Don’t utilize extensive vocabulary when you can use simple words

Too many sermons are more complicated than they need to be. Like any specialty, the Christian world has its own special vocabulary. Words like holy, justification and glorification do turn up in the Bible, yet they rarely if ever turn up in everyday conversation. On top of this, there are all kinds of theological terms used to describe Biblical concepts that are rich and meaningful if you know what they mean, like Trinity and ordo salutis and transcendence. Yet the majority of people in our churches listening to sermons don’t know or use these words. Anyone whose task it is to explain the word of God to others needs to think carefully about the words they use lest they are misunderstood.

Think about Jesus in his teaching. He used the common language and common illustrations that everyone would understand. Sure, they might not have understood what he meant, but the words were clear. Likewise, when Paul spoke to the Athenians who were educated but not experienced in the Jewish Scriptures, he spoke plainly. He explained God’s sovereignty and aseity without using those words. It is more than possible to explain difficult concepts in simple words.

Or consider the fact that the New Testament was not written in the more advanced classical Greek but in Koine Greek, the language of the common people. God communicated his message in words intended to be clearly understood by most people. We must strive hard to be clear and easy to understand.

In fact, I would argue, often people use a more advanced vocabulary not to be clearer but to sound more scholarly. That then becomes teaching with an element driven by pride rather than humbly trying to serve. Yet if you know a theological idea, you should be able to explain it to a ten-year-old. Then you know if you really grasp it.

I have heard many preachers use Hebrew or Greek in their sermons to little effect. Yes, by all means, use the original languages in your preparation, and make sure your hearers know that what they have in their hands is a translation. Yet, most of the time, you can make the point without having to quote the Greek. You can say something like, “this word can also mean…” or “other translations put this phrase like this”. The main aim is not to look intelligent but for everyone listening to you to understand the message.

A little consideration of the hearers will go a long way to making sermons more understandable. Are many of your hearers from a different culture to you? Then keep your vocabulary as simple as possible and try to avoid idioms. Are there likely to be those with little to no Bible knowledge? Then don’t use obscure illustrations from the Bible with no explanation. Is there a difficult word in the Bible text itself? Take time to explain it in simple words.

The Bible is written to be understood. Let’s not get in the way by complicating it.