What is Deep? What is Shallow?

I believe there's a misnomer in the church. It's the definition of deep or shallow preaching. Deep preaching gets defined as doctrinal and shallow preaching is defined as applicational. I think we have our definitions wrong.

Shallow preaching is when a speaker tells you what the text means, but fails to tells you what the text can do in your life. Throwing out a few Greek words doesn't make preaching deep. Talking about ancient cultures doesn't make preaching deep. A person could stand up and read a commentary and do exactly what some define as "deep" preaching.

Deep preaching is when a Pastor explains what the text means but when proceeds to apply the text to our lives. What creates depth in a message is the connection between me and the text. If no connection is made, then we're still on the surface. The greater the connection to my life, the great the depth of the message.

Does this mean commentaries are shallow? Not at all. They serve a wonderful purpose and I have 100's in my office. But commentaries aren't preaching, they're explaining. And God has called preachers to be more than explainers. He's called us to be equippers. (Eph. 4:11-12)

Comments

[Nelson Searcy]

Great post Bob! One of my brothers is a doctor and he's always saying:

Description without prescription is malpractice!

Nelson
Now blogging at: www.ChurchLeaderInsights.com/blog

[Pastor Lance]

Wonderful post Bob! I am in total agreement with you and your accurate portrayal of what preaching is an what it isn't. But you forgot one, there's shallow preaching, deep preaching and none preaching...that's when you read the text and never mention either the text nor application. LOL Bless your minitry

[TallyWilgis]

Fantastic post Bob. One of the best I've read in a very long time from anyone. Thanks for putting it out there. I love it mainly because I know you smoke what you're selling.

[Rudy Garrido]

That Post was DEEP Bob. ;)