How to Preach Effectively — E.A. Johnston

Seminary Training Cannot Teach a Man How to Preach

When young preacher boys ask me for advice on how to preach, I usually point them in one direction. I can't recommend seminary to teach you how to preach, friend, because I have two doctorates from two different seminaries, and neither one taught me how to preach.

Studying Preachers Used in the Salvation of Souls

If you are serious about being used to God as a preacher, then you must study men whom God has used in the salvation of souls. I had an evangelist ask me once to give him advice on how to be a more effective preacher.

Repentance and the Absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ

I told him to study the life of Mordecai Ham and preach the two doctrines that Mordecai Ham preached, which were repentance and the absolute lordship of Jesus Christ. But that man wouldn't do it. He just kept doing things his way with no impact.

Learning from Sam Jones's Final Sermon

If you're serious about preaching and you want to become a better preacher, then I suggest the following to you. Study the last sermon Sam Jones ever preached. At his death in 1906, it was said that Sam Jones had spoken to more Americans than anyone who had ever lived.

George Whitefield and Sam Jones's Reach

I believe that's true, friends, because in the days of Whitefield, America was still a colony, and the population was considerably small. Whitefield preached to 20 ,000 people on Boston Common, when Boston only had a population of 60 ,000 inhabitants.

But he reached a third of the city, and that's pretty astounding. I believe, percentage-wise, George Whitefield preached to more people in his day than anyone else. But numerically, I believe Sam Jones tops the list.

The Sudden Death Sermon and Its Prophetic Conclusion

I have taken the time to pre-record a Sam Jones last sermon for you, friends. I preached it verbatim without altering one word. Sam Jones preached that message a day before he died, and it's entitled, Sudden Death.

He was addressing a men's meeting in Oklahoma City, and his last words to those men were that before his voice died out in their ears, they would get news of a sudden death. Well, Sam Jones died suddenly the next day while traveling back to Georgia on a train, and it was as if his sudden death was an exclamation point to his sermon.

The Community Impact of Sam Jones's Preaching

When Sam Jones preached, God blessed, and entire communities were altered. The following is a quote from an Atlanta newspaper dated April 17, 1896. It records the results of a Sam Jones meeting in the city of Atlanta.

Never has Atlanta been shaken by such a tremendous force. As a result of the religious wave that swept over Atlanta during the Sam Jones meetings, 500 deck-of-cards had been burned, two saloons closed, arrests for drunkenness curtailed, attendance at theaters reduced, and a thousand people added to the church rolls.

Listening to Sermons to Improve Preaching

When Sam Jones came to town, all hell broke loose. His sermon, entitled Sudden Death, is a classic sermon. Listen to that sermon, friend. It will teach you how to preach better than any seminary class ever could.

Take the time to listen to it. You can upload it by my sermon audio homepage in the search screen under the title Sam Jones Last Sermon. Give it a listen and take good notes, and you'll be glad you did.