Preaching Influences: Nelson, Robinson, Quicke, Driscoll, & Keller

After being out of a week-to-week pulpit for about two years, I have been forced to rethink and redevelop homeletical rhythms. In trying to develop these rhythms I have re-listened to a few preachers from my past—I have been fortunate enough to sit under some great preaching: Tommy Nelson, Haddon Robinson, Michael Quicke & John Piper, as well as soak up influence from Tim Keller.

All of these experiences have been formative in different ways. One thing I have learned is that I am none of these men, nor will I ever have such preaching stature, but that has not kept me from trying to learn how to preach the Scriptures better. Here are a few more things I have learned from them:

• Tommy Nelson – explain the word of God clearly and push it into the crevices of life.
• Haddon Robinson – organize your sermon around a central idea and restate it repeatedly and differently
• Michael Quicke – cultivate communion with the Trinity during the sermon writing process, relying on the Spirit
• Mark Driscoll – always ask “why or how do I/we resist the message?”
• John Piper – preach the argument of Scripture, with God at the center, and bank on the promises of God.
• Tim Keller – preach to the heart, not the will, and be culturally literate, always keeping the non-Christian in mind. Raise the problem of application and solve it with the solution of the gospel.