What makes a sermon impactful? In a captivating episode of Pastors Talk with Mark Dever and Jonathan Leeman, renowned theologian and preacher John Piper delves into the essentials of effective preaching, drawing from his vast experience and offering invaluable advice for pastors of all stages. This discussion, rich with wisdom and practical insights, explores everything from sermon preparation to receiving feedback, providing a treasure trove of knowledge for anyone passionate about biblical preaching and seeking to understand “John Piper Sermons”.
John Piper’s Early Preaching Experiences
Reflecting on his early days, Piper recalls his first sermon during seminary chapel. Interestingly, he chose Ephesians 1 and illustrated his points using the narrative of the song “Big Bad John,” a creative approach that highlighted the sacrificial nature of Christ, much like Big Bad John’s heroic act in the song.
When asked about his grades in preaching class, Piper humorously mentions receiving a C from James Dane, a professor with whom he disagreed on identifying the main point of texts. This anecdote underscores a crucial aspect of sermon preparation: understanding the central message of the scripture.
What Should Be the Main Idea of a Sermon?
The conversation pivots to the core of sermon construction: the main idea. Piper asserts that a sermon should indeed have a central point – “something true in the text that’s important for these people.” He clarifies that this main idea doesn’t necessarily have to be the absolute main point of the entire text itself but rather a significant truth derived from it that resonates with the congregation’s needs and understanding.
Piper elaborates on defining the “main point,” suggesting it’s the truth that all other elements in the text support. He uses Romans 1:15-16 as an example, where Paul’s eagerness to preach the gospel in Rome is the main point, while the gospel being the power of God for salvation is a supporting clause, albeit profoundly important.
Mark Dever concurs with Piper’s perspective, especially in sequential expositional preaching. However, Piper highlights the flexibility of focusing on a clause or a smaller portion of scripture to extract a powerful, relevant doctrine, emphasizing the importance of doctrinal preaching to build a strong theological framework within the church.
Scripture Length in Preaching
The discussion touches upon the length of scripture passages in preaching. While Jonathan Leeman notes Piper’s tendency towards shorter chunks, Piper explains it was a matter of practicality and depth. He recounts the challenge of preaching through the minor prophets, emphasizing the extensive preparation required for larger portions of scripture.
Piper raises a concern about doctrinal depth in expository preaching, cautioning against merely making observations about a text without drawing out a doctrinal framework. He advocates for sermons to communicate relevant truths and contribute to the congregation’s theological understanding, regardless of the scripture’s length.
Concerns in Preaching
Expanding on concerns in preaching, Mark Dever emphasizes the importance of ensuring the gospel is clear enough for non-Christians to understand how to be saved. This prompts Piper to reflect on the term “gospel-centered,” expressing a concern that it might sometimes lead to a truncated theology.
Piper suggests focusing on “biblical preaching,” assessing a sermon’s effectiveness based on whether it powerfully and truthfully presents what is actually in the text and whether it is helpful, rather than solely focusing on weaving in the forgiveness of sins in every sermon.
He clarifies his view on Christ-centered preaching using Romans 8:32, suggesting that every blessing and promise in the Bible is available because God “did not spare his own son.” This approach allows for Christ-centered preaching even when addressing practical wisdom, as illustrated in his 30-second sermon example on Proverbs 6:6-8, urging listeners to “do a lot of good” enabled by Christ’s sacrifice.
Piper also cautions against sermons that are overly focused on relieving guilt, suggesting that allowing people to feel the weight of their sin can be necessary for conviction and repentance.
Preaching On the New and Old Testaments
The conversation addresses the balance between preaching from the Old and New Testaments. Piper acknowledges his own tendency to preach more from the New Testament, explaining that the Old Testament, while inspired and profitable, is less directly connected to Christ.
Mark Dever shares a similar practice, focusing on New Testament epistles for inductive Bible studies due to their accessibility, while incorporating Old Testament passages when preaching through books like Hebrews, demonstrating how the Old Testament enriches understanding of Christ.
Sermon Logistics
Transitioning to practical aspects, the discussion covers sermon logistics. Piper describes his approach to sermon structure, favoring a manuscript with a helpful flow of thought over a rigid outline. He emphasizes clarity in communicating truth.
Addressing the often-asked question about hand gestures, Piper humorously admits to being unaware of them unless prompted, while Dever confirms the existence of “John Piper hand gesture imitations,” adding a lighthearted moment to the conversation.
Advice for a Young Pastor
When asked about advice for young pastors, Piper offers a simple yet profound triad: “Pray a lot, read your Bible a lot, and love the people a lot.” He expands on “read your Bible,” urging deeper engagement to develop a compelling theological framework that shapes the pastor’s life and preaching.
Mark Dever adds that Piper’s strong theological foundation was already in place early in his ministry, a crucial element for effective preaching. Piper acknowledges this, emphasizing the importance of “knowing your Bible” deeply.
Both Piper and Dever underscore the significance of loving the congregation, highlighting the unique connection and accountability inherent in preaching to one’s own flock compared to speaking at conferences or other events. Piper reflects on his call to ministry, driven by a desire to see Romans 9 lived out in the lives of his congregation, emphasizing the relational aspect of pastoral ministry.
John Piper On Retirement
Mark Dever inquires about Piper’s experience post-retirement from pastoring Bethlehem Baptist Church. Piper admits missing preaching and various aspects of pastoring, although not all of it. This highlights the deep-seated call and satisfaction found in pastoral ministry, particularly in preaching to a familiar congregation.
How to Prepare for a Sermon
Delving into sermon preparation, Piper shares his typical routine: dedicating a full day, which could range from eight to twelve hours. He recounts learning early on that sermon preparation requires focused, dedicated time, often starting the process by Friday to be ready for Sunday.
Contrary to Mark Dever’s practice of reading the sermon text during devotional time, Piper keeps his devotional reading separate, following a discipleship reading plan to go through the entire Bible annually.
Consulting Commentaries
Piper reveals his approach to using commentaries: only after wrestling with the text independently and reaching a point where he feels “stumped.” He values commentaries that grapple with detailed grammatical questions, like those by Ellicott and Alford, finding many modern commentaries lacking in addressing the deeper linguistic challenges.
He emphasizes the power of tools like Logos Bible Software for in-depth word studies, minimizing his need for basic lexical resources. He appreciates commentaries that pose serious exegetical questions, showing a preference for engaging deeply with the original text before consulting secondary sources. He notes Tom Schreiner’s practice of writing commentaries before consulting others, which resonates with his own approach.
Can Preachers Get Better?
The conversation turns to preacher development. Piper firmly believes that “bad preachers can get better” by becoming less self-conscious, less arrogant, and refining distracting mannerisms.
Mark Dever probes Piper’s earlier self-description as “vain” in seminary, asking how he became less so. Piper attributes it to a God-centered theology that diminishes self-exaltation and the realization of personal limitations. He advises young preachers to identify their natural strengths and focus on honing those rather than trying to be good at everything.
Piper acknowledges that some preachers might be so ineffective that they should consider other paths, even if they preach sound doctrine. He emphasizes the lack of infallible pathways into ministry and the challenge of discerning pastoral suitability.
How to Receive Feedback
The discussion addresses the delicate matter of receiving feedback. Piper admits to being “squeamish” about telling someone they might not be suited for pastoral ministry. He acknowledges the risk of misjudgment and the potential for unexpected effectiveness in individuals.
Mark Dever shares an anecdote of being told early on that he wasn’t a good enough preacher for his current pulpit, highlighting the fallibility of such assessments and the importance of perseverance.
How to Give Feedback
Jonathan Leeman seeks advice on giving feedback, particularly for those who are hesitant. Mark Dever, known for his directness, states he is not concerned about being infallible and prioritizes honest feedback for growth.
Piper suggests that personality plays a role in giving feedback and humorously suggests asking Mark Dever for advice on being “less vain.”
Mark Dever mentions the practice of service reviews in his church as a tool for learning to give and receive godly criticism and encouragement, essential for raising up future pastors.
John Piper Critiques Mark Dever’s Preaching
In a practical demonstration of feedback, Jonathan Leeman invites John Piper to critique Mark Dever’s preaching. Piper, after some initial hesitation, playfully points out Dever’s fast speech and occasional slurring, making it hard to understand at times. However, he immediately pivots to praise Dever’s content, expressing his eagerness to hear Dever preach on texts like Hebrews 10, valuing the depth and insight Dever brings to scripture.
Mark Dever responds openly to Piper’s critique, illustrating a healthy receptiveness to feedback. He shares a recent experience where both a church member and John Piper offered valuable feedback on a sermon, demonstrating the ongoing learning process for preachers at all levels.
Mark Dever Critiques John Piper
When asked to critique John Piper, Mark Dever expresses difficulty due to not regularly hearing Piper preach recently. He acknowledges Piper’s strength in careful textual analysis, as exemplified in his Hebrews 10:14 insight. Dever struggles to offer criticism but suggests that if he were to listen to a specific sermon, he likely would have some.
Piper self-deprecatingly shares that his wife regularly provides feedback on his word choices, pointing out his overuse of certain words like “absolutely” or “incredible,” highlighting the value of feedback from those closest to us.
Concluding Thoughts on Humility After Preaching
The conversation concludes with reflections on the internal world of a preacher after stepping down from the pulpit. Piper advises preachers to simply say “thank you” when praised, communicating gratitude and recognizing the encouragement received. When facing criticism, he suggests acknowledging valid points and thoughtfully considering others. He quotes Jonathan Edwards on finding truth in criticism and emphasizes trusting that God works through imperfect sermons.
Mark Dever adds that his focus after preaching is on God’s work through His word, rejoicing in God’s glory rather than personal performance. He suggests that the less impressed one is with their own sermon, the better, ultimately directing praise to God.
This insightful episode of Pastors Talk with John Piper offers a wealth of wisdom for preachers seeking to grow in their craft and understanding of “john piper sermons,” emphasizing biblical fidelity, theological depth, and humble service.
