In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Illustrations"

Pastors, We Don’t Expect A Ted Talk—we Need A God-And-You Talk

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 28, 2021

When we come to your church, we don't expect a $7,500 sermon. Given current offering stats, most people aren't even expecting a $75 one.

Scripture: John 3:1-25, Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Preaching, Heartfelt, Expectation, TED talk, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Plan An Effective Easter Service

By Josh Reich on Mar 24, 2023

The goal of every sermon is to get to the resurrection. Each and every week we do the same thing: “We are broken and can’t fix ourselves. Our only hope is found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.”

Tags: Easter Sunday, Easter Story

4 Angles To Preach From Every Time

By Brandon Kelley on Dec 14, 2021

It is not enough to simply preach what the passage of Scripture says within your next sermon. It’s a good start, but don’t stop there. You’ll stop short of something truly beautiful, truly remarkable.

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Tags: redemption, God the Father, preaching the Word, eternal perspective, preaching Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching God’s Word Is Timeless (Find The Timeless Truth)

By Joe Hoagland on Jul 25, 2022

The Bible is wholly relevant to the modern person’s life sometimes it just takes some work for us to figure that out. The idea of making a “timeless truth” central to your sermon is important in communicating God’s Word in a postmodern age.

Tags: Scripture, Communication, Teaching, Preaching, Preaching Help, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Should You Preach Without Notes?

By Rev. Tejado Hanchell on Mar 13, 2024

Preaching without notes is not superior, but for some it can increase freedom and connection. Here is a wise path from manuscript to no notes. 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, 2 Timothy 4:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 119:11, Colossians 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Homiletics, preaching

Pastors Never Know Who’s In The Audience

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 18, 2022

When a pastor stands to preach, he never knows who is listening to him. And if his sermon is recorded or broadcast, he has no clue who will be hearing his words. He will do well to make sure he knows what he’s talking about.

Tags: Communication, Teaching, Preaching, preaching tips, pastoral leadership, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching Blunders, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Breathing New Life Into Your Preaching

By Lance Witt on Mar 25, 2023

Fresh is always better. Taking a breath of clean, fresh air is way better than inhaling polluted air. Eating fresh bread is way better than choking down a piece of dry, stale bread. And likewise, sermons that are fresh are way better than warmed over messages.

Scripture: Luke 10:31

Tags: Preaching, New life, preaching

5 Leaders Examine Plagiarism In Preaching

By Tim Keller on Jul 18, 2024

Pastors face real pressure, but passing off another’s sermon as your own is still theft. New Testament scholar D. A. Carson, senior pastor Sandy Willson, author and senior pastor Tim Keller, senior parachurch executive Matt Perman, and church research consultant Glenn Lucke speak to the issue of Plagiarism.

Tags: Communication, Preaching, Pastors, Plagiarism, DUTY CALLS, Biblical Leadership, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Pastors, Articulate Your Vision (Again)

By SermonCentral .com on May 21, 2020

In this two-minute video John Piper reminds us that vision often leaks and it's our role to articulate it in fresh new ways.

Tags: vision, leadership, Leadership General, Leadership

Bad Theological Analogies, Brought To You By St. Patrick

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 16, 2021

The problem with using analogies to explain the Holy Trinity is that you always end up confessing some ancient heresy.

Scripture: John 5:1-16

Tags: Preaching, Theology, analogy, St Patrick

John Piper: 8 Reasons Why I Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 16, 2019

"A saving knowledge of Christ crucified and risen is not the mere result of right reasoning about historical facts. It is the result of spiritual illumination to see those facts for what they really are."

Scripture: Mark 14:1-5

Tags: john piper, e, Jesus, Easter, Resurrection, Preaching, Resurreccion  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Include These 3 Vital Elements When You Preach A Funeral?

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 19, 2019

Practical advice: "Don't preach them into heaven. Don't preach them into hell. Just preach the gospel for the people who are there."

Tags: advice, Respond, elements, preaching, Preaching, Funeral  (view more)  (view less)

Pastor: Lead Your Church From The Pulpit!

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 13, 2020

Pastors sometimes make the mistake of separating preaching from leading, but Brandon Cox explains how they go together.

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, preaching

Ten Ways To Kill A Great Idea

By SermonCentral .com on May 29, 2021

From preaching topics to outreach programs, how many great ideas have fallen into these potholes?

Scripture: Proverbs 11:14, Ecclesiastes 11:4, Nehemiah 2:17-18, James 1:22, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Idea, Plan, Kill, Improve, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

Hal Seed: Who Decided What Went Into The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 3, 2021

Many people wonder how the books of the Bible were chosen. The early church did not invent the canon but recognized the writings God had already inspired.

Scripture: Luke 24:44, Colossians 4:16, 1 Timothy 5:18, 2 Peter 3:15-16, Ephesians 2:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, History, bible truth, Hal Seed, canon, Bible Truth, bible  (view more)  (view less)