In Preaching Articles: "Prepare"

9 Preaching Mistakes You Must Avoid

By Julian Freeman on Jun 2, 2025

From preparation to delivery, keep an eye out for these preaching traps.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Tags: Preaching, mistakes, Enough, preaching

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 1

By Peter Mead on Aug 12, 2024

Many sermons feel flat because the text is only half-used. These common mistakes show how preachers drift from Scripture and how to return to full, faithful exposition.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Nehemiah 8:8, Luke 24:27, Acts 17:2-3, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

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

Should Pastors Use Other People’s Sermons?

By Ron Forseth on Sep 2, 2024

Is using another preacher’s sermon always wrong? This article examines plagiarism, conscience, diligence, and trust to offer a biblical framework for sermon use.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Romans 14:22-23, 1 Corinthians 10:29, James 3:1, Luke 12:48  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preparation, Speech, theft, Plagiarism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Easy (And Overlooked) Keys To Better Preaching

By Erik Raymond on Sep 29, 2021

"I have never met a preacher who did not want to increase the effectiveness of his sermon. The question is where to start?"

Scripture: Acts 1:1-21, Acts 15:6-19

Tags: Plan, Preaching, preparation, Engage, Outline, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Restore Passion To Your Preaching: 3 Essential Steps

By Ken Davis on Nov 5, 2024

Do you sometimes find yourself preaching only because "Sunday is coming"?

Scripture: 2 Samuel 13:1-19

Tags: Preaching, preparation, passion, Process, restore, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

A Preaching Q&a With David Platt

By David Platt on Feb 14, 2025

David Platt explains how Scripture governs his preaching, preparation, and pastoral priorities, emphasizing clarity, Christ-centered exposition, and total dependence on God’s Word.

Tags: Learning, BIBLICAL TEACHING, Expository Preaching, Sermon Preparation, expository preaching, sermon preparation, Biblical Teaching, David Platt  (view more)  (view less)

Share Your Sermon On Thursday

By Brian Croft on Sep 7, 2020

Discover a wealth of resources by inviting others into the process of your sermon preparation.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

8 Questions To Ask Before You Preach A Sermon

By Josh Reich on Oct 16, 2022

8 questions to ask as you prepare to preach your next sermon.

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Preaching Help, pastoral leadership, preaching the Word, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Practice Your Sermon Delivery? Yes: 7 Elements Of Great Practice

By Charles Stone on Nov 21, 2019

Three factors have made the biggest positive difference for me: preparing my heart before the Lord, scheduling adequate study time to avoid feeling rushed and practicing preaching my sermon.

Scripture: Mark 15:27-40

Tags: prep routine, preaching, Study, Preaching, prepare, routine  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 2

By Peter Mead on Aug 13, 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)

How Long Should A Sermon Be?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 10, 2020

There is no universal sermon length. What matters most is clarity, focus, and the preacher’s ability to hold attention around one central point.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, Nehemiah 8:8, 1 Corinthians 14:8, Colossians 4:6

Tags: Communication, Preaching, preparation, Homiletics, Time, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Vital Preaching Skill That Just Can't Be Faked: Do You Have It?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 14, 2025

Brandon Cox challenges us to ask ourselves the tough questions about a core value.

Tags: Preaching, prepare, listener, orator, preaching skill, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Most Difficult Texts In The Bible To Preach

By Joe Mckeever on May 21, 2023

The problem, of course, is not with Scripture. The problem is with us.

Scripture: John 2:3-5, Luke 4:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35, Hebrews 6:4-20

Tags: Study, Preaching, prepare, Assistance, difficult text, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Say Good-Bye: Preaching Your Last Sermon

By Chris Surber on Nov 9, 2021

People usually listen closely to your first words--and your last. Make them meaningful.

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: Preaching, Purpose, preparation, Goodbye, last sermon, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Christmas Is Too Big For One Day: Why We Celebrate Advent

By Dr. Andreas Kostenberger on Dec 5, 2024

Jesus’s birth did not come in a vacuum. His coming was the culmination of centuries, even millennia, of mounting expectation of the coming Messiah and Savior of humankind.

Scripture: Genesis 3:15, 1 Samuel 13:14, Luke 2:10-11

Tags: Advent, Christmas Advent, Waiting on God, Spiritual Preparation