In Preaching Articles: "Bible As A Story"

Facing The Issue Of Biblical Literacy

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 13, 2022

This article is the first of six in a series on preaching in light of cultural shifts and biblical illiteracy.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Bible, Preaching, pastor, Preacher, Teacher, sermon prep, Biblical Literacy, Pastor, Sermon Prep, preaching, preacher, bible, biblical literacy, teacher  (view more)  (view less)

Francis Chan: We Need To Think Biblically

By Francis Chan on Mar 10, 2025

Francis Chan says that his life is not radical compared to the lives in the Book of Acts.

Tags: Commitment, Preaching, action, radical, weird, Bible Influence, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

A Novel Idea For Preaching Christmas

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Dec 8, 2025

We assume our congregations know the biblical story and doctrinal meaning of Christmas. So we avoid major texts and look for something new or novel to say about the old, old story.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-15

Tags: Christmas, Preaching, Birth of Jesus, storytelling, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Thing Sets Elders Apart

By David Mathis on Oct 7, 2022

What does the Bible teach about the role and qualifications of elders?

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Ephesians 4:11, Hebrews 13:7, Titus 2:7-8, 1 Timothy 4:13-16, Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, elder, Eldership, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, elders, Elder Qualification, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Gentle Lutheran: Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560)

By David Mathis on Oct 21, 2022

"He was not the kind who started revolutions, but the kind who brought order to the ensuing chaos."

Tags: Peace, Gentleness, Reformation, Theologian, Know the Truth, intellect, defender, study bible  (view more)  (view less)

When Illustrations Become Sermon-Killers (And What To Do About Them)

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 5, 2025

The smart preacher never tells a story that clobbers his sermon and destroys the point he is trying to make.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Entertaining Pulpits And The Legacy Of Tethered Preaching

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 31, 2025

There's a big difference between a gifted Bible-expositor and an entertainment-oriented preacher.

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Entertain, tether, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why We Preach: Gospel Bread For Desperate Hearts

By David J. Lose on Oct 6, 2020

Preaching is not merely instruction or exhortation. It is weekly renewal in the story of God’s love for weary believers who struggle to believe.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Romans 10:17, Matthew 4:4, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Hebrews 10:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Gospel, Preaching, gospel, preaching, Christian worship, Christian Worship  (view more)  (view less)

God Plans For The Unexpected And Inconvenient

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 2, 2022

What’s odd is that a story about a socially humiliating situation and a reluctant, irritated benefactor is supposed to encourage us to pray.

Scripture: Luke 11:2-4, Luke 11:5-8, John 15:5, Luke 11:9-13

Tags: Sacrifice, Lord's Prayer, Unexpected, inadequate

The Chase Scene Of The Cross

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 15, 2024

Great preaching follows a line to its climax. Hal Seed points to the glory of the cross and resurrection as the climax of God's story with humanity.

Tags: Jesus, Easter, Preaching, Cross, Hal Seed, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What A Rabbi Taught Me About Keeping Christ In Christmas

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 12, 2024

When people come to your church this Christmas season, they want to hear the story of Jesus. Give them what they came for.

Tags: Christmas, Culture, set apart, incarnation of Jesus, culture  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Believe In Miracles? Part 2

By Lance Witt on Jun 13, 2024

"The story of 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team’s pursuit of the gold medal was one of the greatest Cinderella stories in all of sports history. But it was far more than just a great sporting event. It is also a great case study in what makes a great team. And the principles apply to church teams as well."

Tags: Sacrifice, family, Perseverance, leadership, Teamwork, hard work, Resilience, Healthy Teams, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

5 Excellent Reasons To Develop A Preaching Calendar And 3 Ways To Start

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 11, 2021

The fact that God knows our story--individually and corporately, from beginning to end--means we need not specialize in "Saturday night specials."

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Tags: Preaching, Prayer, corporate worship, preaching calendar, talk to team, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Avoid Indecent Exposure In The Pulpit

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on May 14, 2025

Sermon illustrations can clarify truth or distract from it. Here are ten principles to help preachers use personal stories with wisdom and restraint.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5, Proverbs 11:13, James 3:1, Ephesians 4:29, 1 Corinthians 10:31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Modesty, Exposure, preaching, Pulpit, Sermon Illustrations  (view more)  (view less)

Great Preaching Lives In The Tension: Here's How

By Brandon Kelley on Jan 5, 2021

A sermon speaks from the grand narrative of Scripture to the grand narrative of your life. These two stories have identifiable tension points: use them!

Tags: Preaching, preaching