By The book of Ecclesiastes is not normally associated with preaching, and yet, the preferred title of the author was “The Preacher” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, 12; 7:27; 12:8-10).
What is “The Preacher’s” view of preaching?
Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecclesiastes 12:9-12 (ESV)
First of all, a good sermon will teach knowledge (Acts 20:27).
v9 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge,…
Secondly, a good sermon will be the product of diligent study (2 Timothy 2:15).
v9-10 … weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight,…
Third, a good sermon will present, not all the different things that were studied, but only truth (2 Timothy 2:15)
v10 … he wrote words of truth.
Fourth, a good sermon will present words …
… that prompt the hearers into action (2 Timothy 3:16-17) …
v11 The words of the wise are like goads, …
… that do not change (2 Timothy 2:18)…
v11 … and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; …
… and that originate with God Himself (2 Peter 1:21).
v11 … they are given by one Shepherd.
And lastly, a good sermon will model why God’s Word is sufficient (2 Timothy 2:16).
v12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
“The Preacher” understood preaching. Preaching in the church hasn’t changed since then. All the verses in brackets above are from the New Testament’s preaching verses – and there are many more along the same lines!
There is a reason why faithful churches uphold Biblical preaching,
and there is a reason why true Christians love a good sermon.