Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk to you executive decisions every preacher must make. Preachers are ministers of the word (Acts 6:4). Literally, we are servants of the word. As a result, there are fundamental elements of pulpit ministry over which we have no control. We have no authority over the biblical message we proclaim. We have no authority over the response of the hearer. We have no control over the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we preach But there...

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, we discuss how to structure a sermon. Good, clear, sound and sermon structure is key to effective preaching. But sermon structure must stay in its place. You do not want to preach a jellyfish sermon, with no structure. And you do not want to preach a skeleton, with no life. How should you structure your sermon for effective preaching?  Structure the sermon based on the text. Structure the sermon around one main idea. Structure the sermon for clear communication....

God Is Not a Crooked Judge

  How can Christians experience victory over temptations to sin? Here are ten dynamic steps you can take to gain victory over temptation… Think clearly and correctly about temptation. Paul writes, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). You are not immune to temptation. You are not unique when tempted. You are not alone in your temptations. James writes,...

When Duty Calls

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, we discuss the use of Bible commentaries in sermon preparation. Make friends with several good commentators. Find the best commentaries on individual books of the Bible. Use different types of commentaries. Consult commentaries toward the end of your study. Make strategic use of Bible commentaries. Do not read too many commentaries. Remember that no commentary is the ultimate authority on scripture. View commentaries as a sermon preparation tool. Though shalt not steal! Preach the Word, not the commentary.  ...

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – Galatians 2:20   Galatians 2:20 is the best-known and most-quoted verse in Galatians. It is one of the great statements of the apostle Paul recorded in the New Testament. This mystical statement is a clear explanation of what it means to be a Christian. Christianity is more than dissent to a doctrinal statement. It is...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about what expository preaching is not. Many preachers reject expository preaching, without really knowing what it is. Others seek to practice it, without really knowing what it is. But you should not react to a caricature of expository preaching. And you should learn a craft before you try to practice it. Here are fifteen myths about expository preaching to help the preacher rightly understand and faithfully practice expository preaching. Expository preaching is not whatever...

  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised - who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. - Romans 8:34   Romans 8:31-39 is about the eternal security of the believer. No person can take away our salvation: “What then shall we say to these things. If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) God the Father will not take away our salvation: “He who spared not his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to talk about you about what the preacher should offer to God on Sunday mornings. We readily acknowledge that the congregation should worship as they listen to the preaching of God's word. But we sometimes fail to recognize that we should worship as we preach the word of God to the congregation. The act of preaching is an act of worship. What should the preacher offer to God on Sunday morning?   A Prepared Message A Consecrated...

Lessons from the Prodigal Son