Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 All Christians in all places at all times are to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful. The verbs are normal. The adverbs are radical: Always. Without ceasing. In all circumstances. The three exhortations stand together. To rejoice always is to pray without ceasing. To pray without ceasing is to give thanks in all circumstances. Yet each exhortation stands alone. What does it mean to pray without ceasing? Pray constantly. To pray without ceasing is...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  There are several ways to become a better preacher. First, you become a better preacher by preaching. LIkewise, you become a better preacher by listening to good preaching. Thirdly, you learn to preach by studying preaching. Leaders are readers. Specifically, preachers should regularly read books on preaching, as a part of your reading plan. There are classic books on preaching every preacher should read. Then there are many good books that should be added to your library and read for growth. Here...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. As discussions about loosening shut-down restrictions are in full swing, there are two big questions each pastor and church must answer: When will you restart in-person worship services? How will you restart in-person worship services? It would not be wise for me to make any specific comment about when you should restart your public ministry. But I would like to offer some advice about how you restart. Here are three principles to practice as you establish a restart plan for your local church....

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. I plan out an annual preaching plan each year, this year included. According to the plan, I should be preaching through the Gospel of Mark right now. Then COVID-19 happened. I do not think the pulpit should be reactionary. But there are times circumstances call on up to abandon our preaching plan. This is one of those times! What should guide your preaching and teaching through the Coronavirus pandemic? Here are ten preaching themes for preaching during a pandemic: Preach big God...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. We are in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. The general consensus is that social-distancing is essential to slowing down the spread of the Coronavirus. Most of us are in places where we have been ordered to do so. Many churches have chosen to suspend everything during this period, which is understandable. Others have chosen to stream messages or record them to play online. This is what our congregation has done. It seems this will be the way it is for weeks to...

Shiloh Church family, I thank my God in all my remembrance of you. – Philippians 1:3 As the COVID-19 virus continues to adversely impact our city, nation, and the world, we are living through an unprecedented crisis. For all of the negative consequences of the Coronavirus, it is made all the worse by the fact that we are not able to meet together in person. But know that I love you greatly, miss you desperately, and pray for you fervently. Our elders and deacons are here for you. If an emergency arises, you have a need, or there is any...

  Good day, Shiloh Church family. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. – 2 Peter 1:2 We are in the midst of a critical and unprecedented national emergency, because of the outbreak and rapid spreading of COVID-19, or the Coronavirus. With the consultation of elders and staff, I have made the difficult but prayerful decision to cancel in-person worship services this week. It is a biblical duty to meet together publicly and corporately for worship. However, for your safety and protection, in submission to the recommendations of government...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preaching you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this first 2020 episode of the podcast, I interview Bryan Samms, Pastor of the River City Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where he has served since 2016. A former youth pastor and professor of preaching, Samms is a faithful and clear preacher of the gospel. During our conversation, he shares parts of his ministry journey, his philosophy of ministry, and his process of sermon preparation. Enjoy! Did you find this conversation helpful? Join the conversation in the comments section.  Recommended...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  Preachers learn to preach three ways: (1) Preachers learn to preach by studying preaching. (2) Preachers learn to preach by preaching. (3) Preachers learn to preach from other preachers. Every preacher needs homiletical heroes to learn from. In this episode, we will discuss the learning to preach by listening to and learning from other preachers. What should you look for in selecting a preaching hero? Real Preaching Heroes Personal Preaching Heroes Multiple Preaching Heroes Sound Preaching Heroes Dead Preaching Heroes Diverse Preaching Heroes Godly...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better When you study a text to preach or teach for the first time, you should do a good job and take good notes. You should read widely, record diligently, and reflect prayerfully on every text you study to preach. I personally make a study file for each sermon text I study. In my study files, I keep the following documents... Scripture Document Observations Notes Context & Background Commentary Sermon Ideas Sermon Outlines Sermon Skeleton Application Grid Photocopies What study notes do you keep...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. Many preachers do not ever preach sermon series. Some have never tried. Some have tried and did not like the outcome. Some do not preach series for philosophical reasons. There are reasons for not preaching sermon series. But there are more and better reasons for preaching sermon series. Here are ten benefits of preaching sermon series... It relieves pressure. It saves time. It prioritizes discipleship. It provides direction. It maintains balance. It builds momentum. It encourages invites. It inspires creativity. It facilitates teamwork....

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. I am a proponent of having a preaching calendar. Pastors are busy. We need to spend the time we have to prepare in actual preparation, rather than looking for something to preach. A preaching plan helps the pastor develop a healthy and balanced diet of God's word for the congregation. And a preaching calendar can be a tool with which you shepherd the worship life of the church. What should you include in your preaching plan?    Bible Books Thematic Series Christian...