In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Planning"

Why Don't More Seminaries Teach A Method For Building A Sermon?

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 19, 2026

Listen to this professor of homiletics discuss what's been left undone in most pastors' education.

Scripture: John 4:34-38

Tags: Preaching, Seminary, build, dennis prutow, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Things You Can Do Today To Sharpen Tomorrow's Sermon

By Erik Raymond on May 29, 2025

If you want to make tomorrow's sermon shine even more, START HERE.

Scripture: Genesis 42:20-38

Tags: Preaching, Tension, Transparency, preaching

Are Your Sermon Illustrations Really Indecent Exposure? 10 Critical Checkpoints

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 12, 2024

Sermon illustrations should be like letting sunlight into a window, not like putting a spotlight on a stage.

Scripture: Amos 5:4-15

Tags:

Build Your Sermon Series On The Wonder, Worry And Wishes Of Your Congregation

By Charles Arn on Mar 8, 2024

The most important thing has to do with your sermon topics. They should address people's life issues and questions about the faith.

Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34, Job 21:7-34

Tags: Preaching, worry, Wonder, Relevance, Wish, Worry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Spit-Shine Tomorrow's Sermon Before You Go To Bed Tonight

By Rick Malm on Mar 1, 2023

One acronym, four great suggestions to buff up your message.

Scripture: Daniel 3:1-15

Tags: Hope, Preaching, storytelling, topic, preaching, Spit Shine  (view more)  (view less)

Great, You've Got A Theme, But Do You Have A Sermon?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jun 5, 2023

Do you ALWAYS have to start with a text? Sherman Cox says "no."

Scripture: 1 John 5:3

Tags: Idea, Preaching, Text, preaching

Where Sermons Hide: 5 Places You Can Find A Topic

By John Mcclure on Oct 21, 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)

How Pastors And Parents Can Help Children Benefit From The Sermon

By Erik Raymond on Oct 13, 2025

Erik Raymond suggests some things he has done as both dad and pastor to help kids hear and understand the message in “big church.”

Tags: Forgiveness, Preaching, preaching

The Main Reason Our Sermons Don't Get Through To People

By Nathan Aaseng on Dec 2, 2025

Ask the average person in the street what Christianity is about and the answer will be nowhere near what most of us proclaim in our pulpits every week.

Scripture: John 8:1-11

Tags: Preaching, preaching

I Didn't Think Preachers Wrote Their Own Sermons Anymore

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Feb 24, 2026

Preacher: God *will* give you something to say!

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5:1-14

Tags: Preaching, preaching

H.b. Charles Remembers The Time He Shipwrecked His Sermon

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 17, 2021

It seemed like a good idea when he thought of it, but the reality in the pulpit was something very different!

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Why Do I Urge All Pastors To Preach Expository Sermons?

By Brian Croft on Oct 17, 2023

There are all kinds of different sermons a preacher can preach, but the most helpful for a pastor to feed his people with week after week is expository sermons.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Love, Preaching, Expository, the word of god, Feeding The Flock, preaching, expository  (view more)  (view less)

Vacation Bible School Promotion And Communication, Part One

By Lisa Eifert on May 14, 2024

What strikes simultaneous fear and joy in the hearts of church staff and volunteers this time of year? Yep, you guessed it, Vacation Bible School (VBS). Anyone who has been a part of planning VBS knows the vast amount of time, resources and imagination that go into making these events memorable experiences for kids.

Tags: Communication, Technology, delegation, VBS, communication  (view more)  (view less)

Preach The Tone Of The Text To Bring The Truth Of The Text

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Jan 9, 2026

A key way to guard from selling-out the truth during in the pulpit is to preach the tone of the text.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Tags: Homiletics, preaching tips, Pastoral Ministry, biblical preaching, Preaching Tips, Biblical Preaching, Expository Sermons  (view more)  (view less)

Spiritual Oil Crisis

By Lance Witt on Oct 21, 2022

What are you trusting God for? What are attempting for God’s glory that requires faith? Sadly, the more years people serve in ministry, the less risk-taking faith they demonstrate. We can begin to rely on our experience, our skills, and our planning to win the day. Yet, without faith it is impossible to please God.

Scripture: Ephesians 3:20, 2 Kings 4:1-7, Hebrews 11:6

Tags: Faith, Ministry, Trust, Elisha, relying on god, Risk taking, church leadership, Daring Faith, ministry  (view more)  (view less)