Speak Simply! Communicate God's Word so People Understand

Now, I know you are a complex human being, but please, speak simply!

In George Muller's autobiography, he writes:

Simplicity in expression is of utmost importance. The teacher should speak so that even children and people who cannot read may be able to understand him, as far as the natural mind can comprehend the things of God. Every congregation has people of various educational and social backgrounds. The expounder of the truth of God speaks for God and for eternity. It is unlikely that he will benefit the hearers unless he uses plain speech (p. 34).

Even back in the mid 1800s, George Muller had a passion to communicate the Word of God in a way that the masses understood. Though Muller was an intelligent man, who spent much time studying Hebrew, Greek, etc, he was passionate about people understanding what is written in the Bible.

No doubt the Bible contains deep truths, that even the brightest of theologians struggle to grasp, but the challenge is to take complex ideas and thoughts and communicate them with simplicity.

I am always amazed when I read social media sites, and read of Christians quoting the King James Version of the Bible. I am sure King James, if he were alive today, would be very proud. In fact, thus saith the Lord, he speaketh very much happiness of this. What irks me about this, is not the message of the KJV per se, but rather the unnecessary hurdles we put in front of people in order for them to respond to the message of Christ.

Here are some tips on communicating effectively.

Let's make the gospel of Christ accessible to the average person.

Jesus died for your sins. Ask him for forgiveness. Start living for him today.

The challenge we each have, is to take the Word of God, in all of its fullness and its complexity and communicate the nuggets of truth that we derive from our engagement with it.

Take complex thought and make it simple.      

George Muller on Preaching

Here are some excerpts from George Muller from The Autobiography of George Muller (compiled in 1984):

Sometimes I still do not have a text [to preach on] after praying. At first I was puzzled by this, but I have learned to simply continue with my regular reading of the Scriptures, praying while I read for a text. I have had to read five, ten, even twenty chapters before the Lord has given me a text. Many times I have even had to go to the meeting place without a subject. But I have always obtained it, perhaps, only a few minutes before I was going to speak (p. 31-32).

As a preacher myself, I am trying hard to imagine what I would be feeling, if I still did not have any clue what I was communicating to the listeners, three minutes before speaking! Then George Muller goes on to offer his advice on preaching:

The preparation for the public ministry of the Word is even more excellent than preaching in church. To live in constant communion with the Lord, and to be habitually and frequently in meditation over the truth is its own reward. 

Expounding the Scriptures [Exegesis] is more beneficial especially when studying a whole gospel or epistle. This may be done either by entering minutely into the meaning of every verse or by giving the main points and leading the hearers to see the overall meaning of the whole book. Expounding the Scriptures encourages the congregation that leads believers to value the Scriptures is important (p. 33).

Then Muller throws a punch with this comment:

This method of preaching is more beneficial to the hearers than if, on a single verse, some remarks are made so that the portion of Scripture is scarcely anything but a motto for the subject (p. 33).

Here's a man, George Muller, known for his faith, in living without a wage, and praying and watching God constantly provide. Here's a man, passionate about the Word of God, and encouraging preachers of the Word, to study it, meditate on it, and expound the Scriptures so as to have the most effect on its listeners when they preach the Word.

Good on you George Muller. Well said.