This ad will not display on your printed page.

Pastors

  • Send to printerSend to printer
  • |
  • Close this pageClose window
October 28, 2020
The following article is located at: https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/2008/summer/14.55.html
CT Pastors, August 2008
Leadership|Preaching
From "Have To" to "Want To" Sermons
Visionary preaching that taps into people's innate longings.
Bryan Wilkerson|postedAugust 29, 2008

As men and women created in the image of God, believers are designed to become like Christ in ever-increasing measure. Effective, biblical preaching taps into this innate longing by helping people envision what God created us to be in Christ. This is the definition of visionary preaching.

Visionary preaching is not content merely to instruct people in the ways of God, or to confront the sin in their lives and the world, or to exhort believers to do better and try harder. Visionary preaching empowers people to pursue God's better future by painting a vivid and compelling picture of that future with words, images, and stories.

Consider one of the pastor's most daunting but essential topics—tithing. Some preachers will explain the Old Testament foundations of tithing and offer some grace-based principles for giving drawn from the New Testament. They assume that once people understand God's expectations they will conscientiously adjust their giving habits. Other preachers will ...

Subscriber access only You have reached the end of this Article Preview

To continue reading, subscribe to Christianity Today magazine. Subscribers have full digital access to CT Pastors articles.

Log InSubscribe

Already a CT subscriber? Log in for full digital access.

Christianity Today

© 2020 Christianity Today