Mark Batterson of National Community Church (Washington, D.C.) recently expressed some random reflections on preaching. They are not mere musings but contain some practical tips on how we can all preach more effectively. Four notable insights include:

1. I honestly think one hour of prayer is worth two hours of sermon prep.
2. I’m more and more convinced that the best messages have one organizing metaphor. It is the law of scope–more is less and less is more.
3. I always hope that what I say is timeless–based on the eternal truth. But I also want it to be timely–the right word at the right time.
4. I still believe content is king. You’ve got to preach every sermon like it’s the last sermon you’ll ever preach!