In Preaching Articles: "Charles Spurgeon"

Are Your Sermon Illustrations Really Indecent Exposure? 10 Critical Checkpoints

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 12, 2024

Sermon illustrations should be like letting sunlight into a window, not like putting a spotlight on a stage.

Scripture: Amos 5:4-15

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How Can The Pew Help The Pulpit?

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Mar 6, 2024

Good preaching is a partnership between pastor and congregation, pulpit and pew, the one who preaches and the one who listens.

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Tags: Pastor, preaching, Preaching, pastor, Congregation, Encourage, Partnership  (view more)  (view less)

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

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 10, 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: Prayer, corporate worship, preaching calendar, talk to team, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Things Every Pastor Should Have In Check Before Sunday

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Oct 26, 2025

We may pray that God would hide us behind the cross as we preach. But there is no place to hide in the pulpit.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Advice For Preaching Funeral Sermons

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Feb 23, 2021

Brief. Gospel-centered. Be sensitive to family. There are other important factors to consider when preaching funerals. But these three pieces of advice are a good place to start.

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-14

Tags: Preaching, Funeral, Christian Funeral

Shooing Flies In The Pulpit

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Apr 21, 2021

To be honest, I have had to shoo flies in the pulpit many times. If you are a preacher, so have you. No, not literal flies (I hope). But preachers regularly have to push through various distractions.

Tags: Preaching, focus, distractions, Challenges, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Get Nervous Before You Preach?

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Feb 18, 2022

Even skilled, prepared, and experienced preachers get nervous at preaching time. If they do not, they should.

Tags: Preaching, Anxiety, Pray, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Get Your Prayer To Work

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Mar 24, 2022

When we work, we work. But when we pray, God works!

Scripture: Matthew 6:10, Psalm 119:105, Mark 11:24, Hebrews 11:6, 1 John 5:14-15, Colossians 3:17, John 14:13, Matthew 6:5-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, God's Glory, Jesus Name, confidence in prayer

You Are Not The Story!

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on May 2, 2022

People should not leave the sermon having learned more about the preacher than Christ. When we stand to preach the word, we should prayerfully whisper to ourselves, “You are not the story.”

Scripture: Colossians 1:28, John 12:20, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Timothy 4:1-2

Tags: Pride, God's Story, self importance, Bible as a story