In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Planning"

Creating A Church Culture Through Sermons

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 16, 2020

Pastors do more than teach Scripture. Through preaching, modeling, and prayer, they shape the shared culture and values of a congregation.

Scripture: Malachi 1:6-8, Romans 12:1-2, 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Timothy 4:2, Ephesians 4:11-16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preaching, preaching

The Secret Ingredient Your Sermon Is Missing

By Erik Raymond on Dec 28, 2025

Sound exegesis and strong delivery are not enough. Preaching becomes powerful when the preacher is personally moved by the glory of Christ in the text.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:4, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 1:3-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Worship, Preaching, Pastoral Ministry, preaching

Three Key Components Of A Solid Sermon

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 12, 2020

Every faithful sermon must include three essential components: God, the preacher, and the audience. Remove one, and preaching loses its power and purpose.

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, 2 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Timothy 4:16, Ezra 7:10, Matthew 28:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Biblical Leadership, preaching

6 Ways To Recycle Your Sermon

By SermonCentral .com on May 4, 2025

If you spend hours preparing a sermon, don’t let it live for only 40 minutes. Here are practical ways to extend your message throughout the week.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:13, Proverbs 25:11, Romans 10:17, Joshua 1:8, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Study, Preaching, resources, social media, church leadership, preaching, Resources, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Seven Signs A Sermon Is (Almost) Over

By Jon Acuff on Oct 27, 2020

Ending a sermon is harder than starting one. Clear, intentional conclusions prevent confusion, whiplash, and rushed prayers.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Colossians 4:6, James 1:22, 1 Corinthians 14:40  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pastor, End, Homiletics, Pastor, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Start Strong: The Discipline Of The Sermon Introduction

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on May 9, 2025

The sermon introduction sets direction, tone, and trust. A strong beginning clarifies the text, states the point, and prepares the congregation to listen carefully.

Scripture: John 2:1-11, Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 5:44-45

Tags: Love, Emotions, Preaching, Introduction, Faithful, preaching, love  (view more)  (view less)

I Write Stories During Sermons

By Carolyn C. Givens on May 11, 2021

Some believers process truth most deeply through narrative. This article explores how imaginative engagement during sermons can be disciplined by Scripture rather than distracted from it.

Scripture: John 1:14, Jeremiah 31:33, 2 Corinthians 5:20, James 1:21, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Parable, Preaching, Story, Engage, narrative, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

I Prepare My Sermons By Dancing

By Derwin Gray on Dec 15, 2020

Faithful preaching requires more than good communication. These five principles help pastors prepare sermons that are prayerful, Christ-centered, and life-changing.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24, Ezra 7:10, Luke 24:27, John 5:39-40, 2 Timothy 3:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, dance, teach, preaching, Christ Centered Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Long Should A Sermon Be?

By Brian Orme on May 21, 2021

Pastors often wrestle with sermon length, but there is no universal rule. The most faithful approach considers the congregation, the preacher’s maturity, and the goal of feeding people without overwhelming them.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 20:7-9, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, length, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

5 Steps To Better Sermon Engagement

By Nicholas Mcdonald on Jun 24, 2021

Keep it simple, keep it engaging. And here are some simple ways to do it.

Tags: simplify, Engagement, Clarify

Build Your Sermon Like A House

By Greg Stier on Oct 15, 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

Is The Bible The Seasoning Or The Steak In Your Sermon?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jun 18, 2025

"I have a sermon; maybe you can help me find a Scripture so that I can preach it."

Tags: Bible, Preaching, seasoning, e, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

Crafting Strong Sermons Requires Polish

By Terry Linhart on Nov 8, 2024

Some sermon checkpoints to buff a nice luster on your work and to ensure you're responsible and faithful in the process.

Tags: Preaching, practice, Organize, revise, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What If I Preach A Bad Sermon?

By Brian Croft on Oct 22, 2025

“God’s mercies are new every morning, and that includes our preaching ministry.”

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Why Good Sermons Can Be Boring

By Joe Mckeever on Nov 13, 2025

You brought a sermon you knew beyond a doubt was from the Lord and inspired of God.Halfway through, you could sense the congregation’s minds wandering. How could this happen?

Tags: Preaching, preaching