Many small church pastors avoid the Old Testament. It feels complicated, culturally distant, and difficult to apply. The genealogies, the laws, the violence, the unfamiliar names and places, it can feel like a minefield for a bi-vocational pastor with limited prep time.

This is a significant loss. The Old Testament is two-thirds of the Bible. It is the foundation on which the New Testament stands. A congregation that never hears the Old Testament preached is a congregation with a truncated understanding of God, of redemption, and of the story they are part of.

Why Preach the Old Testament

The Old Testament reveals the character of God in ways the New Testament assumes rather than explains. The holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, the faithfulness of God through generations of human failure, the pattern of promise and fulfillment, these themes are established in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Christ.

A congregation that has heard the story of Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets will understand the New Testament more deeply than one that has only heard the Gospels and Epistles. They will understand why the cross was necessary. They will understand what it means that Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. They will understand the depth of God’s patience and the weight of his promises.

Practical Approaches for Bi-Vocational Pastors

Choose Narrative Books First

The narrative books of the Old Testament, Genesis, Exodus, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Esther, Jonah, are the most accessible for both preacher and congregation. The stories are compelling, the characters are vivid, and the theological themes are clear. Start here before tackling the prophets or the wisdom literature.

Preach the Story, Not Just the Lesson

The Old Testament is primarily narrative. It tells a story. The best Old Testament preaching honors that narrative quality, it tells the story well before it draws the lesson. A congregation that has been drawn into the story of Joseph’s betrayal and redemption will receive the theological point more deeply than one that has been given a three-point outline about forgiveness.

Always Connect to Christ

Every Old Testament text points, in some way, toward Christ. This does not mean forcing a Christological interpretation onto every passage. It means understanding each text within the larger story of redemption that culminates in Jesus. The question to ask of every Old Testament text is: how does this fit into the story that ends with Christ?

Use the Curriculum as a Companion

If you are preaching through an Old Testament book, consider using the MinistryPlace Old Testament Sunday School Curriculum in your children’s ministry at the same time. When the whole church is in the same part of Scripture, adults hearing it preached, children learning it in Sunday school, the impact is multiplied. Families can discuss the same stories at home.

Handling Difficult Passages

The Old Testament contains passages that are genuinely difficult, violence, genocide, polygamy, slavery, imprecatory psalms. Do not avoid them. Address them honestly, with theological care, and with humility about the limits of your own understanding.

A congregation that has heard their pastor wrestle honestly with a difficult passage will trust that pastor more than one who has only preached the easy texts. Honest engagement with difficulty is a form of pastoral care.

Related Resources

• Bi-Vocational Ministry Hub
• How to Plan Your Preaching Calendar
• Old Testament Sunday School Curriculum
• Free Sermon Prep Toolkit