Why I’m Trying to Preach Shorter Sermons
How long should the sermon be? Are lengthy sermons better than shorter sermons? This article engages these questions.
Ministry of the Word
A Key Sign That You Are Maturing as a Preacher
Three Reasons Your Pastor's Sermon Should Always Lead You to Jesus
Sermons should always lead you to Christ, because Christ-centred preaching is biblical, historical, and practical.
So Help Me, God Preaching is too Important to Prepare Unaided
Four Keys to Preaching More Engaging Sermons
This article considers the question regarding the length of a sermon by emphasizing the preparedness of the preacher. His sermon must be full of biblical substance, he must consider how to adorn the gospel with thought-provoking delivery, he must weave application into explanation, and develop audience awareness.
Is Expository Preaching Boring?
It All Leads Straight to the Cross
Should every sermon bring its hearers to the cross, even if Christ himself did not do so? This article shows how everything the Lord Jesus said during his earthly ministry on the way to the cross must be read in the light of what he would accomplish at the cross. Thus, preaching needs to have the blood of Christ as its focal point every time again.
How to Saturate Your Sermon with Application without Sacrificing Doctrine and Exegesis
How can you write a sermon full of application without sacrificing doctrine and exegesis? This article argues that by writing your main points in the form of a command, putting them in the present tense, and providing real-life examples of what it looks like to live out the text, you can fill your sermon with application.
Five Laws for the First Sentence of Your Sermon
How can a pastor make the first sentence of his sermon be effective? This article offers five things that relate to this question.
The Value of Sermon Introductions: How to Stop Giving Your Congregation Theological Whiplash
A sermon introduction serves the purpose of leading the congregation into the sermon. How do you write a good sermon introduction? This article suggests there are seven aspects you may want to consider.
No Trailing Off! How to Conclude Your Sermons with Power
What makes for an effective sermon? This article suggests that the sermon's conclusion is important for an effective sermon.
Keep Your Audience Engaged: What Movies Can Teach Pastors about Effective Transitions
What makes for an effective sermon? This article considers how to make use of effective transitions in preaching in order to keep your hearers engaged.
Three Types of Effective Sermon Illustrations and How to Use Them
Every pastor wants to preach an effective sermon. Yet what makes for an effective sermon? The use of illustrations can be of great help. This article explains three types of sermon illustrations you can use.
Are You Overlooking the Most Essential Element of an Effective Sermon?
Every pastor wants to preach an effective sermon. He wants his preaching to be of help to his people. What makes for an effective sermon?
More – On Purpose
Preaching should aim at communicating the Holy Spirit's purpose in the text. This article explains what that purpose is, and how it should shape the sermon outline and the points of the sermon.
Preaching with Personalized How-To
Moving from explanation to application in a sermon can be a challenge. This is where most preaching fails. This article discusses a number of ways one can personalize the message.
Preaching and Writing
Preach! Don’t Construct Sermons
What is the difference between preaching a sermon and preaching to a congregation? First, we have to know if there is a difference between preaching and sermon. This article attempts to address this issue.
I Heard It – Did You?
What makes a good sermon? This article explains that there are five aspects of a good sermon.
Frame It!
What makes a good sermon? There are two aspects: it has limits and a focal point. The article expands on this.
Sermons Are Not for Liking
"How did you like the sermon?" This is just a wrong question to ask, because sermons are not for liking. Instead, as the article suggests, the question could be: What did you learn from the sermon?
One Way to Make Sure You're Preaching a Sermon, Not Leading a Bible Study
What is the difference between a Bible study and a sermon? This article attempts to answer the question.
Talking with Your Kids about the Sermon
How to Make a Sermon
Sermon making is a process that includes at least four phases: analysis, synthesis, administration (homiletical reflection), and evaluation. This article explains these four phases of sermon making.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Importance of Sermon Preparation
Preaching Made Practical - The Nature of a Sermon
This book provides practice guidelines around preaching. The first chapter focuses on the nature of the sermon (What is a sermon?). The author defines the sermon as the "official, ministerial, public proclamation, explanation, illustration and application of the Word of God written as it reveals Christ to the church and to the world."
The Listener and the Sermon
Challenges in Preaching
Supervising Preaching: Edifying Congregations (3)
This trilogy of articles discusses the task of the elder in working with the pastor for the improvement of the preaching. This article discusses how sermons must have an aspect of spirituality.
Supervising Preaching: Edifying Congregations (2)
Supervising Preaching: Edifying Congregations (1)
This trilogy of articles discusses the task of the elder in working with the pastor for the improvement of the preaching. This article provides reasons why this is important. The author also gives some direction as to what church council should look for in a sermon and how they can supervise the preaching.
Preaching and the Real Battle for Worship (1)
"Oh, what God is this?!" Won't it be wonderful if these are your words after hearing a sermon? Preaching should lead to worship similar to that of Revelation 4. The minister has a calling to behold God unto the church.
Sermon and Prayer
In Defense of the Ass: Is the Sermon a "Relic of the Reformation?" (Part 2)
In Defense of the Ass: Is the Sermon a "Relic of the Reformation?" (Part 1)
How to Listen to a Sermon
Ministerial Magpies
This article looks into the question of preaching a sermon which is not yours; with modern technology, laziness in preparing sermons is becoming a serious temptation. Though preachers may want to use sermons of other individuals in their preparation, they should do it in such a way that their sermon remains theirs.