Geoff Chang

In my role coaching preachers, I often see a common fallacy: that "deep" sermons have a complex structure. I read a sermon recently that had a main point that fractured into three sub-points, then returned to the main point with four-five sub-points (I kind of lost track), and ended with two-three applications. So I've been thinking a lot lately about how to keep it simple. Simple sermons aren't shallow. They just have a simple structure that allows a preacher to go deep with one big idea derived from the text. That's why I love this week's featured sermon from Geoff Chang on Jonah 1 and 2. Here's his outline: You are on the run; God is in pursuit. That's it, but it works. That simple outline allows Geoff to go deep into the text, deep into the fallen human condition, and deep into the gospel. So every time I preach, and every time I'm coaching another preacher, I'm always asking: How can I keep this simple? How can I focus on one theme, one idea, or one compelling image from the text? Then eschew the rabbit trails, trim the fluff, and cut the extra scenes. I think you'll find that simplicity leads to depth.

Jim Hamilton

At PreachingToday.com, we love not only inspiring preachers and providing fresh and compelling illustrations; we're also big fans of encouraging preachers to think like theologians but preach like pastors. That's the idea behind our skills article by Jim Hamilton—"Biblical Theology and the Pastor." Hamilton argues that pastors are thinking and preaching theologically when "we want the Bible's story to be our story, the Bible's imagery to stock our symbolic universe, and the theological, moral, and ethical norms of the story to be our own."

Also, check out these new resources:

• Featured Illustration: Even in Trauma, Look for the Stars
• Featured Video: Thank You Notes - This poignant film focuses on being thankful for the small and the simple.
• Featured Sermon: "God Is in Pursuit" by Geoff Chang
• Featured Skills Article: "Biblical Theology and the Pastor" by Jim Hamilton

Matt Woodley
Editor, PreachingToday.com
mwoodley@christianitytoday.com

Matt Woodley is the pastor of compassion ministries at Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, Illinois.