Welcome to episode #31 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about importance of praying for Sunday's sermon. When I was a boy growing up in church, I often heard it said... “Preaching and praying go together. If there is going to be preaching in the pulpit, there must be praying in the pews.” Indeed, powerful pulpits are prayerful pulpits. You fervently pray for Sunday’s sermon. And you should enlist others to pray with and for you as you prepare for Sunday. In fact, it is...

Welcome to episode #030 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode of the podcast, we will discuss 11 ways I prepare to preach.     11 ways I prepare to preach...... Pray Read and reread the text Do observations Read translations Perform word studies Do cross references Study context and background Review commentaries Develop a sermon skeleton Write a sermon manuscript Prepare sermon notes QUESTIONS How do you prepare to preach? What helpful tips would you provide to other pastors preparing to preach?  RECOMMENDED RESOURCES On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr...

Welcome to episode #029 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preaching faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode of the podcast, we will discuss how to find your voice in the pulpit or develop your style in preaching. Here are 10 ways to find your voice in the pulpit... Preach. Study preaching. Focus on the message (2 Timothy 4:2). Be yourself. Expose yourself to great preaching. Practice self-critique. Get healthy feedback. Strive for excellence. Be patient. Don't worry about it. QUESTIONS What do you think? How much do you focus on matters of style? What...

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This is episode #028 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about seven reasons why I write sermon manuscripts. Here are 7 reasons why I write sermon manuscripts: Write for Accuracy Write for Order Write for Clarity Write for Time Write for Audience Write for Memorization Write for Posterity QUESTIONS Do you write out your manuscripts?  Why or why not?  What do you take to the pulpit with you when you preach?  RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Why Johnny Can't Preach by T. David Gordon Well-Driven Nails by Byron Forrest Yawn Preaching that Connects by Mark Galli...

This is episode #27 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will discuss study tools for biblical preaching. For effective sermon preparation, you should schedule at time to study, select a place to study, and gather your tools for study. What tools do you need for biblical preaching? Here are 14 categories of study tools you need for effective Bible study and sermon preparation... A Personal, Study Bible Bible Translations Study Bibles Cross-References Concordances Context & Background Dictionary & Encyclopedias Bible Introductions Bible Doctrine Commentaries Bible Software...

This is episode #026 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about preaching without notes. Here are 17 practical steps to take to preach without notes: Determine if preaching without notes is for you. Never sacrifice content for style. Effective sermon preparation is the key to preaching without notes. Preach biblical sermons. Start your sermon preparation early. Diligently study the sermon text. Build your sermon around one main idea. Have a clear sermon structure. Write a complete sermon manuscript. Talk through the message. Master your sermon material through...

his is episode #024 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about the essential key to proper Bible interpretation - Context. Here are 7 areas of context you should consider: The Literary Context The Historical Context The Religious Context The Cultural Context The Political Context The Geographic Context The Theological Context QUESTIONS How do you study context in your sermon preparation? In what way do you factor in these seven elements of biblical context? What tools do you use to study context? RECOMMENDED RESOURCES The Literary...

This is episode #023 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. This is a follow-up from episode #022: 7 Reasons Why You Should Plan Your Preaching. In this episode, I give basic tips and steps for planning your preaching. Here are five basic tips for planning your preaching...  Establish the length of your sermon plan. Think through your sermon plan in series. Set a time to plan your preaching. Pick a place to plan your preaching. Gather the tools you need to plan your preaching. Here are steps you should take...

This is episode #022 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about seven reasons why you should plan your preaching in advance. Here are 7 reasons why you should plan your preaching: To fulfill your divine call to preach the word  (2 Timothy 4:1-2). To practice biblical wisdom (Proverbs 3: 5-6; 15:22; 13:3). To maintain doctrinal balance (2 Timothy 3: 16-17; Acts 20: 26-27). To faithfully shepherd the congregation (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 2:15). To strategically oversee corporate worship (Colossians 3:16). To be a good steward...

This is episode #021 of the On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. This episode of the podcast is an interview with Stephen Nelson Rummage. A former preaching professor at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Rummage is now the Senior-Pastor of the Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida (near Tampa) Stephen Rummage is the featured teacher of the Moving Forward radio broadcast. He is also the author of several books, including Planning Your Preaching. I encourage every pastor to read this book! Click here to watch the video of the Stephen Nelson Rummage interview.  Enjoy!  Recommended Resources Planning Your...

This is episode #020 of the On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  This week's podcast is from an interview that I had with Dr. Maurice Watson who is both a friend and mentor. Maurice Watson is the former Pastor of Beulahland Bible Church in Macon and Warner Robbins, Georgia. Watson now serves as the Senior-Pastor of the historic Metropolitan Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. I affectionately called Maurice Watson, "Mr. Preacher." He is a faithful, model preacher, who has been a pastor, mentor, and friend to me. The following is the audio from...