In this short booklet, Cheeseman explains why preaching is a prominent part of the church, and why pastors must maintain it as the primary priority of their ministry. He discusses what good preaching consists of, emphasizing the necessity of the balance between rigorous study and Spirit-leadership, being emotional with resorting to emotionalism, and avoiding the trap of visual images that can subvert the Word of God. The result is a quick, yet helpful and useful read.  

God has revealed to mankind. There is an authority inherent in Christianity that cannot be destroyed. Christian doctrines are not the inventions of men but the revelation of God. God has revealed the truth that Christians believe. Absolute truth exists and demands our obedience. [6]

Preachers must not use a text as a pretext for expressing their own ideas and speculations. Too many preachers are guilty of this bad practice: they start with a text and they use it as a launch-pad for all sorts of extraneous ideas which have absolutely nothing to do with the chosen text. This is imposition, not exposition. [11]

The task of the preacher is not just to explain the meaning of a text. We must relate and apply the text to our hearers and try to leave them with a deep and lasting impression of the truth within them. This is the difference between a sermon and a lecture. A lecture imparts information; a sermon applies the truth for the purpose of changing the hearers’ lives. [14]

The hallmark of the great preacher is that he makes hard things seem simple. [18]

Our first responsibility is to ensure that our own personal walk with God is on the right footing. Nobody can be a good preacher unless he is a good servant of Jesus Christ. [23]

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