In Preaching Articles: "People Over Programs"

3 Mistakes Pastors Make With Commentaries

By Peter Mead on May 6, 2025

Commentaries help with study, not sermon writing. Avoid atomized thinking, over-quoting, and needless citations to keep preaching clear and transformative.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 17:11, 1 Timothy 4:13-16

Tags: Preaching, BIBLE STUDY, Commentary, Bible Study, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, bible study, preaching, Sermon prep, commentary  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 2

By Peter Mead on Aug 14, 2024

Preaching suffers when structure is imposed, cross-references take over, application is neglected, or commentary replaces proclamation. Let the text lead.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Jeremiah 23:29, Luke 24:32, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, Preaching, Text, preparation, Homiletics, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching That Raises The Water Level

By Ray Hollenbach on Apr 30, 2025

Faithful preaching often works slowly. One sermon at a time, pastors nourish long-term growth that shapes congregations over the years.

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:13, John 4:14, Acts 20:27, Hebrews 5:12-14, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: church leadership, Church Leadership

The Shrinking Population Of Preachers And What You Can Do About It

By Ben Mandrell on Sep 16, 2021

How one pastor did something more than wring his hands over the situation, and what he did about it.

Tags: Preaching, Pastors, population, shrinking, front lines  (view more)  (view less)

How Can I Better Study A Bible Passage?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 27, 2022

“Think over what I say,” commands the Lord. How can a faithful student of the Bible do this without leaning on commentaries and scholars?

Scripture: Romans 1:15-17, 2 Timothy 2:7

Tags: Bible, Scripture, BIBLE STUDY, Bible Study, sermon prep, Study Scripture, Study Techniques, Feast on the Word, Sermon Prep, bible study, bible  (view more)  (view less)

Study: What Preachers Won't Preach About

By Toni Ridgaway on Mar 28, 2020

Over half of pastors avoid certain topics for fear of losing attendees. This report raises hard questions about courage, clarity, and faithfulness in preaching.

Scripture: Acts 20:17-32

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Biblical Faithfulness

John Piper: My View Of Preaching

By John Piper on Aug 21, 2024

True preaching is expository exultation explaining the Bible and exulting over its truth. This vision shapes the church, fuels worship, and carries eternal weight.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Nehemiah 8:8, Psalm 119:18, Hebrews 4:12, Romans 10:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Pastoral Ministry

Let's Rise To Love Those Left In Fear

By Andrew Bushnell on Apr 21, 2023

We have neighbors and coworkers — even friends and family — who are not just disappointed or sorrowful over the presidential-election results, but also genuinely afraid.

Tags:

5 Ways To Overcome Nerves Before You Preach

By Lane Sebring on Nov 18, 2019

She took my hand, which was freezing cold, leaned over and whispered, "Are you nervous? Your hand is freezing." I nodded, "Yep."

Scripture: Mark 14:1-25, Mark 14:1-31, Psalm 51:10-13, Ezekiel 36:26-33, Ezekiel 36:24-26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: passion, energy, nerves, preaching, Preaching, Overcome  (view more)  (view less)

Can Preaching Be Taught? Four Traits Of Effective Preachers

By Hershael York on May 25, 2021

While natural gifts may influence preaching ability, effective preaching ultimately depends on deeper spiritual and personal qualities that can be developed over time.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2, Jeremiah 20:9, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Timothy 4:16, Acts 4:31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Price, better, Homiletics, Improve, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Whisper That Made Me Leave My Church

By Tod Bolsinger on Sep 10, 2021

I would hear that line echoed in my mind long after each conversation was over: "Why didn't seminary prepare me for this?"

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-25

Tags: Preaching, prepare, Theology, Seminary, curriculum  (view more)  (view less)

The Birth Of A Sermon

By Brady Boyd on Sep 1, 2020

It's Monday, and just when you're ready to relax from the weekend, you realize you have to start the sermon process all over again.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 20:27, Psalm 1:2-3, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preparation, Spiritual Discipline, preaching

Are You Running From Your Calling As A Preacher?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on May 31, 2023

Some pastors avoid difficult truths in preaching, choosing encouragement over correction. Faithful ministry requires proclaiming the whole counsel of God, even when it is uncomfortable.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 3:12, Isaiah 55:11, 1 Peter 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership, Preaching, teach, run, Biblical  (view more)  (view less)

The 25 Most Influential Preachers Of The Past 25 Years

By Michael Duduit on Jan 2, 2025

From Billy Graham to Tim Keller, this article profiles 25 preachers who have most shaped the American pulpit over the last 25 years and why their influence endures.

Tags: Church, leadership, Preaching, pastor, Influence, Circumstance, church, Church Leadership, Ministry History, Pivotal, Leadership General, church leadership, Pastor, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Keep Learning To Lead: Five Practical Lessons

By Gavin Ortlund on Apr 29, 2022

Leadership is hard. I rank it up there with pain, parenting, and preaching as one of those things in life that we never fully master, but only hope to keep learning over a lifetime.

Scripture: John 13:15-16, John 16:12

Tags: Teamwork, Leadership General, servant leadership, Jesus' leadership