In a recent piece in Preaching Today, the master preacher, Haddon Robinson, gave a comprehensive checklist that makes up an effective sermon organized around (1) Organization; (2) Content; (3) Delivery; and (4) Audience adaptation. It's a tall order, but it's worth considering every Sunday.
I remember reading more than 10 years ago Earl Palmer's strategies for sermon effectiveness, that is a preacher must have three kinds of fluency: Textual fluency, people fluency, and schedule fluency. The three things correlate highly with each other. The hardest component I found is people fluency. Pastors are busy. Preachers are busy. Some days the last thing they wish to do is to meet people. But this proves to be detrimental to preaching. Because often when we approach a text or think about its application, we end up thinking about people whom we spend time with. If we spend time with only the committee members or the elders, obviously the sermon will be written/preached with them in mind, and leaves out the rest of the people in the congregation.
What I found valuable in Robinson's checklist is the nitty-gritty details in the delivery, including non-verbal languages like eye-contact, vocal variety, posture, pauses, grammar, pronounciation, etc. These things are often easily ignored, particularly if the preacher assumes that the audience won't be smart enough to notice that anyway, or couldn't care less.
Here is the complete checklist:
ORGANIZATION
Introduction
Does the message get attention?
Does it touch some need directly or indirectly?
Does it orient hearers to the subject? Or to the main idea? Or to the first point?
Is it the right length? Is there a specific purpose?
Structure
Is the development clear? Is the overall structure clear?
Does the sermon have a central idea? Can you state it?
Are the transitions clear? Do they review?
Is there a logical or psychological link between the points?
Do the main points relate back to the main idea?
Are the subpoints clearly related to their main points?
Conclusion
Does the sermon build to a climax?
Is there an adequate summary of ideas?
Are there effective closing appeals or suggestions?
CONTENT
Is this subject significant? Is it appropriate?
Is the sermon built on solid exegesis?
Does the speaker show where he or she is in the text?
Is the analysis of the subject thorough? Logical?
Does the speaker convince you that he or she is right?
Does the content show originality?
Supporting material
Is the supporting material logically related to its point?
Is it interesting? varied? specific? sufficient?
Style
Does the speaker use correct grammar?
Is the speaker's vocabulary concrete? Vivid? Varied?
Are words used correctly?
Does the choice of words add to the effectiveness of the sermon?
DELIVERY
Intellectual directness
Does the speaker want to be heard? Is the speaker alert?
Do you feel the speaker is talking to you?
Is the speaker friendly?
Does the delivery sound like lively conversation?
Are words pronounced correctly?
Oral presentation
Is the voice easy to listen to? Is there clear articulation?
Is there vocal variety? Does the pitch level change?
Is there a variety of force? Does the rate vary enough?
Does the speaker use pauses effectively?
Physical presentation
Is the speaker's entire body involved in the delivery?
Does the speaker gesture?
Are the gestures spontaneous? Wide? Definite? Are there distracting mannerisms?
Is the posture good? Does the speaker look alert?
Is there good facial expression?
AUDIENCE ADAPTATION
Is the sermon adapted to hearers' interests? Attitudes?
Is the message related to hearers' knowledge? Does it meet needs?
Does the speaker look hearers in the eye?
Do you feel the speaker is aware of audience response?
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