Welcome to episode #38 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 basic keys to effective sermon outlines. Here are ten practical tips to help you be more effective in developing sermon outlines... Let the text shape the outline. Preach the text, not the outline. Support the main idea of the sermon. Practice unity in your outline. Keep it moving. The simpler the better. Maintain balance. Use sub-points carefully. Don't overdue alliteration. Put application in the outline. Question What do you...

Welcome to episode #37 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 the advice you would give a guest preacher…  Be clear about the pastor's expectations. Respect the occasion. Observe time limits. Avoid controversial subjects. Say, thank you. Ask permission. Be conservative. Participate in the worship service. Be on assignment. Questions What do you think? What do you think makes an effective sermon conclusion? What are the keys to concluding a sermon properly?  Recommended Resources On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr. On Pastoring by H.B....

Welcome to episode #36 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 seven (7) steps to concluding your sermon…  Give a true conclusion. Only conclude once. Know your destination. Review the message. Issue a call to action. Run to the cross. Leave a good impression. Questions What do you think? What do you think makes an effective sermon conclusion? What are the keys to concluding a sermon properly?  Recommended Resources On Preaching by H.B. Charles Jr. On Pastoring by H.B. Charles Jr. Announcements The...

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...