How God Says I Love You

  And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”– Mark 6:31   Jesus sent the twelve apostles on a short-term mission trip to preach the word, heal the sick, and cast out demons (Mark 6:7-13). After some unspecified time, the disciples return to Jesus and report to him all they did and taught (Mark 6:30). The ministry of Jesus consisted of words and works. The apostles continued Jesus’ ministry by proclaiming truth and performing miracles. This is...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to you talk to you about developing a sermon preparation checklist. Many "thought workers" use checklists to do their work with effectiveness, efficiency, and excellence - like doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, and chefs. Preachers should also use sermon preparation checklists as they prepare to preach the word. What should be in a preacher's sermon preparation checklist? When and where will I be preaching this sermon? Do I understand the meaning of the text? Have I applied this...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. Sermons have three basic elements: explanation, application, and illustration. Explain what the text means by what it says. Call on the hearer to respond to the truth with repentance, faith, and obedience. Illustrate how the truth of the text works in the world of the hearer. Illustrations are powerful. But the preacher must harness the power of illustrates by using them effectively in preaching. How do you use sermon illustrations effectivel? Remember the purpose of sermon illustrations. Place illustrations in your semon...

Are You a Child of God?

  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 it means to preach the word. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul charged Timothy to preach the word. This is the definitive, central, and primary function of the pastor and the church. But we live in a time where there is a conspiracy against preaching - in the pews and in the pulpit. But it is and has always been the will of God to save the lost and sanctify the church...

A New Beginning at the Last Minute

Clinton McFarland and I tried to figure out how long we have known each other. It has been about twenty years. However, we simply concluded we were still young preachers way back then. I met Clinton McFarland in Columbus, Mississippi, where he served at the time. I lived and served in Los Angeles. Since then, the Lord has moved McFarland to Atlanta. And the Lord has moved me to Jacksonville. Clinton McFarland is the founding pastor of the Grace Baptist Church in Atlanta, which he planted almost five years ago. He is also a much -sought after preacher who ministers...

  “Unchurched Christian” is not a biblical category. Ask Paul, John, or Peter what they think about unchurched Christians and they would have responded, “Why are you calling them Christians, if they are not a part of the church?” The New Testament does not have a vision of the Christian life outside of the church, the local church. But there are many professing Christians today who seek to be commited  to Christ with no commitment to the church. They do not believe in organized religion. They claim the church is full of hypocrites. They have experienced church hurt. They cannot...

  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....