Practically, What is Church Planting Preaching?

(The Art of Church Planting Preaching) Part 2

Last week, we began to tackle the distinction between classical preaching (usually aimed at an audience comfortably ensconced in an evangelical worldview), and church planting preaching that, by its very nature, becomes sympathetic to the rational, emotional and spiritual needs of Kingdom seekers within secularity.[1]

To that end, we looked at the first two of six distinguishing marks that characterize church planting preaching. They were:

1. Empathize with your Audience. In this, as missionary envoys, we account for differences in worldview perspectives, biblical exposure, and societal sensibilities. Our message is encoded and sent with precision to its intended receivers.

2. Frame the Issue. Why is this talk significant? What is at stake if I fail to adjust my life to this Kingdom principle? Effective church-planting preachers normally begin by framing the issue in the souls of their audience before ever rolling up their sleeves to explain the answer.

Now, with our audience squarely in mind, from Scripture, we begin to answer the deep longings of the heart by giving a biblically clear answer, by making relevant applications, by introducing a bigger problem, and by allowing for a gospel resolution.

Let’s look at the final four principles:

3. Give a Biblical Answer

At this point, church-planting preaching parallels classic expository preaching in numerous ways. With the firm conviction that the unchanging Word of God speaks powerfully to the lives of twenty-first century issues, the preacher approaches the craft with the care and precision of a surgeon as he carefully exposes the eternal Words of God to the temporal situations of man. With the confidence that the Holy Spirit is guiding and empowering the entire experience, ...