1. The Preaching of Zechariah
Preaching Like A Prophet:
By: Joshua Adams

2.  ""In the last analysis, as Marilyn
Ferguson observed, No one can
persuade another to change.
Each of us guards a gate of
change that can only be
opened from the inside. We
cannot open the gate of
another, either by argument or
by emotional appeal." Pages
60-61, Covey's 7 Habits,
 Do you agree with this
statement?
The Challenge of Preaching…

3. Who is Zechariah?
 A young prophet
 Grandson of priest Iddo,
and therefore most likely
a priest as well.
 Returned with first group
of exiles in 538 BC.
 Contemporary of
Haggai. Zechariah as depicted on
Michelangelo's ceiling of the Sistine
Chapel

4. Zechariah’s Prophetic Career
 Zechariah means, “Yahweh remembers”
 He prophesies about remembered sin of Israel as well as
remembered promises made to Israel by Yahweh.
 His prophetic career includes: 8 visions (Zech 1:1-6:15), 4
messages (Zech 7:1-8:23), and 2 oracles of anticipation
of completion of the temple and the coming of the
Messiah. (9:1-14:21)
 He focuses on Israel’s immediate and distant future.

5.  Man among the myrtles—Israel’s poor state.
 The four craftsman—Israel avenged.
 The measuring of Jerusalem—Israel restored, the
Kingdom of God.
 Joshua reinstated—Israel redeemed and the coming
Messiah.
 The lampstand and the olive trees—God’s goodness
 The flying scroll—judgment declared.
 The woman in a basket—removal of sin from Israel.
 The chariots of wrath—Israel avenged.
Brief summary of visions given

6. Zechariah’s World vs. Our World
 Postexilic
 Rebuilding a temple
 Content with Babylonian
lifestyles
 They were weary of
fasting and “repenting”
 This world is not our home…
 Our responsibility for building
the House of the Lord…
 Have we become content
with the world we live in?
 Are we too are content with
being conquered?

7. The Preaching of Zechariah
 There are six major
characteristics we will
observe.
 All of these principles
can be applied to other
aspects of ministry and
are not exclusive to
preaching.
 There are other lessons
we can learn from
Zechariah and I
encourage you to
continue personal study
in this very rich book.

8. The Preaching of Zechariah
Seek understanding before
sharing
◦ Zechariah seeks clarification from the
angel after each vision.
◦ We must, through study, not cease to
see clarification of God’s word for our
lives and the lives of our hearers.

9. The Preaching of Zechariah
Importance of symbols and using
them effectively
◦ Symbols are found through the visions,
messages, and oracles of Zechariah.
◦ These symbols have deep value for the things
which they represent.
◦ They also have an intrinsic value as they are
important to the language and society in
which they are found.
◦ We can powerfully use symbols in our
preaching today.

10. The Preaching of Zechariah
Do not overthink or underthink
things
◦ Seeking understanding can lead to several
conclusions.
◦ One is missing an obvious and important message
by complicating scripture unnecessarily.
◦ Another is in being content with a simple
explanation or shallow understanding when there is
something deeper waiting to be discovered in
scripture.
◦ We must seek balance in this endeavor.

11.  “Rabbit's clever," said Pooh thoughtfully.
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit's clever."
"And he has Brain."
"Yes," said Piglet, "Rabbit has Brain."
There was a long silence.
"I suppose," said Pooh, "that that's why he never
understands anything.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

12. The Preaching of Zechariah
Study is useless without application
◦ Seeking understanding for ourselves is
vital to powerful preaching.
◦ However the study of preachers must
expand beyond personal betterment.
◦ Our goal must be the sharing of the
message in a way that provokes
change in the hearts, minds, and
bodies of others.

13. The Preaching of Zechariah
Working together with other
ministers is crucial
◦ Zechariah works together with Haggai,
Joshua, other priests, etc.
◦ We work with other ministers, elders,
deacons, etc.
◦ Powerful preaching and ministry is and
has always been intended to be a
team effort.

14. The Preaching of Zechariah
We must balance preaching
judgment and hope
◦ Zechariah’s prophecy is well balanced.
◦ He does not neglect challenging Israel to live
according to the ordinances of God lest they
fall into the hands of an angry God.
◦ But he also tempers that message with one of
hope, love and restoration.
◦ To be a powerful preacher we must balance
the content of our messages.

15. The Power of the Message
 Preaching always comes down to the message.
 The real power of preaching comes from the
One who originated the message, the Lord.
 We simply need to get out of the way and allow
the power of the Gospel to take hold of people.

16. The Preaching of Zechariah
Preaching Like A Prophet:
By: Joshua Adams