Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk to you about what it means to preach the word. In 2 Timothy 4:2, Paul charged Timothy to preach the word. This is the definitive, central, and primary function of the pastor and the church. But we live in a time where there is a conspiracy against preaching - in the pews and in the pulpit. But it is and has always been the will of God to save the lost and sanctify the church...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk to you executive decisions every preacher must make. Preachers are ministers of the word (Acts 6:4). Literally, we are servants of the word. As a result, there are fundamental elements of pulpit ministry over which we have no control. We have no authority over the biblical message we proclaim. We have no authority over the response of the hearer. We have no control over the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we preach But there...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, we discuss how to structure a sermon. Good, clear, sound and sermon structure is key to effective preaching. But sermon structure must stay in its place. You do not want to preach a jellyfish sermon, with no structure. And you do not want to preach a skeleton, with no life. How should you structure your sermon for effective preaching?  Structure the sermon based on the text. Structure the sermon around one main idea. Structure the sermon for clear communication....

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, we discuss the use of Bible commentaries in sermon preparation. Make friends with several good commentators. Find the best commentaries on individual books of the Bible. Use different types of commentaries. Consult commentaries toward the end of your study. Make strategic use of Bible commentaries. Do not read too many commentaries. Remember that no commentary is the ultimate authority on scripture. View commentaries as a sermon preparation tool. Though shalt not steal! Preach the Word, not the commentary.  ...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about what expository preaching is not. Many preachers reject expository preaching, without really knowing what it is. Others seek to practice it, without really knowing what it is. But you should not react to a caricature of expository preaching. And you should learn a craft before you try to practice it. Here are fifteen myths about expository preaching to help the preacher rightly understand and faithfully practice expository preaching. Expository preaching is not whatever...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to give you ten practical tips for preparing and preaching your Easter Sunday sermon. For most churches, Easter is the biggest Sunday of the year. But it can be a frustrating Sunday for many pastors. What can you do to preach faithfully, clearly, and better this Easter Sunday? View Easter as a strategic opportunity. Tell the old story again. Focus on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Explain the gospel clearly. Call for a verdict. Preach as...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about three essential elements of effective sermon preparation. There are basically two days on the preacher's calendar: Sunday and Saturday. We preach on Sundays and then have to spend another week getting ready to do it again. This is the joyful burden and delightful burden of weekly sermon preparation. To prepare effectively and consistently, you need a sermon preparation system. I call this the essential elements of sermon preparation. What are the essential...

  Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about using someone else's sermon material. We've all done it. We've been in a jam and used someone else's work. But this visited place should not be a place where you reside. How do you avoid living off of someone else's sermon material from week to week?  Take your call to preach seriously. Guard your integrity. Recognize you are not original. Give credit where credit is due. Make it your own. Do not...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to give you ten principles for preaching the parables of Jesus in the Gospels. How do preach a parable of Jesus?  Understand the nature of parables. Study the context of the parable. Analyze the structure of the parable. Seek the main idea of the parable. Be careful of interpreting the parable allegorically. Let the parable speak for itself. Do not get lost in the details of the parable. Pay attention to the conclusion of the parable. Determine the...

Welcome to the The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about avoiding indecent exposure in the pulpit... To illustrate is to shed light on the subject. Illustrations are like windows in a house. They let the light in. They can also let in voyeurs, seeking to eye the forbidden. There is no place for voyeurism in the pulpit. Sermon illustrations should be like letting sunlight into a window, not like putting a spotlight on a stage. Here are ten guidelines for avoiding indecent...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better.  In this episode, I want to talk to you about the dynamics of Spirit-empowered preaching. I believe there are three characteristics of effective preaching: faithfulness to the text, clarity of the message, and passion in the presentation. When I speak of passion, I do not refer to some fleshly demonstration. Or the deacons in my Dad's church would call, "An outside show to an unfriendly world." I am talking about spirit-empower preaching. What are the dynamics of Spirit-empowered preaching?    Godly Character Doctrinal...

Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. In this episode, I want to talk to you about passion in preaching. I believe effective preaching involves faithfulness to the text, the clarity of the message, and passion in the presentation. Passion, however, should be the natural outflow and overflow of the preacher's determination to preach faithfully and clearly. What does preaching with passion involve?  Spiritual Devotion Personal Worship Bible Exposition Doctrinal Conviction Shepherd's Heart Believing Prayer Spirit-Infilling   Question What do you think passion in preaching involves? Related Resources  On Preachingby...