In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Preparation"

3 Positive Ways To Respond To Negative Criticism

By Joe Hoagland on Feb 25, 2021

Some criticism is unequivocally bad criticism. It is destructive, not based 100% in truth, and is based in bad intentions. Prepare yourself for this kind of criticism.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, criticism, preaching

14 Commandments Of Video Preaching

By Jim Tomberlin on Sep 21, 2020

Remember as you prepare your messages to be mindful that you’re teaching a multisite flock that encompasses more than those in the room with you.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

6 Benefits To Not Changing Churches

By Dean Shriver on Jul 9, 2021

Staying with one congregation models commitment, grows maturity, deepens preaching, builds trust, reveals generational fruit, and prepares pastors for final accountability.

Scripture: Colossians 3:13-14, Colossians 3:13, John 10:11-13, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 13:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ministry, Church, mistakes, affliction, Leave, ministry, church  (view more)  (view less)

Francis Chan's – Seven Questions To Ask Before You Preach

By Francis Chan on Jan 17, 2024

Faithful preaching flows from love for God and people. These seven diagnostic questions help preachers prepare messages marked by truth, power, and humility.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, 2 Timothy 2:15, Zechariah 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Christian teaching, Christian Teaching

Spiritual Disciplines And The Sinkhole Syndrome

By Donald Whitney on Jan 21, 2022

As the pressures of life increase and more deadlines loom, it becomes harder to maintain time for the devotional life. And herein is where the erosion begins.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12, John 17:17, Luke 4:16, Matthew 14:23

Tags: Follow Jesus, Spiritual Maturity, Spiritual Discipline, Spiritual Failures, sermon spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

3 Must-Do’s Of A Strong Sermon Opening

By Lane Sebring on Aug 29, 2019

The first 90 seconds of your sermon are some of the most powerful seconds you have. Don’t waste them.

Tags: Preaching

Preaching Without A Net: Delivering Sermons Without Notes

By Bruce Salmon on Mar 2, 2025

A pastor describes how a forgotten outline pushed him onto the “high wire” of preaching without notes and how that risk opened new freedom, focus, and trust in God.

Tags: Church, Preaching, worry, manuscript, Homiletics, Pastoral Ministry, Expository Preaching, Sermon Delivery, Worry, preaching, church, expository preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach A Sermon Again Without Preaching It The Same

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 16, 2024

Repeated sermons should grow richer with time. With prayerful revision, fresh insight, and renewed engagement, a pastor can preach familiar material with greater depth.

Tags: Preaching, Homiletics, Church Practices, Pastoral Ministry, Biblical Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

8 Must-Have Elements Of Your Easter Sermon

By Josh Reich on Dec 10, 2024

Easter preaching should not be an annual performance but the weekly pattern of faithful proclamation that points to Jesus, offers hope, and calls for clear response.

Scripture: Ezekiel 22:23-31, Luke 24:1-12, Romans 1:16, John 11:25, Colossians 1:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Easter, Preaching, Pastoral Ministry, preaching

Make Your Sermons More Memorable From Neuroscience

By Charles Stone on Jul 28, 2020

Lasting spiritual change requires more than good content. Insights from neuroscience can help preachers embed truth into long-term memory for real life transformation.

Scripture: Romans 12:2, Luke 11:28, James 1:22-25, Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Colossians 3:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Christian Education, spiritual formation, Leadership, neuroscience, preaching, Spiritual Formation, Neuroscience  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons I Began Using A Sermon Manuscript

By Jeff Medders on Aug 19, 2020

"I used to always enter the pulpit with outline in hand; but no longer. I now preach from a full manuscript — 2,500 words or so."

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Mark 6:1-8

Tags: Preaching, manuscript, Outline

5 Reasons People Check Out Of Your Sermons

By Patrick Holden on Sep 2, 2020

Five common mistakes any speaker can make--or learn how to avoid.

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-8

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Ten (Christmas) Sermon-Starters From The Life Of Mary

By Ray Hollenbach on Dec 24, 2025

When you cover the familiar territory of the Christmas Story year after year, sometimes you have to try another angle.

Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Power, Preaching, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Don't Close Your Sermon Like That!

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 30, 2021

"Like meat, a great sermon makes its own gravy." Our job is to serve the whole meal.

Tags: Close

How 450 Sermons Revealed Four Preaching Truths

By Ed Stetzer on Aug 31, 2021

LifeWay Research discovered four common factors in good preaching. Are they part of yours?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12

Tags: Truth, Preaching, the word, ed stetzer