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...

The date was October 8, 1999. I was preaching in Atlanta. I finished the sermon and took my seat. Moments later, Charles – a fellow-pastor of my Los Angeles congregation - whispered in my ear that my wife, Crystal, had been rushed to the hospital. Then he walked away. Crystal was pregnant with our first child, a boy. But she was almost two months away from her due date. The doctor had put her bed rest that week. She was fine just two hours earlier when I talked to her before I went to church. I just sat there frozen,...

No one comes from nowhere. We are all the product of those who have forged their faith in us. This is my testimony. My pulpit and pastoral ministry has been nurtured over the years by good and godly influences. Some I have known personally and intimately. Others I have only known vicariously. But I thank God for those all those who have shaped my biblical conviction, philosophy of ministry, and commitment to Bible exposition. The following video about my pulpit influences was prepared for our 2015 Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching conference. Of course, this list is not exhaustive. In...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST IN THE RIGHT COLUMN OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. It was a joy to speak about exposition preaching at the REACH Conference for the Georgia Baptist Convention this week! Thanks again for your prayerful support of the 2015 Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference! The Lord's richly blessed the meeting. Session recordings will be available soon. Mark your calendar for CIS 2016 - September 20-22, 2016. I hope to see you at the 2015 Expositors Summit at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Featured Speakers: R. Albert Mohler...

The following is a guest post by Cameron Triggs, Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at the Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL. He blogs at camtriggs.com. Racism: an explicit or implicit belief or practice that qualitatively distinguishes or values one race over other races.  That simple definition presents a complex challenge in this nation and around the world. Racism and all its wicked symptoms are not easily cured. If you want to see all of its horrific effects look no further than today’s headlines and breaking news stories on CNN. Ironically, the only thing that appears to be different is that the...

It was our joyful privilege to give tribute to the late Dr. E.K. Bailey during the 2015 Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference. Dr. Bailey was the founding pastor of the Concord Church in Dallas, Texas. He was a faithful expository preacher, who traveled the country proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. To invest in other Bible preachers and teachers, Dr. Bailey also established the E.K. Bailey International Conference on Expository Preaching. In the providence of God, E.K. Bailey was the man who was used to seal the deal for me that expository preaching is the most faithful way to...

Real Worship (John 4:19-24)

I asked you to pray for the 2015 Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference. The Lord answered our prayers to richly bless the conference. Thank you. This conference exists to train, promote, and model biblical preaching and teaching. We also want to serve those who serve the church. I am overwhelmed with gratitude. The Lord fulfilled our holy desires and brought to pass the deeds prompted by our faith. God did far more abundantly than all that we could ask or think! Thank you to Joe Pace and Cameron Triggs for leading our Worship & Arts track and Youth Ministry...

  The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference is still underway on the campus of the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, FL. Yesterday Don Whitney opened up with “Spiritual Disciplines and Public Ministry” and we enjoyed wonderful breakout sessions throughout the day. Last night Dr. Steven Lawson reminded us of the cost of following Jesus and Dr. Maurice Watson admonished us to hide behind the cross. It has been a joy to be with you this week. I pray that you have been richly blessed and that you leave encouraged and inspired to “Cut It Straight”. We are excited about what God has in store...

  The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference is underway on the campus of the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, FL. Yesterday I opened up the conference preaching on word and worship, Pastor Charlie Dates reminded us that God is for us, Dr. Ray Pritchard encouraged us and Pastor Bryan Carter admonished us to preach the Gospel. It has been an honor and privilege to meet all the pastors and teachers from all over the United States that are in attendance. We are excited about what God has in store for us for the rest of this week. Shuttle service from the Omni Hotel...

            The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference begins today on the campus of the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville, FL. We are grateful to have a line-up of great speakers and teachers who will teach, model, and promote expository preaching and teaching. Likewise, the staff and volunteers of Shiloh are ready and excited to serve the guests on our campus this week. Much prayer and planning has gone into this event to make it a special time for all who attend. The only thing missing is you! Safe travels to all who are making your...

The 2015 Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference starts tomorrow. Please pray for us. Pray for our final preparation. Pray for safe passage for those who will travel to Jacksonville for CIS. Pray God uses each speaker in a great way. Pray that each attendee will leave equipped, challenged, and refreshed. Pray that the name of the Lord would be glorified in everything that happens.