In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Uses"

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

A Good Sermon Feels Like A Good Story: 7 Minutes With Fred Craddock

By Fred Craddock on Nov 13, 2019

Fred Craddock literally wrote the book on preaching. He reminds us, "Movement is more important than structure."

Tags: Fred Craddock, Preaching, structure, Movement

4 Steps From Good To Great Preaching

By Kenton C. Anderson on Feb 18, 2025

For those of us who try to preach “good sermons” every week, it's useful to understand what it takes to connect with our listeners.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-3

Tags: Preaching, preaching

A Road To Somewhere

By Don Ballard on Jul 25, 2024

How can pastors apply Stephen Covey's principle, 'Begin With the End in Mind', to the area of preaching and teaching the Bible?

Scripture: Romans 10:14-15

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Purpose, goals, Preaching Help, Pastoral Ministry, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching, teaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

If Jesus Gave A Ted Talk Principle 5—stimulate Long-Term Memory (Durability)

By Charles Stone on Jun 1, 2024

Stimulate Long-Term Memory is the fifth instalment of an 8 part series on how neuroscience can improve your preaching.

Scripture: Luke 2:49

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, pastor, sermon prep, Pastor, Sermon Prep, neuroscience, preaching, long term memory, teaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

So You Waited Until The Last Minute To Start Sermon Prep

By Peter Mead on Mar 6, 2023

When I genuinely have had to prepare at the last minute, then I ask God for help and know that He understands.

Tags: Excuses, sermon prep, last minute, Sermon Prep, preaching, Preaching, preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Preach What You Practice – Why Rehearsing Is Essential To Great Sermon Delivery

By Lane Sebring on Apr 15, 2022

I want to show you why I believe the often neglected step of rehearsing the sermon is essential to great sermon delivery.

Tags: Preaching, sermon prep, preaching skill, effective preaching, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

A Step-By-Step Approach To Efficient Sermon Preparation

By Brandon Kelley on Jun 27, 2022

A Step-by-Step Approach to Efficient Sermon Preparation

Tags: Preaching, Preaching Help, Pastoral Ministry, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching Without A Net: Delivering Sermons Without Notes

By Bruce Salmon on Mar 3, 2025

It's a high wire act, one of which OSHA would not approve — preaching without notes. Only the most extraordinarily gifted speaker can pull it off, or so I used to think. Find out why.

Tags: Church, Preaching, manuscript, Fear and Worry, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

4 Threats To Every Sermon You Preach

By Lane Sebring on Oct 26, 2019

The reason we have to work harder to gain and keep attention has to do with what competes for the attention of our people every time we preach.

Tags: sermon, threats, Preaching, irrelevant

Your Stress Just Might Give Birth To A Great Sermon

By Ron Walters on Oct 30, 2019

Dealing with stress may produce the greatest sermon we ever live.

Scripture: Proverbs 31:20-28

Tags: Moses, Preaching, sermon, stress

How To Finally Break Through And Work Ahead On Sermon Prep: The Ultimate How-To

By Jeramie Rinne on Nov 26, 2024

Some gifted preachers can regularly craft solid sermons on an abbreviated schedule. But most of us mortals need ample time.

Tags: Preaching, Research, writer, rehearse, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Things To Do When You’re Stuck In A Sermon Prep And Writing Rut

By Brandon Kelley on Oct 31, 2022

"Sermon prep and sermon writing can be hard. Often times, it can even be painful. Anything seems better to be doing when we get stuck in a sermon prep and writing rut. But we all know that the work is worth it. The pain is worth it. The plodding is worth it."

Tags: Teaching, Pray, writing, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, sermon prep, tools, Preaching Rut, Sermon Prep, teaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Finishing (Your Sermon) Well

By Michael Voll on Dec 5, 2022

Come Sunday morning many times we preachers fill our sermons with funny stories, but forget to point to the ultimate story of Jesus Christ.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, illustration, application, pastoral leadership, sermon prep, preaching Christ, preaching the gospel, Sermon Prep, preaching, teaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Doing Ministry Without Losing Your Soul Part 1

By Lance Witt on May 13, 2024

"There is nothing worse than trying to inspire people to be passionate about God when you have little or no passion yourself. There is nothing more empty feeling than trying to connect people to God when you feel disconnected from God."

Tags: pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, soul care, avoiding burnout, church ministry, Growing in Faith, Christ's Love for Us, Healthy Ministry  (view more)  (view less)