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September 2017

September 05, 2017

Preaching the Funeral of an Unbeliever

If you pastor long enough, you will eventually be asked to preach the funeral for...

September 02, 2017

Sermon Illustration: The Wedding Prayer

Every time I have an opportunity to officiate a wedding, I do my best to...

August 2017

August 29, 2017

How To Move On After You Bomb a Sermon

It's never fun. In fact, it's painful. You preach an awful sermon. You lay the...

August 25, 2017

Sermon Illustration: For the Love of the Game

Recently I found myself watching an episode of ESPN's College Football Live. Yes, it was...

August 22, 2017

7 Hacks for Preaching Narrative Texts

Everyone loves a good story, and every story in the Bible is good. I mean,...

August 18, 2017

Sermon Illustration: God’s Love

This is one of my all-time favorite illustrations and probably my all-time favorite personal story....

August 15, 2017

Dealing With Distractions

I will never forget it. It was in the tiny, old sanctuary of the first...

August 11, 2017

Sermon Illustration: The Magic Coat

This is one of my all-time favorite illustrations. It is a tremendous visual to use...

August 08, 2017

When You’re the Guest Preacher

From time to time, you will be asked to fill the pulpit at another church....

August 04, 2017

Sermon Illustration: It Happens So Fast

Itâ€™s happens so fast. It happens when arenâ€™t expecting it. It happens and you donâ€™t...

August 01, 2017

Preacher, Cut Yourself Some Slack!

It is amazing to me who approaches Jesus about fasting in Matthew 9. It's not...

July 2017

July 28, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Power in the Gospel

Recently, in light of Independence Day, I opened the sermon with an illustration using fireworks....

July 25, 2017

The Sermon in a Sentence?

Should the preacher be able to say his entire sermon in one sentence?Â Opinions vary.Â ...

July 21, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Jesus is the Question

I found this illustration in chapter 4 of Martin B. Copenhaver'sÂ Jesus is the Question....

July 18, 2017

6 Tips to Internalize the Sermon

One of my biggest fears in preaching is standing before the people on a Sunday...

July 14, 2017

Sermon Illustration: “It’s What You Do”

My approach to opening illustrations is to provide a smooth runway. I want there to...

July 11, 2017

What Should I Preach Next? 5 Questions to Ask

Full disclosure: I am not the best person to help you figure out what to...

July 07, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Doctor Making Uninvited Home Visits

In order to challenge the congregation to build a relationship with the lost and searching...

July 05, 2017

5 Proven Ways To Make Funeral Sermons Personal

Pastors, let's be honest. Church members, nor their loved ones, ever die at a convenient...

June 2017

June 30, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Sent Church vs. Sent Culture

Below is an opening illustration I used to communicate the difference of doing something just...

June 23, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Why Saying, “I Will Just Let My Life Be My Testimony” is Ridiculous

I hear many well-meaning, well-intentioned people say things like, "I don't have to share theÂ gospel,...

June 21, 2017

Extending the Invitation

Hopefully, you don't preach just to hear yourself talk. You want to influence those who...

June 16, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Doing For (Duty) vs. Being With (Delight)

In effort to explain the difference between doing things for God (in order to get...

June 14, 2017

Don’t Forget Bubba

Sure. You want to exegete and explain the text. Sure. You want the people in...

June 09, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Identity-Security-Purpose

Recently, I preached through a series of messages entitled "Living Sent." One of the messages...

June 07, 2017

The Preacher’s Sunday Morning Routine

Every preacher is different. But every preacher should have a routine leading up to the...

June 02, 2017

Sermon Illustration: Sheep

Sheep and shepherds are word pictures used throughout both Old and New Testaments. If you...

May 2017

May 30, 2017

Tillers of the Soil: Preacher, Help Them Understand!

Recently I was struck by a word Jesus used several times throughout the Parable of...

May 21, 2017

My Story (The Preaching Version)

God has called me to preach to church peopleâ€”those church people who think they know...

May 14, 2017

New Book Guaranteed to Help Your Preaching

I try to get my hands on anything Eugene Peterson writes. I love his style....