In Preaching Articles:

You Exegete Your Text, But Do You Exegete Your People?

By Leslie Holmes on Sep 2, 2025

"Bob Easley may not have gone beyond sixth grade, but he taught this quasi-educated preacher that there's a lot more to be learned about preaching than I ever got inside a book."

Scripture: Job 1:1-10

Tags: people, Preaching, Text, exegete, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Things Every Preacher Should Forget Each Sunday Morning

By Leslie Holmes on Aug 22, 2025

When it's time to stand and deliver, we need to leave some things behind.

Scripture: John 14:20-30, Galatians 6:1-10

Tags: Preaching, mistakes, Criticism, Forget, Sins, blue, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Fear In The Pulpit: Does It Have A Proper Place?

By Leslie Holmes on Aug 3, 2025

"Really smart preachers who know who they are, whose they are and who called them demonstrate that by a healthy dose of fear."

Tags: Fear, Preaching, pulpit, preach, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Preaching Without The Holy Spirit Isn’t Really Preaching

By Leslie Holmes on Apr 16, 2025

Without the Holy Spirit, preaching becomes little more than religious speech. True proclamation depends on surrender, prayer, and the Spirit’s guiding power.

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 4:18-19, Acts 2:7-8, 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, John 16:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preaching, Triune, spiritual power, preaching, Spiritual Power  (view more)  (view less)

Preacher To Preacher: Three Vital Questions Before You Quit The Ministry

By Leslie Holmes on Sep 25, 2024

Astounding: 50 percent of pastors serving American congregations are so discouraged in ministry that they would quit if they could afford to do so.

Tags: Ministry, Preaching, quit, ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Steps To Restoring A Powerful Pulpit

By Leslie Holmes on Sep 16, 2024

Preaching loses authority when gospel certainties are blurred. These seven foundational truths anchor preaching in power, clarity, and confidence.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, Romans 8:28-39, 1 Corinthians 14:8, Matthew 7:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Praise, Peace, Power, Preaching, pulpit, preaching, Pulpit  (view more)  (view less)

How Should Preachers Respond To Tragic Events?

By Leslie Holmes on Jan 28, 2024

From the recent Oklahoma tornadoes to 9/11, what do you do when tragic events overtake your preaching plans?

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Why Illustrations Matter In Preaching: Learning From Jesus’ Use Of Parables

By Leslie Holmes on Jan 14, 2024

Parables and illustrations bring preaching to life. These seven tests help pastors use stories wisely to clarify truth, reduce resistance, and make sermons memorable.

Scripture: Matthew 13:34, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 4:2, Psalm 78:2, Luke 8:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Expository Preaching, expository preaching

What Is The Power Behind Every Great Preacher's Effort?

By Leslie Holmes on Jun 1, 2023

Without recognizing there is a supernatural power in all truly great preaching, we can produce an empty homiletical exercise.

Tags: Power, Preaching, supernatural, Homiletics, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

People Listen In Different Ways—can You Reach All Of Them?

By Leslie Holmes on Feb 27, 2023

You're preaching to one congregation, filled with many listening styles. How can you connect with every individual?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 6:1-15

Tags: Preaching, reflection, Listen, reach, application, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why We Preach: The Call That Won’t Let Us Go

By Leslie Holmes on May 3, 2020

Seminary is long, ministry is hard, and preaching can feel thankless. Yet pastors continue because God’s call compels them in ways nothing else can.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:16, Hebrews 12:2, Romans 10:14-15, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:24  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching