In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Preparation"

Why (And How) Transitions Can Make Or Break Your Sermon

By Peter Mead on Dec 1, 2020

Your sermon outline looks so good on paper, but how you transition from one point to another is just as important.

Scripture: Proverbs 11:24

Tags: Preaching, transition, effective, conclusion, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

A Preacher's Gut-Check: Seven Hard Questions About Your Sermon

By J.s. Park on Jun 19, 2025

After you have your three points, consulted all the commentaries and fit in your illustrations, then it's time to get real.

Scripture: John 14:1-6

Tags: Preaching, Good, questions, preaching

Your Unchurched Neighbors Don’t Want A Watered-Down Sermon

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 8, 2023

Can you craft a message series for unchurched people and still be faithful to scripture?

Tags: Preaching, Faithful, Unchurched, preaching, Watered Down  (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: worry, Wonder, Relevance, Wish, Worry, preaching, 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: Preaching, Text, preaching, Idea

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: topic, catalyst, behind the text, preaching, Preaching, claim  (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

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)

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)

3 Mistakes Pastors Make With Commentaries

By Peter Mead on May 5, 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

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

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 21, 2019

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

Tags: Preaching, preaching