This is episode #019 of the On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Mac Brunson, a neighbor and friend some time ago and wanted to share it with you today. It was a pleasure to have Dr. Brunson as one of the speakers recently during Word Encounter 2015 at the Shiloh Church. Dr. Brunson is the Pastor of the historic First Baptist Church of Jacksonville which is only a few blocks from the Shiloh Church Downtown. He is a faithful and powerful preacher of the word of God....

This is episode #018 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. I recently had the opportunity to interview one of my preaching heroes, Dr. Steven J. Lawson - a faithful preacher, seminary professor, and prolific author. Click here to see part 1 of the Steve Lawson Interview. Click here to see part 2 of the Steve Lawson Interview. I so enjoyed the conversation with Dr. Lawson about ministry and preaching, I thought I would share it with my podcast audience, as well. So this is part two audio from my interview with...

This is episode #017 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. I recently had the opportunity to interview one of my preaching heroes, Dr. Steven J. Lawson -  a faithful preacher, seminary professor, and prolific author. Click here to see part 1 of the Steve Lawson Interview.  Click here to see part 2 of the Steve Lawson Interview. I so enjoyed the conversation with Dr. Lawson about ministry and preaching, I thought I would share it with my podcast audience, as well. So this and the following episode will be the audio...

This is part 2 of my interview with Steven J. Lawson, President of One Passion Ministries and Executive Editor of Expositor magazine. Make sure you check out part 1 of my interview with Steve Lawson.  In the first part of our conversation, we talk about Dr. Lawson's background,conversion, education, formal training, and pastoral ministry. Much of this second part of our conversation is about sermon preparation and expository preaching. Steve Lawson is an exemplary preacher. He is faithful to the truth of the word of God. And he is faithful to the hard work of presenting God's word with accuracy, clarity, and boldness....

This is episode #016 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about preaching funeral sermons. Here are 10 practical tips for preaching funeral sermons: 1. Preach a sermon; do not give a eulogy. 2. Use knowledge about the deceased carefully and wisely. 3. Be brief. 4. Consider the family. 5. Don’t avoid the subjects of death and eternity. 6. Give the family permission to grieve. 7. Assume you are talking to Christians and non-Christians. 8. Do not speculate. 9. Present the gospel clearly. 10. Avoid manipulation. Questions What do you think of...

This is episode #015 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we talk about the different ways you can and should the scriptures in your preaching. Here are five ways to effectively use scripture in your preaching...   Read the scriptures. Explain the scriptures. Apply the scriptures. Correlate the scriptures. Illustrate with the scriptures.  Questions So what do you think? How do you use scripture in your preaching? Do you use these ways I recommend? Are there others ways you recommend?  [Tweet "I preached as never sure to preach...

This is episode #014 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I talk about why I pray before I preach and what I preach when I preach. When I start my sermons, I typically begin with a public prayer. No one told me to do this or taught me that I should do it. In fact, many of the preachers I look up to do not publicly prepare to begin their messages. But I pray before I preach for two reasons: To personally and publicly declare I need...

This is episode #13 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will talk about preaching without notes. Here are twelve practical recommendations that will help you learn to preach without notes:  Decide if preaching without notes is for you. Preach with notes, sort of. Start your study as early as possible. Study the text diligently. Have a clear sermon skeleton. Write a full manuscript. Make clarity your top priority. Internalize the material. Master the material through word associations. Practice the message. Preach the message, not the manuscript....

This is episode #12 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will talk about the importance and practice of developing a sermon calendar for weekly preachers Here are 5 reasons why you should develop a sermon calendar... Getting on top of your schedule. Shepherding the church. Maintaining doctrinal balance (Acts 20:26-27). Planning corporate worship. Making best use of your time. Here are ways to develop a sermon calendar.. Set the length of the plan. Determine your process. Start with prayer. Talk to your team. Work through the calendar.  Questions...

This is episode #011 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will talk about the importance of preparing yourself to be a faithful preacher of the word of God. Here are five ways to prepare yourself to preach...  Practice spiritual devotions. Establish your doctrinal convictions. Maintain a pastor's heart. Develop a personal study system. Choose a sermon text. Questions So what do you think? Have you prepared yourself to preach? What do you think about the advice I have given in this podcast? What should you work...

This is episode #010 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will talk about the things you should do after you have preached. Sermon preparation is hard work. It involves 20 hours of prayer, labor, repentance, thanksgiving, and meditation. While preparation is hard work, so is recovery. Preaching takes something out of you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Preaching can be even more draining and discouraging when no one responds, so what do you do? Here are seven things I recommend you do after the sermon is...

This is Episode #009 of The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, we will talk about seven books every preacher should read on preaching (Plus one). Faithful preachers are diligent readers. First and foremost, read the Bible! Read Bible study resources, Christian theology, and church history. You should also read some works from authors who do not share your worldview. But also make it a priority to read books on preaching. There are many great preaching books to read. But here are seven volumes you should start with. Biblical...