Sermon Preparation
So What’s the Big Idea: Making Our Sermons Concrete
As expositors, we’ve all struggled with how to make our sermons “stick” with our people. As we work through the text, wrestle with the syntax, and come to an understanding of the passage, we do so with the hope that on Sunday the congregation... Read More »
Bringing Your Audience Along for the Ride
As I write this post I have five children. Yes, five children. Four boys and one girl. All under the age of 8. Needless to say, things are a little crazy around our house. I am a father to three fun, wild, silly boys, one sassy-sweet little girl, and a 6 week ... Read More »
Incorporating Surprise into Your Sermon
What makes a good sermon? Duane Kederman, of Christian Classics Ethereal Library, sought to find out some answers to this question, so he enlisted a target group to provide feedback. Listeners stated several variables which made some sermons better... Read More »
How to Make Your Sermon Interesting and Memorable Pt. 2
In his classic On Christian Doctrine (Book 4), Augustine extols rhetoric as the handmaid of truth. Rhetoric must never degenerate into the role of court jester in preaching. We have all witnessed the preacher who “with conjuring adroitness keeps pr... Read More »
What are the Biblical Objectives for Preaching?
Preacher, you stand before the congregation to preach. Now, what is it that you intend to do? You quickly respond. Preach! So, what does that mean? There are some biblical objectives that must be considered if you are going to preach. Shooting an arrow at a ta... Read More »
Should the Preacher Schedule a Sermon Planning Retreat?
“Should” is a tricky question to answer. When I hear a question begin with that word, I evaluate whether something is right or wrong. Should the preacher plan his preaching? That is an emphatic yes. Should the preacher use a retreat to plan his pre... Read More »
Should the Preacher Consider Objectives to the Sermon?
What role should “objectives” play in the preparation of a sermon? In other words, as the pastor prepares another sermon for Sunday morning, what should be the driving factor in his preparation? What does he hope to instill, or perhaps focus upon, in his c... Read More »
What Are the Most Important Elements to Consider when Preparing a Sermon?
I read a story about a bank employee who was fixing an ATM machine. The door accidentally shut while he was inside its tiny maintenance room. When someone approached the machine to receive some money, they instead received a note that said, “Please help.... Read More »
Assessing Congregational Needs
“But Dad, I NEED it!” It’s amazing to me how often those words are repeated in my house. I have two daughters and a son who are in the teenage years, and they are constantly wanting something new. I occasionally feel like my God-given job is just to say ... Read More »
Reasons for Planning Your Preaching
In one of several interviews with Alistair Begg, I asked if he followed a strict order of explanation, illustration, and application when preparing a sermon. Begg replied, “I’m a bit of a menace to expository preachers.” Begg is hardly a menace, yet what... Read More »