In Preaching Articles: "Hard Teaching"

Don’t Waste Your Creative Energy In Sermon Prep

By Peter Mead on Jul 21, 2020

Effective preaching requires both discipline and creativity. Knowing when to restrain creativity and when to unleash it can transform sermon preparation and delivery.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:6-8, 2 Timothy 2:15, Ezra 7:10, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, preaching, teaching

You Can Tell The Story, But Preach The Points

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Aug 3, 2020

Stories captivate listeners, but faithful preaching must also guide understanding. These approaches help preachers honor the biblical story while making clear points.

Scripture: Mark 4:33-34, Luke 8:22-25, Daniel 3:16-28, Nehemiah 8:8, Matthew 13:34-35  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, preaching, teaching

10 Tips For Better Preaching Pt.1

By Jim Martin on Apr 13, 2020

Faithful week-in, week-out preaching depends less on clever ideas and more on habits of love, clarity, restraint, identification, and genuine passion. These ten simple practices help preachers serve their congregations with messages that are understood, valued, and taken to heart.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Peter 5:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Homiletics, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Francis Chan's – Seven Questions To Ask Before You Preach

By Francis Chan on Jan 18, 2024

Faithful preaching flows from love for God and people. These seven diagnostic questions help preachers prepare messages marked by truth, power, and humility.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:15, Zechariah 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Christian teaching, Christian Teaching

5 Ways To Talk About Money

By Kent Woodyard on Dec 9, 2021

After spending the past three years working for an online and mobile giving provider, I am obviously a believer in the power of technology to increase giving to the Church. Through that time, however, I have also been confronted with the limitations of technology. Important? Certainly. Enough? Definitely not!

Tags: Money, Teaching, Generosity, Giving General, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Thinking About Expository Preaching—part 3

By Ed Stetzer on Mar 16, 2022

A look at the place of thematic, narrative, and topical preaching.

Scripture: Matthew 4:23

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Expository, preaching, teaching, expository  (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)

6 Reasons To Preach The Same Sermon Twice

By Joe Mckeever on Apr 23, 2020

Many pastors avoid repeating sermons, but revisiting them can deepen impact, sharpen insight, and better serve a changing congregation. Here’s why repeats matter.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Matthew 13:1-23, Galatians 6:6, 1 Timothy 4:13-16, 2 Corinthians 4:5-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Expository Teaching

How To Plan A Preaching Calendar

By Josh Reich on Apr 15, 2025

Planning your preaching calendar in advance brings clarity, balance, and creativity, helping pastors steward their time, teams, and congregations faithfully.

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:11-18, Habakkuk 2:2, Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 4:2, Proverbs 16:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching the Bible

The Hottest Thing At Church Today

By Tim Challies on Jul 19, 2022

According to a new study by Gallup, the hottest thing at church today is not the worship and not the pastor. So what is it?

Scripture: Romans 10:17

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Church Growth, Expository, Biblical truth, Teaching God's Word, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, teaching, expository  (view more)  (view less)

The 10 Commandments Of An Effective Sermon Introduction

By Brandon Kelley on Aug 26, 2022

If you haven’t grasped this yet, your sermon introduction is vitally important. But what does it look like to knock the introduction out of the park? What are some things to avoid? What are some things to ensure are a part of it? Let’s dive into the 10 commandments of an effective sermon introduction!

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Introduction, illustration, Teaching God's Word, Attention Grabber, Effective Teaching, Sermon Introduction, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Good Sermons Start With Listening

By Mary Hinkle Shore on Jan 17, 2024

Faithful sermons are born not from noise or haste, but from careful listening to Scripture, people, and language itself.

Scripture: John 12:20-33, James 1:19, Luke 24:27, Nehemiah 8:8, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Listen, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, Biblical Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Jesus Never Used A Classroom

By Bob Hamp on Jul 25, 2020

Jesus did not come primarily to educate or motivate but to liberate. His life and ministry reveal a discipleship model rooted in freedom, action, and restoration.

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19, John 8:32-36, Mark 1:38-39, Matthew 4:19, Romans 8:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Learning, Living, follower, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Never Waste A Good Sermon!

By Brandon Cox on Nov 9, 2023

Do you ever get that post-sermon, anti-climactic feeling that all of your research, all of your writing, all of your preparation just got burned up in a single half-hour shot?

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, podcast, video, Effective Teaching, Maximize Usefulness, Sermon Uses, ebook, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Tips For Better Preaching Pt. 2

By Jim Martin on Apr 14, 2020

Five habits that help preachers build trust, speak clearly, treat people fairly, guard credibility, and carry the pulpit with humility and wisdom.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Timothy 4:12, Titus 2:7-8, 2 Corinthians 4:2, Proverbs 15:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communication, Teaching, Preaching, Ambition, style, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)