How do you feel about borrowing other pastors’ sermons? Years ago, somebody thought of combining the ingredients of a cake into one simple box. Since then, all you have to do is pour the contents into a bowl, add an egg, maybe some butter, stir, and bake. It’s faster, easier, and usually better than starting […]
Preach Strategically
15 Questions that will Make you Write Better Sermons [Free Download]
It’s a battle that rages in the heart of the preacher. There is nothing more noble than to stand before your congregation on Sunday mornings and bring the Word of God. You preach to edify, to exhort, to win to Christ. But in my experience, Thursdays and Fridays don’t feel noble at all. These are […]
7 Actions that will Double the Quality of your Preaching
It’s stretching, right? Standing up to preach every weekend. Insecurity mixes in with your faith that God will work through you. You know He can do it through you – unless you get in the way. Here are seven practices I use to improve the quality of my preaching. Which should you add to your preaching […]
7 Top Principles for the Perfect Preaching Calendar
One of a preacher’s greatest challenges is choosing what to preach and when. So much rides on your decision. Attendance. Growth in Christ. Momentum. And most of all, God’s purposes for your church. Here are 7 lessons I’ve learned that help us pursue a perfect preaching calendar. 1. For everything, there is a season. Certain times […]
7 Fresh Ways to Preach the Christmas Story
This is the time of year when Christians like to read about the birth of their Savior. The hallmark accounts are found in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. But Christmas passages are found in several other places in Scripture as well.
If you’re looking for “new” and “fresh” accounts of the incarnation, here are a few you may want to read this season:
How Imitation Makes you a Better Preacher
They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. It’s also a significant way to improve your preaching skills!
A Risk that’s Paying Off
One time we launched a new sermon series called, “How to Become a Superhero.” I didn’t come up with the title. I didn’t even like it at first. But then, I loved it. I was planning to do a series called, “The Me I Want to Be” (based on John Ortberg’s book). Our Program Team commented, […]
How to Engage your Audience with Forecasting
One of the great tools in every communicator’s box is the forecast. People want to know what you’re about to say. Forecasts are so important that service organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis spend up to one-third of each meeting telling you what’s coming in the next meeting. And these clubs require their members to attend. The […]
The First Two Questions Every Preacher Must Answer
The first two questions every listener asks of a speaker are (1) Why do I want to listen to you today? And (2) What are you going to tell me? Until you can answer those for me, I have no reason to listen and no framework for capturing what you’re going to tell me. Great […]