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

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)

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

By Ray Hollenbach on Dec 24, 2025

Luke’s annunciation account is packed with phrases that carry more theological weight than we often notice. One line can carry an entire sermon.

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14, Galatians 4:4, Matthew 1:23

Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Power, Incarnation

10 Tips For Preaching Shorter And More Effective Sermons

By Troy Page on Jun 14, 2021

Long sermons often lose listeners before the message lands. Clear focus, careful editing, and intentional structure can help preachers deliver messages that are both shorter and more impactful.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:2, 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Colossians 4:6

Tags: Communication, better, short, communication

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

Four Time-Tested Ways To Outline Your Sermon

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 30, 2023

Brandon Cox reminds us of proven methods--and supplies a new one of his own.

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-10, 1 Samuel 1:11-20, James 3:1-18

Tags: Preaching, Outline, brandon cox, preaching, Time Tested  (view more)  (view less)

Four Sharp Questions To Whittle Your Sermon Into Shape

By Tyler Scarlett on Jul 20, 2025

The sermon's not done until you sharpen the point. Here are four excellent ways to do it.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:22-24

Tags: Preaching, points, Sharpen, preaching

God Works In Mysterious Ways—through Your Sermon!

By Danny Macmunn on Aug 26, 2021

Sometimes even the messenger is surprised at what the people hear.

Scripture: Mark 15:1-18, 2 Timothy 2:1-15

Tags: Scripture, Preaching, Word of God, mysterious ways, inspired by god, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Listen To Your Sermon Just Before You Preach

By Mark Mohler on Dec 3, 2024

Sermons are not made for paper--they're made for the human ear. Have you tried listening to yours?

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-2

Tags: Preaching, Listen, Creativity, call to action, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Make Your Sermons Sticky With Just Three Words

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 7, 2021

Could it possibly be just this simple? Karl Vaters offers a startling suggestion.

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-28, Exodus 3:1-15

Tags: Message, Preaching, How to pray, sticky, karl vaters, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Last-Minute Tips To Avoid An Ineffective Sermon

By Ken Collins on Oct 1, 2024

Check what you have planned for tomorrow--can you avoid these all-too-common traps?

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Tags: Preaching, aim, lecture, irrelevant, preaching  (view more)  (view less)