In Preaching Articles: "Preaching Mistakes"

Top 13 Preaching Mistakes

By Bob Hostetler on Jan 12, 2025

A practical guide outlining 13 common preaching mistakes, with tips to avoid them and deliver sermons that are clear, Christ-centered, and spiritually nourishing.

Tags: expository preaching, sermon preparation, Preaching Tips, Homiletics, preaching tips, Pastoral Ministry, Expository Preaching, Sermon Preparation, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Preaching Mistakes Everyone Can Avoid

By Jared Moore on Jun 8, 2020

If you want people leaving your sermon focused on God, avoid these common preaching mistakes. These ten pitfalls distract hearers from the text and diminish exposition.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:21-22, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Psalm 19:7-10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, mistakes, preaching, Preaching Mistakes

The Most Common Preaching Mistake: No Hook

By Bruce D. Johnson on Aug 25, 2023

Many sermons lose listeners in the first few minutes. Effective preaching begins by connecting the message to the real struggles and questions of the congregation.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8, Matthew 13:34, Colossians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 9:22

Tags: Preaching, mistakes, Homiletics, interest, hook, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

9 Preaching Mistakes You Must Avoid

By Julian Freeman on Jun 2, 2025

Preachers often grow most when they honestly evaluate their weaknesses. Recognizing common mistakes in sermon preparation and delivery helps pastors refine their preaching.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 6:4, James 3:1, 1 Timothy 4:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, mistakes, Enough, biblical preaching, preaching, Biblical Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

11 Common Preaching Mistakes That Distract From God

By Jared Moore on Jan 4, 2026

Avoid 11 common preaching mistakes that shift focus from God to yourself. Learn how to preach Christ-centered sermons that point hearers to God’s truth.

Tags: expository preaching, Preaching Tips, Preaching Mistakes, Biblical Communication, Christ Centered Sermons, preaching tips, Expository Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

11 Mistakes That Take Your Preaching Focus Off Jesus

By Jared Moore on May 7, 2023

God-centered preaching helps hearers focus on the glory of God. These common preaching mistakes distract from Scripture and keep listeners from seeing Christ.

Scripture: Luke 24:27, John 5:39, Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

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

Ten Deadly Preaching Mistakes You Can Avoid This Weekend

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 11, 2024

Joe McKeever not only speaks—he listens to the voices in the pews.

Tags: Manipulate, deadly, underestimate, preaching, Preaching, mistakes  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach A Truly Forgettable Sermon

By Ken Collins on Sep 10, 2020

Seven common preaching mistakes can quietly sabotage clarity, engagement, and gospel impact if pastors are not careful.

Scripture: Titus 1:14, 1 Timothy 1:4, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership

3 Mistakes To Avoid When Preaching Genesis

By Peter Mead on May 12, 2021

Genesis is foundational to the whole Bible, but it is often mishandled in the pulpit. Avoid three common errors that flatten the text and weaken proclamation.

Scripture: Genesis 3:1-24, Genesis 4:1-26, Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:1-6, Genesis 50:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Old Testament, Preaching, mistakes, teach, Interpretation, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Avoiding Sermon Series Mistakes

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 29, 2020

Well-planned sermon series can engage the unchurched, but common mistakes often drain momentum and miss evangelistic opportunities.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:22, Colossians 4:5-6, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 17:22-23, Romans 10:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Repentance, preaching, Truth, Preaching, repentance, eternal life, New Way  (view more)  (view less)

3 Mistakes Pastors Make With Commentaries

By Peter Mead on May 5, 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)

Narrative Preaching: Do You Make These 10 Mistakes?

By Peter Mead on Jul 2, 2020

Biblical narratives lose their power when preachers flatten them into lessons or principles. Avoid common pitfalls and learn how to preach stories as God intended.

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14, Judges 6:11-24, Luke 10:25-37, John 2:1-11

Tags: Preaching Ministry

My First Year Ministry Mistakes

By Josh Tandy on Jul 1, 2020

Seminary didn’t prepare me for ministry reality. These early mistakes taught me more than success ever could.

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-13, Proverbs 11:14, Hebrews 13:17, Galatians 6:1, 1 Timothy 4:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Leadership Mistakes

7 Dangerous Church Hiring Mistakes

By Brian Orme on Mar 27, 2024

We don’t want you to drop $300K (or more) of Kingdom funds on bad staffing when it should go toward Gospel-centered initiatives. So, here are seven hiring mistakes you want to avoid at all costs.

Tags: Church, Preaching, mistakes, church and business, hiring, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Five Things To Avoid When Preaching A Funeral

By John Pond on Jun 25, 2021

Funeral preaching requires care, clarity, and gospel hope. Faithful pastors must comfort the grieving while pointing listeners to Christ and eternity.

Scripture: Psalm 116:15, John 11:25-26, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Philippians 1:21-23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Death, Heaven, Preaching, mistakes, Funeral, preaching  (view more)  (view less)