In their book, Power in the Pulpit: How to Prepare and Deliver Expository Messages, Jerry Vines and Jim Shaddix explain how an effective expository sermon must experience two births—once in the preacher’s study and then again in the preacher’s delivery. ... Read More »

Introduction Solid sermons have a biblical foundation. Too many sermons are based on one preacher’s opinion about what the text says. The key for every preacher is to stick to the text, to discover what the biblical author is saying so that the preacher can ... Read More »

What are the key ingredients of effective preaching? I have reflected on this question for many years and have come up with seven. Here is an outline of essential elements for good text-driven preaching from my perspective. INTERPRETATION. What is the meaning ... Read More »

One of the most powerful experiences of my life occurred when someone challenged me to prioritize prayer in my life. When I embraced prayer in my college years, not only did it change my life, it also became formative for everything in my life. To this very d... Read More »

When I was a seminary professor, I wrote Planning Your Preaching (Kregel Publications, 2002) as a guide for pastors planning a year’s sermon work. Honestly, at the time I wondered whether the ideas that seemed workable as I wrote in my professor’s ... Read More »

While the name W. A. Criswell is known and revered among many evangelicals and Southern Baptists, it would appear that some are in need of an introduction or refresher course on the colossal contribution this man made in Christendom generally and in the pulpit... Read More »

I had the privilege of visiting Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle, a few years ago while my wife, Kandi, and I were in London. Standing in the church where the prince of preachers faithfully expounded God’s Word was truly moving... Read More »

I think I can say that I travel back and forth across our Convention as much, or more, than just about anyone else within the Southern Baptist Convention. This allows me great opportunity to visit every size church, as well as associations and state convention... Read More »

Pastor Phillips Brooks once said, “Do not stoop to be a king when God has called you to be a preacher.”   What greater honor could God bestow upon a mortal man than to be a herald of the life saving, grace gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The ... Read More »

“…and the common man heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37 KJV).  Oh, how the people loved to hear Jesus preach.  And there was good reason for that.  They could understand Him.  Without a class on topical preaching, textual preaching, or expository prea... Read More »

What a joy it is as a pastor of 40 years; 30 years at First Baptist Church Woodstock to talk about preaching as shepherding the flock. One thing I have realized as a pastor is that I have the opportunity to connect with our people through the proclamation of G... Read More »

Phillips Brooks’ legendary description of preaching as “truth through personality” is cited by mainstream and evangelical ministers alike as an incarnational approach to preaching akin to transparency and genuineness.  Heralding the description as the g... Read More »