One of the apparent difficulties with preaching expository sermons (verse by verse/section through books of the Bible) is that the preacher will often find himself repeating certain themes. For example, it would be difficult to preach through Genesis 3-6 without heavily emphasizing sin and its universality. In other words, there will be a few weeks with rather sin-heavy messages. In addition, it would seem to me to be nearly impossible for a Christian preacher to preach a sermon without going to the Cross.

Over a period of time, the preacher will find himself hitting many of the same themes. This immediately confronts our need for something always new and our desire to be entertained. We are raised in a culture that extects to be entertained by the newest, the latest and the greatest. Many preachers have lowered themselves to the status of bein entertainers rather than bearers of God’s Word. But listen to how Peter describes at least part of his ministry in 2 Peter 1:12-15:

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

One of the first things that strikes us about this passage is Peter’s earnestness. He obviously cares whether or not these things are not only understood but applied. He loves his readers and the truth he is communicating and he is willing to repeat himself in the process. He even goes so far as to say that as long as he is living, he intends “always” to remind them of these truths so that after his departure they may be able “at any time to recall these things.”

Peter’s approach is quite different from many in our day. It’s no secret that many churches have adopted business models and tried to apply them to ministry. While some pragmatic elements of the business world might be incorporated, we can not bring try to apply everything, perhaps most notably the business model’s measure of success. Yet this is precisely what many churches have done, believing that more people necessarily means more success.

Peter, however, points us to the fact that biblical success, true success in ministry goes much deeper than numbers. He is genuinely concerned with whether or not his readers hear, understand, apply and are changed by the mesage he bears. In other words, he seems to be judging success or failure in the ministry against different standards than many of us. We do well to meditate on exactly what it is that we are called to do. Consider the “Great Commission,” given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We often turn to this passage merely for its missions emphasis, reminding ourselves that we are to go to “all nations” but the passage has tremendous implications for the life of the local church. Yes, we are to go, but we are ultimately to be making disciples. This is the true measure of success or failure in ministry; how well are we making disciples who then reproduce themselves in making further disciples. Peter was willing to repeat himself in order to make sure the importance of this message was passed on.

How ought modern pastors convey this same intensity and willingness to repeat ourselves? I’ll be honest, this question becomes more difficult for me preaching through a section such as Genesis 3-6 which is quite “sin heavy.” How often is too often to repeat a theme, particularly if the text in question repeats itself thematically?

The more I meditate on questions such as these, the more often I return to passages like this one in Peter’s second letter. As mentioned, his heart for the truth and for his hearers simply bleeds through his words and the fact that he was willing to repeat himself actually emphasizes this. Regardless of your perception of his theology, I think of someone like John Piper who preaches with such passion that no one would question his heart. He is genuinely moved by the truths he is handling and in this context, repetition often becomes a tool of zeal.

Repetition becomes self-defeating when it is used simply because there is nothing else to say, or to nag. The next time you hear a preacher repeat himself, ask yourself why he’s repeating. Lord willing, the answer will be that he has been emphatically changed by the truth he is communicating and he wants the same for you. The next time you hear a pastor repeat himself, listen.

• Buy John Piper’s books
• Read Preaching With Passion by Alex Montoya
• Read my previous post “It’s True, But is it Passionate?”