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Evangelical

Preparing to Preach

Select a Category Biblical Reflections Devotions Fridays are For Illustrations General Challenge General Preaching Resources Letters to West Franklin Preparing to Preach Table Talk Questions The Preaching Event Top Ten Quotes Uncategorized West Franklin West Franklin Talks

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September 2018

September 11, 2018

The Most Important Part of a Great Sermon

"But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts...

September 04, 2018

Pack – Unpack – Pack

â€œThe unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.â€ (Psalm 119:130)...

May 2018

May 29, 2018

Don’t Be a Preparation Sluggard!

Proverbs 26:16 -Â â€œA sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer...

April 2018

April 10, 2018

Flood the Passage with Questions

Recently, when preparing a sermon from John 21:9-14, a young preacher working on the same...

March 2018

March 27, 2018

Preacher, It’s Easter. And You’re Not Alone

Preacher, let these words from a legend encourage you... From Eugene Peterson in his book...

February 2018

February 27, 2018

The Easter Sermon

I have an ugly confession to make. I don't like preparing the Easter sermon. There....

February 20, 2018

Putting it All Together: Introduction

The introduction is critical. It is the take off. If you have a smooth take...

February 13, 2018

Putting It All Together: What’s the Purpose?

You've determined the broad and specific meaning of the text. You've thought through how it...

January 2018

January 23, 2018

Determining HOW to Preach the Text: Preach So They Can Teach

Though I mentioned this in a recent post, I want to expand this idea. Much...

January 16, 2018

Determining HOW to Preach the Text: 4 Ways to “Go With It”

I do my best to start the sermon off with something that will help me...

January 09, 2018

Determining HOW to Preach the Text: Intrigue (4 Suggestions)

I often joke that the 11th Commandment is "Thou Shall Not Bore." It ought to...

January 02, 2018

Preacher, Use Your Imagination

The chapter heading in my Bible tells me Psalm 18 was written after God delivered...

November 2017

November 28, 2017

Three Advent Series Ideas

It's the most wonderful time of the year. No doubt. Who doesn't love Christmas? But...

November 21, 2017

Determining HOW to Preach the Text: Look Around

You've determined what text to preach. You've determined how the passage fits in the context...

November 14, 2017

Determine the Specific Meaning of the Text

"A text can never mean today what it never meant then." The preacher's job is...

November 07, 2017

Determine the Broad Meaning of the Text

Once you have decided what text to preach, the next step is to determine the...

October 2017

October 31, 2017

Exegesis? Eisegesis? The Real Jesus?

I'll never forget one of the first days at seminary. I heard a couple of...

October 24, 2017

Just Get on Base

Without doubt, one of the most freeing pieces of advice on preaching I have ever...

October 17, 2017

Great Sermon Series Idea

At the end chapter 12 of Jesus is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked...

September 2017

September 19, 2017

Contrast For Clarity

A preacher's job is to help people understand. Understand the meaning of a biblical text...

September 12, 2017

Searching for Illustrations: Pay Attention!

Every preacher experiences two extremes. The incredible high of delivering a perfect illustration that makes...

August 2017

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 08, 2017

When You’re the Guest Preacher

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

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 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 18, 2017

6 Tips to Internalize the Sermon

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

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 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...

May 2017

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 07, 2017

How Long Should a Sermon Be?

As you probably already know, there are as many opinions about this as there are...