In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Planning"

How Pastors And Parents Can Help Children Benefit From The Sermon

By Erik Raymond on Oct 14, 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

Judah Smith Shares His 7-Step Outline For Sermon Prep

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 30, 2020

Judah Smith takes his congregation on a tour through the forest. What's your sermon prep?

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Why Preparing A Sermon In 10 Minutes Will Make You A Better Preacher

By Brandon Kelley on Feb 24, 2020

Force yourself to create an engaging and impactful message in a little amount of time.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

I Didn't Think Preachers Wrote Their Own Sermons Anymore

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Aug 29, 2019

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

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5:1-14

Tags: Preaching

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

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 18, 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 18, 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)

3 Mistakes Pastors Make With Commentaries

By Peter Mead on May 6, 2025

Commentaries are resources for preachers, not sources for sermons. Watch out for these three pitfalls when using commentaries in your sermon prep and delivery.

Tags: Preaching, Prep, Commentary, preaching

Spiritual Oil Crisis

By Lance Witt on Oct 22, 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: Daring Faith, ministry, Ministry, Trust, Elisha, relying on god, Risk taking, church leadership, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways--No, 6--To Lull Your Listeners To Sleep

By Lane Sebring on Nov 28, 2019

There's nothing like a good snoozer of a sermon. But what does it take to preach a sermon that makes your listeners fall sound asleep?

Tags: fall asleep, preaching, Preaching, boring, listeners  (view more)  (view less)

17 Powerful Good Friday Quotes That'll Get You Ready For Easter

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 17, 2021

What happened on Good Friday?  How is Good Friday celebrated? These are amazing quotes from Good Friday sermons on SermonCentral.com.

Tags: Good Friday quotes

Why "Just Preach The Gospel” Isn’t Enough

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 2, 2019

Preaching the gospel is essential, but not sufficient on its own. Learn why living the gospel and recognizing our interpretive filters are critical for authentic ministry.

Tags: christian living, preaching the gospel, Christian Living, Preaching the Gospel, Ministry Practice, Sermon Advice, Humble Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways To Boost Your Preaching Creativity

By Brandon Kelley on Jul 4, 2022

Do you want more people to walk away from the church gathering and actually remember the big idea from your sermon? Of course you do. Who wouldn’t?

Scripture: John 3:36, Matthew 15:21

Tags: Sermon Help, Teaching Prep, preaching, Preaching, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, poor preaching, Effective Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Hope And Perspective When We’re Dealing With Doubt

By Randy Alcorn on Dec 3, 2022

"In times of doubt, difficulty, and trials, our fundamental beliefs about God and our faith are revealed. So how can Christians find faith in the midst of doubt? How can they trust God’s plan when their lives seem out of His control, and prayers seem to go unanswered or, sometimes it feels, even unheard?"

Scripture: Romans 10:17, Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:11, 2 Timothy 3:16, Job 23:10, Isaiah 43:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Test of Faith, sovereignty of God, doubt, Perseverance, suffering, tragedy, Promises of God, Genuine Faith  (view more)  (view less)

When Illustrations Become Sermon-Killers (And What To Do About Them)

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 22, 2019

The smart preacher never tells a story that clobbers his sermon and destroys the point he is trying to make.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Why You Should Write Your Sermons At Least Two Weeks Ahead

By Bob Hostetler on Sep 5, 2025

Greater clarity, creativity and cooperation are just a couple of weeks away. Here's how.

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Tags: Preaching, advance, preaching