In Preaching Articles: "Maximize Usefulness"

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

There Is No 'us' Or 'them,' There Is Just 'us'

By Jeff K. Clarke on Dec 17, 2021

One of the primary reasons we struggle with differing views on any subject is that we believe acceptance equals agreement. That is, to accept a person or their argument is to agree with them.

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Love, Fear, conversation, anger, disagreement  (view more)  (view less)

Four Foundations Of Handling God's Word

By Ed Stetzer on Aug 13, 2021

LifeWay Research discovered four common factors in good preaching. Are they part of yours?

Tags: God's Word, sufficient, Bible, Preaching, Useful  (view more)  (view less)

Why Growth Is Harder In A Small Church – And Change Is Essential

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 30, 2021

Big churches find it much easier to incorporate new people because the bigger the crowd, the smaller the impact each person has.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:19-20

Tags: Change, Visitors, Small Church, Christ in us

Using Contextualized Language

By Ed Stetzer on Apr 18, 2024

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

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, Acts 17:16-34

Tags: preaching, context, speaking, Sermon prep, Preaching, Context, Speaking, sermon prep, The Apostle Paul, Sermon Prep  (view more)  (view less)

Can The Holy Spirit Use Ai? Should Christians Use It?

By David Harper on Sep 29, 2025

AI is changing the way we live, work, and even do ministry. This article explores how pastors can use AI to save time, communicate more effectively, and reach more people—while also guarding against the dangers of over-reliance, inauthenticity, and distraction from the Spirit’s leading.

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How To Preach Jesus Using The Psalms

By Jason Hood on Feb 12, 2025

We can find Jesus all over the Psalms, because the Psalms are his prayer book that points to him. And when we find Jesus in the Psalms, we also find ourselves.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Old Testament, New Testament, Creation, Jesus, Preaching, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Jesus Never Used A Classroom

By Bob Hamp on Jul 25, 2020

When Jesus wanted to teach his disciples something important, he took them on the road, not into the classroom.

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

How To Preach Jesus Using The Psalms

By Jason Hood on Oct 8, 2024

Luther, Spurgeon, and Bonhoeffer saw Jesus as one of the chief subjects of the Psalms. Do you?

Scripture: Psalm 41:1-3, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Meekness, church fathers, Prayer Adoration, preaching, Psalms, Praise, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Dear Preacher: Remind Us Of The Mercy

By John Blase on Oct 25, 2021

John Blase writes an open letter to pastors everywhere asking for one consistent theme.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

46% Of Us Adults Now Unchurched

By Michael Duduit on Apr 6, 2024

Barna makes these observations: “Attracting churchless people to corporate faith usually requires more than a few incremental refinements in outreach strategy and tactics. This is about more than improved marketing and having greeters at the church’s front door."

Tags: Change, Unchurched, Church Attendance, Change in America, church attendance  (view more)  (view less)

10 Creative Ways To Use The Bible In Counseling

By Elias Moitinho on Mar 12, 2025

Even though counseling is neither preaching nor teaching, it does have elements of both. Here are 10 helpful tips for engaging Scripture in your counseling sessions.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Deuteronomy 2:25

Tags: Preaching, counsel, preaching

Preaching A Notable Sermon Without Using Notes

By Rev. Tejado Hanchell on Aug 19, 2020

"I believe every preacher should have at least one sermon in his heart that he could preach with or without notes if called upon at a moment's notice."

Tags: memorization, preaching, Preaching, memories

Preach A Notable Sermon Without Using Notes

By Rev. Tejado Hanchell on Mar 13, 2024

Every preacher should have at least one sermon they could preach without notes if called upon at a moment’s notice.

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

Tags: Preaching, preaching

4 Ingredients Jesus Used To Hold An Audience

By Peter Walters on Jan 17, 2022

As a preacher, I am always looking for ways to improve my speaking. I study other communicators, for example, if a comedian gets me hooked, I analyze why he was successful and I love to read books on communication.

Scripture: Job 1:1-10, Luke 6:46, Matthew 13:16, Luke 12:25, Matthew 6:28, Matthew 13:34, Luke 10:30, Matthew 13:33, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 7:1, Genesis 2:10-20, Genesis 1:4-10, Luke 13:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Following Jesus, jesus parables, Communication Speech, preaching  (view more)  (view less)