Welcome to episode #35 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you to preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk to you about nine (9) steps to getting the sermon off to a good start...  Introduce something. Place the text in its proper context. state the point of the message. Give an accurate forecast. Write it out. No dumping allowed. Know your audience. Practice variety. Keeps it brief. Questions What do you think? What do you think makes an effective sermon introduction? What are the keys to getting the sermon off to...

Welcome to episode #34 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I offer ten helpful hints for preaching as the new pastor of a local church...  Make preaching a top priority. Do not neglect your sermon preparation. Plan your preaching. Introduce your congregation to series preaching early. Do the work of an evangelist. Don’t take it personally. Be a church historian. Love your people. Preach for tomorrow, not about yesterday. Avoid unnecessary controversy. BONUS SUGGESTION: Make haste slowly. QUESTION What advice would you give to a preacher who...

Welcome to episode #33 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I point to seven resources to find good sermon illustrations... The Bible Biblical Commentaries Sermon Illustration Books General Reading Other Preachers Personal Experiences Everywhere Questions What do you think? How importance are sermon illustrations to your preaching? Where do you find illustrations for preaching? Recommended Resources On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr.  On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr.  Well-Driven Nails by Byron Forrest Yawn  Using Illustrations to Preach with Power by Bryan Chapell Preaching that Connects by Mark...

Welcome to episode #32 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk about seven ways to become a better preacher... Start early. Read repeatedly. Observe carefully Dig diligently. Read widely Write clearly. Pray fervently. Questions Are you growing in your preaching? What steps are you taking to intentionally develop as a preacher? Recommended Resources Doctrine that Dances by Robert Smith Jr. On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr. On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr. Announcements The National Conference on Preaching | May 17-19, 2016 | Washington...

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...

This is episode #025 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will talk about asking the right questions of the text. Here are give questions you should ask of the text you are studying:  OBSERVATIONS: What does the text say?  INTERPRETATIONS: What does the text mean? CORRELATION: How does the text relate? APPLICATION: How does the text apply?  REFUTATION: What does the text refute?  QUESTIONS What questions do you ask as you study the word of God?  What other questions would you recommend?  RECOMMENDED RESOURCES Basic Bible...