Danny Akin just delivered a very informative, very quote-heavy talk on preaching (I say quote-heavy because there were a ton of great quotes that you'll want to get a hold of). He began with the sentence "What you say is more important than how you say it but how you say it has never been more important."  (The panel is currently discussing this line right now.  Thabiti is talking about how eloquence and style can become an end in themselves and often trump solid content)  Akin explained the importance of instruction, admonition, and exhortation in our preaching. Open up a text, tell people what it means and allow God's Word to confront and comfort the people.

Akin shared Lloyd-Jones' line that preaching is "Logic on fire".  The pastor must be mastered by the text and be on fire with that text before he delivers it to his congregation. This is why I especially like Piper--you can tell that guy has taken whatever text he's preaching into the blazing center of his heart, alone with God, and then acts as a mouthpiece to the people.

5 helpful questions asks as Akin is working through a text:

1)    What does this text teach me about God?

2)    What does this text teach us about fallen man?

3)    What do I want my people to know?

4)    What do I want my people to do?

5)    How does this text point to Jesus?

Akin said "It is a sin to preach a boring message."  Mark Dever is asking the panel about that right now. McKinley says "No, but foolish and unwise."  Thabiti says "Yes" and is explaining his thoughts. Dever is pushing back, asking about pastors who prepare all week, have a tough week, and then deliver a message that folks, if honest, say was boring.  Akin responds by saying that it's clearly not a sin if you've sought the anointing of God and God will use it in spite of yourself (and knows your heart and knows that it wasn't irresponsibility but the pressures of ministry.).  Interesting tidbit: Actors followed Whitefield around as he preached and were very taken by his preaching style, given his dynamic, effective communication.