Posture

The preacher must have a good posture. He must not stand in a slouched position, leaning over or on the pulpit. He should stand erect, with both feet on the floor. To lean on the pulpit does not impress the congregation that the speaker has any fire and enthusiasm, or that his message is of any great import. Preacher must not be in the habit of pounding the desk or the Bible in order to be emphatic; there are other ways of expressing emphasis.

The appearance of the preacher has much to say about his message,so the man on the pulpit must dress to please His master that he represents and seek to glorify Christ in his dressing. Preachers are not Nollywood actors that should appear with make-ups,bangles, trinkets, even jerry curled hair and curved nails on the pulpit; all these externals does not add anything to your message rather they rubbish it. The simple rule for preacher when it comes to dressing is modesty and God’s glory.“Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you” 1Tim. 4:16(AMP).

Introduction and Presentation

It is both repugnant and a violation of pulpit etiquette to introduce a preacher in a protracted and flattering manner. The pulpit is not to be desecrated by indulging in superlatives and hyperboles. To introduce someone as the "world's greatest preacher," a "nationally" or "internationally known figure," et cetera, is out of place. The pulpit is not a place for bogus and empty show of titles, achievements and credentials as if preachers are politicians whose goal is to impress and oppress their hearers with their worldly achievements. A true minister of God does not appreciate such remarks, it rather embarrasses him, a modest introduction concerning his life, ministry and work is sufficient.

The pulpit is not a place to boast of or to praise the members of the preacher's family. There may be occasions when it would be fitting to refer to the family in the pulpit, but to exalt them and talk frequently of their merits meets with the disapprobation of the congregation. To say publicly that your wife is the best and most beautiful woman in the world is not the subject or language to be heard from the pulpit, tell your wife in private as often as you wish how beautiful and wonderful she is.

Language Presentation

Language  presentation on the pulpit must not be crude, vulgar or abusive. Correction and rebuke on the pulpit must be edifying and comforting. “But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation” 1 Cor. 14:3(AMP).

Jesting, joking, and telling gruesome stories are out of order on the pulpit. It is not the place to display one's humor and make people laugh. There is a time and place for wit and genuine humor, but seldom should it be used on the pulpit; if done at all, it should be with moderation and restraint, a preacher must not turn  comedian on the pulpit. To tell funny stories and describe repulsive scenes is to degrade and denigrate the pulpit and weaken its influence“Nor is it fitting  for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God”.Eph 5:4-5(GNT)  the comedian and Nollywood actors that we parade on our pulpit today give church members and the world the wrong and fatal impression that preaching and teaching God’s word is no longer a serious spiritual business; the tragedy of it all is that, the immoral and godless lifestyle of these actors negates the very message that we preach on the pulpit, so we confuse our hearers and endorse their lifestyle.

Parading politicians on the pulpit crept in silently but dangerously when Christians ministers and preachers began to romance with politician for cheap popularity and financial gratification, it was not so in the beginning, it is now the norm to parade them on our altar and pulpit even when they are coming straight from the shrine, or neck deep in embarrassing scandal.While it is not wrong for any caliber of politician to come into the church, the responsibility of the preacher is to confront them with living oracles that will convict them, not cede our pulpit to them to corrupt the spiritual atmosphere of our pulpit and teaching. Man of God, the way you are opening up your pulpit to every kind of strange men, you will soon come under strange influence yourself that will dilute your utterance and anointing; and whatever you think you are going to gain financially and in popularity will not make for divine virtue that will leak out of your life and several of your members that you are going to confuse, the gamble is not worth it. God has called us to declare divine oracles as ultimatum not as a compromise of politicians

“It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius; Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, and Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests. At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert” Luke 3:1-3(GNT).

I am sure neither Jesus nor John will share their pulpit with Emperor Tiberius,Governor Pilate,Herod or his brother Phillip, not even with Annas and Caiaphas of their days for whatever reason; we are getting it wrong we expose our pulpit to opportunist politicians.

“If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.”Charles Finney.

Announcements that are made from the pulpit should not destroy the spiritual atmosphere of the worship service, preaching or teaching, announcements must be done briefly and concisely. The preaching is robbed of its dignity when announcers make light of preacher’s message by careless comment and frivolous spirit.