In Preaching Articles: "Second Text"

Preaching That Makes Disciples: Three Texts You Must Preach

By Ray Hollenbach on Sep 14, 2022

For anyone who longs to preach about something more than a fire-insurance relationship with Jesus, these three passages will help you make disciples.

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-15

Tags: Preaching, yoke, Make Disciples, conformed, his image, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Monday Morning Blues? Try These Six Antidotes

By Charles Stone on Oct 28, 2021

Check out these practical steps to fight discouragement.

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:1-10

Tags: Preaching, Destiny, Antidotes, monday morning blues, second guess, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 1

By Peter Mead on Aug 13, 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)

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)

Where Sermons Hide: 5 Places You Can Find A Topic

By John Mcclure on Oct 22, 2021

"What will I preach on?" Whenever you ask this question, you're looking for inspiration.

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-12

Tags: Preaching, claim, topic, catalyst, behind the text, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Must-Do’s Of A Strong Sermon Opening

By Lane Sebring on Feb 26, 2026

The first 90 seconds of your sermon are some of the most powerful seconds you have. Don’t waste them.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

A Year-End Prayer For Weary Waiters

By Jon Bloom on Dec 30, 2024

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4).

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:4, Luke 1:78-79, Galatians 4:4, Revelation 22:20, Psalm 119:105  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, Second Coming, God's Promises, God's Fullness, End of the Year, eagerly await, Waiting on God, fullness of time  (view more)  (view less)

You Become What You Think About The Most

By Josh Reich on Mar 30, 2023

The best companies (churches) have the best leaders. The second-best companies (churches) have the second-best leaders. The third-best companies (churches), in these times of turbulence, are unfortunately on their way out of business.

Tags: Image, Preaching, preaching

Insights From Keller On Contextualizing

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 19, 2022

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

Tags: Preaching, Culture, Context, insight, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching, culture, context, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

The Pastor’s Wife’s Greatest Ministry

By Joe Mckeever on Nov 9, 2022

"A pastor’s wife’s greatest ministry is to her husband first, and her children second."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5, Luke 14:14

Tags: Support, Godly Women, Godly Wife, admonish one another, Wife's Role, pastor's wife, Encouraging Wife, Speak the Truth  (view more)  (view less)

If Jesus Gave A Ted Talk Principle 2—pique Interest (Attention)

By Charles Stone on Oct 20, 2021

Pique Interest is the second installment of an 8 part series on how neuroscience can improve your preaching.

Scripture: Luke 19:48

Tags: Preaching, sermon, Sermon, preaching

The Danger Of The Unrelated Point In Preaching

By Sherman Haywood Cox on May 2, 2023

A sermon can contain many true statements yet still fail if those truths are disconnected from the text’s main point. Preachers must discipline themselves to maintain clarity and focus.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, Nehemiah 8:8, 1 Corinthians 14:33, Proverbs 4:25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Power, Preaching, Homiletics, points, aside, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Can I Evaluate My Own Preaching?

By Steven Smith on Sep 25, 2024

Faithful preaching is more than correct exegesis. It requires depth in the text and clarity, beauty, and engagement in delivery.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Psalm 19:7-9, 1 Corinthians 1:23-24  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, treasure, Faithfulness, Obligation, proclaim, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Build Your Sermon Like A House

By Greg Stier on Oct 16, 2024

Greg Stier learned to exegete a text at the same time he learned to swing a hammer. It paid off.

Scripture: Luke 14:22-33

Tags: Preaching, House, build, preaching

Biblical Preaching: Application Vs. Exegesis

By Tim Keller on Jan 30, 2026

Tim Keller, D. A. Carson, and John Piper discuss the importance of digging into the biblical text before application.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16

Tags: Mount, Preaching, Context, application, exegesis, preaching, context, Exegesis  (view more)  (view less)