In Preaching Articles: "First Things First"

What You Absolutely Need To Let Your Guest Preacher Know

By Rev. Stuart Strachan Jr. on Sep 18, 2024

What are the most important things you need to let your guest preacher know before you head out of town?

Tags: Ministry, Preaching, practical advice, guest preaching, ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

My 7 Part Strategy For A New Leadership Position

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 10, 2021

I realized I’m only one person and although everyone wanted some of my time and there were more ideas than we could ever accomplish, I knew I would burnout if I didn’t pace myself. This meant I said no to some things – really many things.

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership, preaching

How Your Preaching Can Destroy Modern Idols

By Chris Surber on Nov 15, 2024

Every church has those things that it clings to that are off the table for change or removal, and usually even for discussion--unless you bring them up.

Scripture: Leviticus 26:30

Tags: Preaching, destroy, Discussion, modern idols, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways To Help Your Sermon Last Deep Into The Week

By Brandon Kelley on Feb 5, 2020

Instead of allowing your sermon content to be forgotten, do these things to bring the point of your message back to your listeners all week long.

Tags: Preaching

How To Preach Like You’re Having A Conversation

By Lane Sebring on Jul 31, 2019

The best sermons are conversations, like you’re sitting at a table with with them and discussing a problem, a concern, a big thing God wants them to do.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Ron Edmondson: 7 Ways A Pastor Gets--And Keeps--Respect

By Ron Edmondson on Aug 8, 2019

Ron Edmondson: "Many times it’s the seemingly small things which cause the most damage to a leader’s reputation and damages respect."

Scripture: Exodus 23:20-33

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Pastors: The Ceo Has To Go

By Derek Vreeland on Aug 24, 2023

I feel the impulse to forsake the pastoral vocation of word and sacrament, prayer and disciple-making, in favor of becoming a CEO who gets things done.

Tags: liturgy, Theology, church and business, consumerism

10 Preaching Mistakes Everyone Can Avoid

By Jared Moore on Jun 9, 2020

If you want to help your hearers focus on God and think on God when they leave your sermon, here are 10 things that you cannot do.

Tags: Preaching, mistakes, preaching

Improve Your Preaching In 5 Easy Steps Right Now

By Erik Raymond on Aug 18, 2020

Every preacher wants to get better. Erik Raymond offers five things you can do right away to impact your next sermon.

Tags: Preaching

11 Mistakes That Take Your Preaching Focus Off Jesus

By Jared Moore on May 8, 2023

If you want to help your hearers focus on God and think on God when they leave your service, then here are 11 things that you cannot do.

Tags: Jesus, Preaching, mistakes, focus, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Smart Preachers Help Propagate Dumb Ideas

By Larry Osborne on Jun 12, 2021

Smart people can believe some really dumb things. What's worse--I think I've taught some of them from the pulpit.

Tags: Preaching, advice, cliche, platitude, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

If Your Church Is Drifting And Stuck, Should You Try To Change It From Within?

By Jonathan Herron on Jan 12, 2022

What do you do if you’re a frustrated support staff member of a visionless church? Do you try to change things from within?

Tags: church planting, Church Death, pastoral leadership, Church and change

Promote Jesus: Not Personality, Professionalism, Or Brand

By Joe Hoagland on Jan 18, 2022

The church can learn a lot from worldly business and marketing trends but many times churches and church leaders end up promoting the wrong thing.

Tags: Jesus, focus on GOD, Pastoral Character, church marketing

A Preaching Q&a With David Platt

By David Platt on Feb 15, 2025

Michael Duduit interviews David Platt about his sermon prep process and the most important things he has learned about preaching over the years.

Tags: Preaching, Learning, preaching

8 Ways To Make Your Church More Accessible

By Rod Arnold on Mar 14, 2025

Here are some smart, practical things you can do to connect with more people in your community and give them a chance to get to know your church.

Tags: Love, Forgiveness, Church, Compassion, Preaching, Together, Church General, Evangelism How To, preaching, church, love  (view more)  (view less)