The following is a guest post written by Kevin Smith, Teaching Pastor at the Highview Baptist Church and preaching professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - both in Louisville, Kentucky. Some preachers are not effective because they are unprepared. Faithful, biblical preaching is hard work, which requires preparation. Part (not all) of that preparation involves studying and learning. We must study the Word, even as we study ourselves for the purpose of greater godliness (1 Timothy 4:16). We must study the congregation, in order that we may properly feed them the Word of God (1 Peter 5:2). We must...

I first saw the expression while riding down Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles. The “Godfather of Soul” had been arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase through several states. As “the hardest working man in show business” sat in prison, some enterprising brother found a way to profit from his troubles. He stood on Crenshaw, selling t-shirts that read, “Free James Brown!” Over the years, that expression has been adapted to call for the release – sincerely or sarcastically – of various persons in different forms of bondage. Consider this my appeal to #FreeGospelMusic. I love Gospel Music. I...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it to the Send North America Conference in Nashville this week. I missed a great meeting. My friend, Carlos Kelly, is the new Pastor of the Beulahland Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia. He succeeded Dr. Maurice Watson. It was a joy to this week how the Lord continues to bless this congregation. Shout-out to the Thomas Dorsey Convention of Choirs for the opportunity to give one of the morning messages during their...

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...

James E. Washington is the Senior Pastor of the historic Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church in Dayton, Ohio – where he has served for the last twenty years. Under his leadership, Phillips Temple has grown to be one of the largest and most influential congregations in his denomination. Jimmy Washington is also faithful preacher, with a firm commitment to expository preaching. The following is my recent conversation with my friend, Jimmy Washington, about his life, preaching, and ministry. Enjoy!   Did you find this interview helpful? Join the conversation in the comments section below.  CHECK OUT THESE INTERVIEWS Maurice Watson Interview ...

The preacher was a well-respected pulpiteer. The sermon was doctrinally sound. He seemed to preach with sincerity, reverence, and passion. But the sermon felt like we were driving on a flat tire. What went wrong? At the end of the service, the friend sitting next to me leaned over a said, “He had four alliterated points with three sub-points each. I don’t care what you say, he had sixteen points!” Yep. That’s what went wrong. A good sermon has purpose, unity, and movement. Well-crafted structure makes this possible. But an overcooked structure messes up the whole meal. On the other...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. It was a joy to preach the Corpus Christi Citywide Revival this week. Shout-out  to my friend, Pastor Arthur Lane, for the invitation. Shout-out to Bob Kauflin for the opportunity to speak at the 2015 WorshipGod Conference in Louisville. The Cutting It Straight Expository Preaching Conference is fast approaching. I hope you will join us September 22-24, 2015, at the Shiloh Church in Jacksonville (FL), for three days of model preaching, practical instruction, and warm fellowship. There will also...

Out of the Saltshaker (Matthew 5:13)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned his followers not to practice spiritual devotion with ulterior motives (Matthew 6:1-18). Do not give to the needy to be celebrated for your generosity. Do not pray to be heard by men. Do not fast so people will consider you spiritual. How do you avoid practicing Godward acts with man-centered motives? Jesus teaches that acts of devotion should be done in private, before God not man. Preachers also struggle with the temptation to make their charge from God a performance before men. But we cannot overcome this temptation by moving the pulpit...

Preachers are getting in shape. Social media is littered with pictures of preachers exercising to get or keep their weight under control and live healthy lives. Way cool! In the crucible of my schedule, I often neglect to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen. But the noted milestones of exercising preachers challenge me to “get it in,” as they say. I once read about a preacher who worked himself to death. On his deathbed, he lamented, “God gave me a message and a horse. I have killed the horse! What will happen to the message?” I think of this...

YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST TO THE RIGHT OF THIS PAGE TO RECEIVE A FREE WEEKLY SERMON MANUSCRIPT. It was a joy to take part in the 2015 Legacy Conference in Chicago. To see so many youth and young adults on fire for Jesus is greatly encouraging. And grateful for the opportunity to team teach the Cutting It Straight preaching track. It was our pleasure to host the Union St. James Congress of Christian Education at the Shiloh Church this week. I hope to see you at the For The Church Conference at the Midwestern Baptist Theological...