• Preach narratives that express the Trinity (e.g. the annunciation or baptism of Jesus). For example, a believer’s baptismal sermon on Luke 3:21-23, 4:1-13 was titled: “Baptism and After.”
Jesus models key spiritual events for believers:
Praying to the Father. Prayer isn’t about technique – it is about relationship.
Filling by the Spirit. A real experience of God’s third person through repentance and faith (as in Acts 2:38).
Battling with the Enemy. Do not be surprised by the outcome – that after baptism there is a battle to please God and follow his will.
Preachers also need to sensitively draw out Trinitarian implications of biblical stories. In my last article I mentioned a Pentecost sermon that set the coming of the Holy Spirit within the story involving both the Father and the Son.
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• Preach doctrinal teaching that integrates God’s triune action (such as Rom. 8). Preachers need to emphasize God’s three persons when they are in the text. For example, I preached a sermon based on 2 Cor 1: 15-22, titled: “God’s ‘Yes’ and our ‘Amen’” that began:
When Paul is accused of fickleness, of failing to make up his mind, he responds that he is not about a business that is yes/no, on/off, probably/not sure, could be/can’t be. For Jesus Christ is never yes/no, on/off, probably/not sure, could be/can’t be, but always yes to every one of God’s promises.
And when we talk of ‘yes’ promises, these are not some pleasant spiritual thoughts that make us feel better in church. They are rock solid, life-changing realities of the new creation. “God establishes us together in Christ, (note this is a together event – not for individuals only), and has anointed us by putting his seal on us and giving his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.”
This is the work of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, not yes/no, on/off, probably/not sure, could be/can’t be. Here is the full weight of God’s grace and guarantee. The rest of our lives together is saying and living out ‘Amen’ to the glory of God.
The sermon developed God’s triune work in the text, and the service ended in Communion.
• Preach with awareness of prepositions, as in Rom. 11:36: “for from him and through him and to him are all things,” and in Eph. 4:6 “above all, and through all and in all” (Eph. 4:6).
• Preach on Trinitarian prayer. Preaching on prayer should stress the classic pattern of praying to the Father, through the Son by the Spirit, while encouraging hearers to be aware that prayer may also be offered to Jesus (Rev. 5:11-14), and to the Holy Spirit.
• Preach Hebrews. No single New Testament book emphasizes Jesus’ mediating role more than Hebrews. Many church leaders have found its teaching highly significant, as, for example, John