of a life lived with faith in Jesus at the centre.

4. Teach people how to live.

When you’re preparing your message, don’t just tell people the “what” or the “why”. We might just share “what is faith” and “why do we need faith” but it’s equally important to explain how to do these things – this is the application.

A helpful way to do this is to simply consider what you congregation will be doing on their Monday…

• They will go to work – am I speaking to their situation?
• They have routines – am I speaking to their routines?
• They have relationships – am I speaking to those various relationships?

What else is the demographic and group that you are speaking to going to be doing when they leave your service?

Whatever someone is doing on a Monday, how can our preaching bring some wisdom and eternal truth to the situation?

5. Point people to Jesus.

In Hebrews 13:21 the author prays that God would work in each of us what is pleasing to Him.

The truth is that God gives you the ability to do what He asked you to do and without that ability you can’t do it. Each of us do the hard work, but it’s with His energy. He is the one that enables you to please Him.

So when it comes to our preaching, reveal to your congregation what will please God, but then ensure you also include that only God and our own individual relationship with God is what enables that to be expressed in our lives.

Robert reminders us that ultimately, “If we don’t point people to Jesus, it’s just a motivational talk.”

Whenever we speak, we must point people to Jesus rather than their own strength, knowing that it is God who works in us what is pleasing to Him.

Andy Hopper

Upskill Your Preaching In One Minute A Week…

Subscribe for free to receive a bite-sized training from Ps Robert Fergusson delivered conveniently to your inbox each week. Subscribe today…

Introducing An Online Preaching Course From Hillsong Church…

Reach & influence the world by preaching Christ-centered, Bible-based messages, that empower your congregation to lead and impact in every sphere of life. Enrol into over nine hours of exclusive video lessons and material full of insights and wisdom from the Hillsong preaching team. Learn at your own pace on mobile, desktop, or host group training for your church team. Learn more…