In Preaching Articles: "Difficult Text"

The Most Difficult Texts In The Bible To Preach

By Joe Mckeever on May 22, 2023

The problem, of course, is not with Scripture. The problem is with us.

Scripture: John 2:3-5, Luke 4:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35, Hebrews 6:4-20

Tags: preaching, Study, Preaching, prepare, Assistance, difficult text  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach To A Difficult Audience

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Jun 11, 2021

Imagine a crowd of people, each one with the rebellious heart of a teenager. How do you break through?

Tags: audience, preaching, Preaching, difficult

The Most Difficult Aspect Of Praying

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 8, 2024

"If we cannot walk by faith and believe by faith–a redundancy, of course–we will stop praying."

Scripture: Psalm 23:3, Luke 18:1, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Tags: Faith, Prayer, God's Will, Confidence, Trust God, God in control, God hears prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Preach Around The Text, Or Do You Preach The Text?

By Dr. Scott M. Gibson on Dec 16, 2024

After listening to sermons all these years, I have concluded preachers either talk before the text or talk around the text but rarely talk about the text.

Scripture: Hosea 4:1-6, Psalm 30:1

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Looking At The "Insignificant” Parts Of The Text

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Sep 25, 2020

Great preachers preach both the unfamiliar as well as the familiar stories.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Why Preaching On Thanksgiving Is So Difficult

By David J. Lose on Oct 15, 2020

Other than saying, "We ought to be thankful," what is there to say?

Tags: people, Preaching, Thanks, gratitude, Thanksgiving Holiday  (view more)  (view less)

Do Your Listeners Feel The Text?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Nov 27, 2020

Exegesis is always the foundation for a sermon, but does your preaching reach your listeners' feelings?

Tags: Preaching, audience, Engage, feel, exegesis, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Ranting Does Not Equal Preaching

By Tony Merida on Sep 19, 2024

Tony Merida: "May God raise up a new generation of faithful, responsible expositors of Scripture who keep their finger on the text as they teach and preach."

Tags: Preaching, Text, preaching

Why Is It So Difficult To Lead A Church Through Change?

By Rob Pochek on Jul 10, 2025

Everyone says they want change, so what's the problem?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-10, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Acts 9:3-6, Titus 3:1-5

Tags: Church, leadership, Change, Pastoring, Leadership, church  (view more)  (view less)

Why Your Congregation Is Your Second Text

By Mike Glenn on Oct 27, 2020

Pastor Mike Glenn suggests every sermon requires us to exegete our audience as well as the Biblical text. Here's why.

Tags: Preaching, Congregation, role, second text

The Hardest Part Of A Sermon

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 23, 2021

The Lord gives His message to those who seek Him, who wait upon Him, who are willing to do His will.

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-15

Tags: Preaching, difficult, hard, preaching

Great, You've Got A Theme, But Do You Have A Sermon?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jun 6, 2023

Do you ALWAYS have to start with a text? Sherman Cox says "no."

Scripture: 1 John 5:3

Tags: Preaching, Text, preaching, Idea

9 Ways To Trim Your Text To A Preachable Size

By Randal Pelton on Jan 18, 2020

Each time you select a passage of Scripture to preach on a given Sunday, you are implying that passage is able to stand alone.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:5

Tags:

The First Step In Bringing Change To Your Church

By John Holm on Jan 24, 2023

Change is difficult under the best of circumstances. Here's how to soften the blow and prepare your people.

Tags: leader, Leader, Guide, difficult, Change  (view more)  (view less)

You Exegete Your Text, But Do You Exegete Your People?

By Leslie Holmes on Sep 3, 2025

"Bob Easley may not have gone beyond sixth grade, but he taught this quasi-educated preacher that there's a lot more to be learned about preaching than I ever got inside a book."

Scripture: Job 1:1-10

Tags: people, Preaching, Text, exegete, preaching  (view more)  (view less)