In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Planning"

9 Lies Pastors Believe While They’re Preaching

By Ben Reed on Sep 6, 2020

Pastors battle pride, insecurity, and distraction in the pulpit. Here are nine common lies and a call back to humility and faithfulness.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5, 1 Corinthians 4:7, 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Galatians 1:10, James 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership, Sermon Preparation, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

A Modest Proposal: Less Sermon Prep In Favor Of More Time Making Disciples?

By Bill Couchenour on Sep 5, 2021

Is it possible to reach the U.S. for Jesus in less than a decade by cutting sermon prep time in half?

Scripture: Matthew 7:24-28

Tags: Jesus, Outreach, Preaching, Disciples, sermon prep, Sermon Prep  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Get Nervous Before You Preach?

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Feb 18, 2022

Even skilled, prepared, and experienced preachers get nervous at preaching time. If they do not, they should.

Tags: Preaching, Anxiety, Pray, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

If Jesus Gave A Ted Talk Principle 6—engage The Heart (Emotion)

By Charles Stone on Nov 16, 2021

Engage the heart is the sixth instalment of an 8 part series on how neuroscience can improve your preaching.

Scripture: John 11:35, Luke 10:21

Tags: Preaching, pastor, sermon, Pastor, Sermon, neuroscience, preaching, sermonprep  (view more)  (view less)

Using Contextualized Language

By Ed Stetzer on Apr 17, 2024

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

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16, Acts 17:16-34

Tags: Preaching, Context, Speaking, sermon prep, The Apostle Paul, Sermon Prep, preaching, context, speaking, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Communicating With Confidence When People Distrust Pastors

By Ed Stetzer on Apr 19, 2024

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

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, pastor, Holiness, sermon prep, Pastor, Sermon Prep, preaching, teaching, holiness, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

9 Dynamic Ways To Widen Your Church’s Front Door

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 2, 2026

As you develop your outreach strategy, consider including a plan for equipping your church members to be recommenders and inviters

Tags: Preaching, preaching

5 Ways To Make Your Sermons More Memorable

By Charles Arn on Nov 23, 2020

Research has found that we remember less than 10 percent of the unsupported spoken word.

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-11, Matthew 13:34, Mark 4:33, Luke 24:27, Nehemiah 8:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, teach, Retention, Improve, Sermon Preparation, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Pulpit Plagiarism: How Preachers Can Use Sources Without Stealing

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Dec 7, 2020

Faithful preaching often leads pastors to similar conclusions from Scripture. But using sources wisely differs greatly from plagiarizing another preacher’s sermon.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Exodus 20:15, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, work, Plagiarism, original, Sermon Preparation, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Without Notes

By Ted Smith on Dec 8, 2020

Every preacher will eventually need to preach without notes. Learn three practical approaches that help pastors communicate clearly and confidently when notes are unavailable.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, 1 Timothy 4:13, Hebrews 4:12, Acts 4:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, teach, memorize, note, Sermon Preparation, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching From The Overflow Requires Structure

By Joe Mckeever on May 18, 2021

Preaching from passion and spiritual overflow can energize a sermon, but without structure it often becomes difficult for listeners to follow and impossible for the preacher to reproduce.

Scripture: Psalm 23:5, Luke 6:27-35, 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Timothy 4:13, Ecclesiastes 12:9-10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, audience, overflow, problem, Sermon Preparation, preaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

One Major Thing You Can Do To Improve Your Worship Service

By Joe Hoagland on Apr 8, 2022

What if I told you there is one main thing you can improve to make people want to come back time and time again.

Tags: Preaching, illustration, Time of Reflection, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

If Jesus Gave A Ted Talk Principle 4—free Up Working Memory (Capacity)

By Charles Stone on May 26, 2024

Free up Working Memory is the fourth installment of an 8 part series on how neuroscience can improve your preaching.

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Tags: Preaching, memory, sermon, Capacity, Sermon, neuroscience, preaching, sermonprep, capacity  (view more)  (view less)

If Jesus Gave A Ted Talk Principle 8—reinforce Life Application (Transfer)

By Charles Stone on Jan 3, 2024

Reinforce Life Application is the final instalment of an 8 part series on how neuroscience can improve your preaching.

Scripture: James 1:22

Tags: Church, Preaching, pastor, Preacher, sermon prep, Pastor, Sermon Prep, neuroscience, preaching, preacher, church, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Make Your Announcements Better

By Chuck Lawless on Jan 21, 2026

Tired of clunky church announcements? Learn 10 effective strategies to communicate clearly and keep the focus on worship and the Word.

Tags: pastoral leadership, church announcements, church communication, Church Announcements, Worship Planning, Church Communication, Sunday Service Tips, Pastoral Leadership  (view more)  (view less)