A beautiful testimony from an ICM student after completing our course on Homiletics - Simply put, I can now prepare and preach better sermons after...A beautiful testimony from an ICM student after completing our course on Homiletics - Simply put, I can now prepare and preach better sermons after going through this course. First, I learned that everyone is called to preach the Gospel of Christ, and everyone has got a message. Everyone is not called to pulpit ministry, but everyone is called to the ministry of reconciliation. This must be taught in Church circles so that the people of God know that God is also counting on them to preach and not just be preached to. They must know that they are the ones to get their neighbors and friends saved and not wait for only pastors to do so.

Learning about the different types of sermons has helped me to better prepare my sermons to be able to carry the exact message to the hearts of the listeners. This also helps me to keep my sermons focused on the main point and not having to go back and forth.

The qualities of a good sermon taught in this course has impacted me so much. Most profound for me amongst all the qualities listed is that a good sermon never leaves people the same. It is very easy for sermons to simply become a religious activity within the weekly Church routine and therefore we do not pay attention to know if people are getting blessed by every sermon. Having at the back of my mind that my sermon must change a life today, will guide my preparation and indeed delivery. My sermon should be a call to make God’s people closer to Him, it should always leave them better people than they were before the sermon.

I have also learned from this course and committed myself to put to application and not preach sermons based on my personal opinion, but on what the Word of God says. The listeners must be able to know and see that the Word of God says so and that’s why I preach. I must avoid sentiments and personal opinions or experiences. If I do this, I build a faulty doctrine in the Church and cause more problems rather than build. I should not even give my personal opinion of scripture as the accurate explanation, rather I should take the Word of God in context to get the exact message of the heart of the writer at the time of writing. Show more