I have yet to meet a preacher who doesn’t want to preach with power.
We want to see lives changed. It’s a deep God-given drive in all of us. It’s the reason we spend an average of 14 hours a week hidden away meticulously preparing our sermons.
And yet sometimes our words lack authority, our preaching falls flat and our confidence is shaken…
In those moments, the pulpit can feel like a battleground:
For beginners, it’s the battle to find your voice and make a difference.
For the experienced, it’s the battle to deliver fresh, life-giving sermons week after week.
The journey to powerful preaching is a challenging one, but it’s one you can win.
These 10 essential steps are not just a guide, but a roadmap in your quest to preach God’s Word with unwavering power and authority.
10 Ways To Preach With Power & Authority
1. Stand On The Rock Of Revelation
2. Be Led By The Spirit
3. Know You’re Called
4. Preach With Conviction
5. Focus On Your Flock
6. Start Your Sermon Strong
7. Know Exactly Where You’re Going
8. Speak With Clarity
9. Offer Practical Life Application
10. Constantly Work On Yourself
1. Stand On The Rock Of Revelation
Jesus spoke with authority (John 12:49).
You know why?
Because He only spoke what He heard His Father saying (John 8:28).
Your opinions are here today, gone tomorrow but the Word of God stands the test of time.
“Most preachers use the Bible the way a drunk uses a lamppost – more for support than for illumination.”
It’s so much better when, instead of cherry-picking verses to back up what you want to say, you let God’s Word speak for itself.
Make a decision that whenever you preach from this day forward, rather than trying to make the text fit your message; you will let the text shape and define your message.
2. Be Led By The Spirit
Too often, we rely on artificial intelligence instead of seeking guidance from the Author of intelligence.
Every stage of your sermon prep must be drenched in prayer. Constant dialogue with the Holy Spirit should be the heartbeat of your preparation.
The Holy Spirit is not just a silent observer; He is your teacher, your guide and your biggest ally in sermon planning. He’s your divine co-author.
“For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”
As you seek His wisdom, you’ll get flashes of wisdom and revelation you’d never be able to find in a Bible commentary or come up with on your own.
Preach Spirit-led messages if you want to deliver powerful messages that change lives.
3. Know You’re Called
We’ve all seen it:
A preacher who owns the pulpit and commands the stage because he knows he’s doing what God has called him to do.
It goes beyond mere confidence; it’s a deep trust that he stands in the centre of God’s will at exactly the right time and place.
Preaching with power, boldness and authority comes from a faith that you’re called to preach, that your voice is not your own and that you are a chosen channel of God’s life-giving message.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
For you, preaching is not just a job or a role; it is a divine assignment etched into the very fabric of your being. You wouldn’t be here reading this otherwise.
So step into your God-given calling, own it and you’ll tap into the power to move hearts, inspire change and shape destinies for His glory.
4. Preach With Conviction
Ever wondered why some sermons resonate more powerfully than others?
Here’s a surprising insight from a 2023 study:
People are more compelled by passionate preaching than polished delivery.
This revelation is a game-changer because it shows people don’t want flawless sermons, more than anything, they want a preacher who looks alive and believes what he’s saying.
Your congregation craves a message that challenges, inspires and hits them in the heart.
So if you really want people to sit up and take notice, worry less about being perfect and ignite the fire in your belly.
“Preaching is not a profession, it’s a passion! If a man can’t preach with passion he shouldn’t preach at all.”
5. Focus On Your Flock
Your preaching will only make a difference if you connect with your audience.
You need to know and understand their:
- Struggles
- Frustrations
- Goals
- Aspirations
As well as what part of the journey they’re on in their spiritual walk. Powerful preachers pitch their sermons one level higher than where their listeners are currently at.
“Great preaching begins with understanding, not just the message, but the hearts and minds of those you seek to reach.”
6. Start Your Sermon Strong
In our fast-paced world of short attention spans, you’ve got just 90 seconds to engage your audience and ensure they stick with you through the entirety of your message.
Starting your sermon strong is paramount.
Time is of the essence: this isn’t the time for rambling preambles. You need to grab attention from the get-go.
Here’s how:
- Share a shocking statistic
- Make a powerful statement
- Tell a funny or emotional story
- Vividly outline a felt problem or pain point
- Dive straight into scripture
Whether through statistics, bold statements, humour, emotional connection, or scripture, ensure you kick your sermon off with a bang and make those first 90 seconds count.
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7. Know Exactly Where You’re Going
Before you put pen to paper and write your sermon outline you need an end goal.
Powerful preaching is preaching that has a purpose and powerful preachers know exactly what that purpose is.
So ask yourself questions like:
- What do I want people to take away with them?
- What’s the call to action?
- What’s the big mindset shift I want to create?
This will help you define the destination you want to take people to and then you can craft your sermon as the journey to take them there.
“The audience only pays attention as long as you know where you are going.”
8. Speak With Clarity
Ever walked away from a sermon more confused than when you arrived?
Yeah, me too.
If you want to become a powerful preacher then you need to cut the jargon.
Preach those great theological truths from the Word, but please, explain them. Don’t throw around terms like “atoning penal propitiation of Christ” without ensuring everyone can follow along.
It’s not about showcasing a wide-ranging vocab; it’s about making these profound truths accessible to all.
And add further clarity by taking a cue from Jesus Himself:
- Connect timeless truths to real-life examples
- Use compelling stories to illustrate your sermons
- Break down complex concepts into relatable narratives
Your congregation isn’t there to decipher a theological puzzle; they’re there to glean wisdom for their everyday lives.
And remember: simplicity doesn’t diminish the depth of your message; it enhances its impact.
9. Offer Practical Life Application
The essence of powerful preaching lies in its ability to trigger real and lasting life change.
Your congregation should not only be moved but moved to action.
Every time you step up to the pulpit, give a strong call to action and offer practical ways people can apply the message.
Your call to action could be:
- A challenge for them to take on
- A next step to take
- A question for them to answer
- A truth for them to believe
Do this and your hearers will become doers of the Word and not just hearers only.
“A sermon fails, though it be well presented, biblical and inspiring, if it has no call to action.”
10. Constantly Work On Yourself
If you’re serious about becoming a powerful preacher then you absolutely must invest in yourself and develop your skills constantly.
There are so many ways to up your preaching game. You can:
And if you don’t know where to start, I highly recommend Killer Sermons Academy.
It’s a training platform where you get a complete step-by-step preaching system, 1-on-1 coaching and the chance to connect with a community of like-minded preachers.
Find out more in my SUPER in-depth Killer Sermons Academy review.
Your Journey Starts Here
As you start on your journey to preaching powerful sermons, step up to the pulpit with confidence because the world needs to hear what God will say through you.
Preach with power and change lives – one sermon at a time.