In Preaching Articles: "Sermon Writing"

Piper: 8 Guidelines For Tough Leadership Decisions

By John Piper on Mar 28, 2025

Major ministry decisions require prayer, Scripture, deep thinking, and careful writing if leaders are to act wisely and in unity for the sake of the mission.

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8, James 1:5, Proverbs 16:3, Acts 6:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Biblical Leadership

A Preacher's Cheat-Sheet For Prayer And Final Sermon Prep

By Tony Evans on Feb 24, 2024

Tim Challies relies on prayer and prep—but he doesn't leave it to his memory. Here's his cheat-sheet.

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-21

Tags: Preaching, Prayer, sermon prep, cheat sheet, tim challies, Sermon Prep, preaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Insights From Keller On Contextualizing

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 19, 2022

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

Tags: Preaching, Culture, Context, insight, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching, culture, context, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Screenwriting As Sermon Preparation

By Jeff Chaves on Apr 25, 2024

Expand your sermon prep and presentation skills through the art of screenwriting.

Tags: Teaching, pastor, Presentation, sermon prep, Pastor, Sermon Prep, teaching, presentation, Sermon prep, screenwriting  (view more)  (view less)

Hal Seed: Who Decided What Went Into The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 3, 2021

Many people wonder how the books of the Bible were chosen. The early church did not invent the canon but recognized the writings God had already inspired.

Scripture: Luke 24:44, Colossians 4:16, 1 Timothy 5:18, 2 Peter 3:15-16, Ephesians 2:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, History, bible truth, Hal Seed, canon, Bible Truth, bible  (view more)  (view less)

Less Is More: Improve Tomorrow's Sermon By Making It Shorter

By Lane Sebring on Nov 7, 2019

Few public speakers can keep an audience's attention for an hour. Fewer should even try.

Scripture: Genesis 19:1-15, Psalm 107:1-15, Revelation 12:1-10

Tags: Preaching, better, short sermon, audience attention, sermon length  (view more)  (view less)

Why Your Sermon Lost Me: Five Reasons People Check Out

By Patrick Holden on Sep 3, 2020

Five common communication mistakes that cause audiences to disengage and how preachers can keep listeners attentive and responsive.

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-8, Ecclesiastes 12:10, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

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

9 Lies Pastors Believe While They’re Preaching

By Ben Reed on Sep 7, 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 6, 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 19, 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 17, 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 18, 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 20, 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)

5 Ways To Make Your Sermons More Memorable

By Charles Arn on Nov 24, 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 8, 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)