In Preaching Articles:

How Pastors And Parents Can Help Children Benefit From The Sermon

By Erik Raymond on Oct 14, 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

5 Things You Can Do Today To Sharpen Tomorrow's Sermon

By Erik Raymond on May 30, 2025

If you want to make tomorrow's sermon shine even more, START HERE.

Scripture: Genesis 42:20-38

Tags: Preaching, Tension, Transparency, preaching

How Your Preaching Can Hurt Your Church

By Erik Raymond on Apr 25, 2025

Like so many blessings from God, we can elevate them to become a distraction or even an idol.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1

Tags: Preaching, preaching

4 Remedies For Discouragement In Your Preaching

By Erik Raymond on Apr 3, 2025

Pastors often feel ineffective, but Christ’s resurrection guarantees their preaching matters. Lift your eyes, pray, delight in grace, and keep proclaiming Christ.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 12:23, 1 Corinthians 15:14, 1 Corinthians 15:20, 2 Corinthians 4:5

Tags: Trust, Perseverance, Hope, Preaching, Discouragement, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Change Your Sermon By Changing Your Spices

By Erik Raymond on May 19, 2023

Are you constantly mining the same sources for your sermon illustrations?

Scripture: Psalm 38:1-10, Colossians 4:1-5

Tags: Read, Preaching, Devotional, Spices, Classic, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Small Change Will Energize Tomorrow's Sermon

By Erik Raymond on Mar 4, 2023

So often, it's the little stuff that makes the biggest impact.

Tags: Fresh, Preaching, Impact, bland, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Easy (And Overlooked) Keys To Better Preaching

By Erik Raymond on Sep 30, 2021

"I have never met a preacher who did not want to increase the effectiveness of his sermon. The question is where to start?"

Scripture: Acts 1:1-21, Acts 15:6-19

Tags: Plan, Preaching, preparation, Engage, Outline, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

All Pastors Plagiarize--Here's Why

By Erik Raymond on Aug 6, 2021

We read, listen, talk, think, integrate, pray and listen. This is what we do. "In one very real sense, pastors don’t know what is original and what is not."

Tags: Steal, Preaching, pastor, Plagiarism, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

How To Find New Sources For Sermon Illustrations

By Erik Raymond on Jun 17, 2021

Are you constantly mining the same sources for your sermon illustrations? Here are five suggestions to keep things fresh.

Tags: Read, biography, newspaper, Classic

Improve Your Preaching In 5 Easy Steps Right Now

By Erik Raymond on Aug 18, 2020

Every preacher wants to get better. Erik Raymond offers five things you can do right away to impact your next sermon.

Tags: Preaching