Preachers in Training

Dale Jenkins, from The Jenkins Institute, joins Robert to discuss trends he is noticing in ministry. Dale’s work with his brother, Jeff, takes them both all across the United States and the world, giving them a first-hand point of view with regard to the state of the Lord’s church in our time. On this episode, Dale especially focuses on our numeric trends.

Denny Howell, one of the ministers for the Ooltewah church of Christ near Chattanooga, TN, joins us this week from Lads2Leaders in Nashville to help us improve in our prayer life. 

Are you considering becoming a preacher? Are you already preaching, but feel that you need your passion for ministry to be reignited? If so, take half an hour to listen to Walker Howell and Sawyer Reid. They are two outstanding Bible majors at Freed-Hardeman University, and they’re already making a big impact through their preaching. The Lord willing, they plan to continue preaching after graduati...

The media age in which we live isn’t going away. While many of us had a crash course in social media and marketing during the COVID pandemic, it may be time to take that to the next level and to update our practices in order to reach the most people. Michael Bush serves the Great Oaks church of Christ in Memphis, TN as their Communications and Outreach Minister. He is also an audio editor for The...

David Pharr was preparing dinner one minute and, the next thing he knew, he was in the back of an ambulance on the way to the hospital. Today, almost two months past brain surgery, he tells a wonderful story about the love of Jesus expressed through his people and his own eagerness to continue ministering the word. David Pharr was preparing dinner one minute and, the next thing he knew, he was in...

Robert Young, Sr. serves as one of the elders for the Long Island church of Christ in New York. He joins Robert today to discuss the differences of evangelism and religious culture in general between the American South and the Northeast. What can we learn from each other in order to most effectively accomplish the purpose Jesus intends us to fulfill?

Chad Landman talks about ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence. What potential lies in this technology? How could they be practically and helpfully utilized within the context of ministry? Chad offers some great helps and insights on this episode.

This year’s theme for the Annual Bible Lectureship at Freed-Hardeman University is “Triumph of the Lamb: the Battle with Evil in Revelation.” Dr. Doug Burleson, professor of Bible at FHU and the director of the Annual Bible Lectureship, joins Robert this week to discuss the challenges and benefits of preaching from the book of Revelation. He also gives some highlights from this year’s packed lectu...

What should a preacher do if he is at a congregation without elders? If men who are qualified to be shepherds are present, what is the practical process of establishing the eldership, or, as Paul wrote to Titus, setting in order the things that are lacking? Paul Sain has walked that road, and he joins Robert today to share the practical steps he took to follow the Scriptural guidelines and establi...

On this Thanksgiving episode for 2023, Robert shares some thoughts about why thanksgiving is a vital habit for a minister to develop.

Chad Landman is here with the 2023 Holiday Gift Guide! Chad joins us each year at this time with picks made with ministers in mind.

Adam Faughn is back to offer some tips for meeting with elders. Adam preachers for the Central church of Christ in Paducah, Kentucky.

Dr. Matthew Sokoloski, affectionately known as Soko, is an Associate Professor of Biblical Studies at Freed-Hardeman University. He also works with the Henderson church of Christ as the campus minister. His academic training plus on-the-job experience in teaching and ministry make him a unique person to discuss how we can better minister to rising adults.

Dean Miller travels the country to help people learn to live with loss, especially the loss of a spouse. His focus on widowhood has been a blessing to so many people. On this episode of Preachers in Training , brother Dean teaches us how to minister with compassion to those who are learning to live with loss. On his website (linked below), he writes: Ignorance and inexperience with grief, especial...

One of the biggest challenges for any minister is how to get it all done. For that matter, is the work ever done?? Chance Hicks joins Robert to discuss all things productivity!

David Sproule has been planning congregational themes and coordinating study plans for years at the Palm Beach Lakes church of Christ in West Palm Beach, Florida. On this episode, he discusses how he plans for the year ahead and shares a unique idea that he has implemented this year in his preaching and studies.

Through his Bible Passages ministry, John Moore helps many Christians come to learn more about the world in which biblical events took place. His passion for biblical cultures and history shines through on this episode, all about why preachers need to study these matters and how we can practically work this material into our teaching and preaching.

Preacher, do you struggle with your prayer life? We can relate. Kevin Rhodes, the director of the Brown Train School of Preaching in Bedford, TX, is back to discuss how we can improve our prayer lives. He offers five reasons why this might be a problem, ten ways to help, and five points of encouragement. You will be blessed by this super practical episode!

Are young adults interesting in the Bible and Christianity? Dean Thompson says they are! Dean is one of the evangelists for the University church of Christ in Charlotte, North Carolina. He stops by Preachers in Training on this episode to share several practical tips for ministering to young adults.

Robert kicks off season 18 with a look at the first chapter of both 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, highlighting reasons Paul gave to Timothy why he could overcome timidity and have courage to face the challenging circumstances that were ahead.

How do you know if you are preaching for a lukewarm congregation? And what do you do if you are? Mike Vestal walks through Revelation 3, specifically the letter to the church at Laodicea, and shows us Jesus’ response to the lukewarm.

David Pharr, pulpit minister for the Concord Street church of Christ in Orlando, Florida, offers seven things we can do to be better preachers.

Barton Kizer helps us learn how to reach people of different cultures, and offers practical next-steps for how to do this on a congregational level. 

If you’ve been preaching for very long, then you know about preaching ruts. What can I do if I feel I’m in one? Steve Higginbotham offers six helpful suggestions.

Dale Hubbert is a financial advisor and a friend of ministers! He joins Robert to offer some tips related to a minister’s taxes.