Preaching Through Podcast

Send us Fan Mail What if one of your most spiritually formative sermon series was also one of your most attractional? Pride, lust, greed, envy, sloth, wrath, gluttony — these aren't just ancient categories or Roman Catholic relics. They're principal vices, the thick branches from which countless other sins grow. And when you preach them well, something powerful happens: people don't...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when you've done everything you know to do—and it's just not working? When attendance is flat, baptisms are sparse, giving fluctuates week to week, and you can't point to any clear sign that God is actually moving? Or worse: what happens when your own soul feels dry, and you still have to get up and preach about a God whose goodness you're strugg...

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when your passage is four chapters long—or when one chapter has five completely different stories? The temptation is to cover everything. Hit every verse. Explain every detail. But that's not how compelling preaching works. The difference between a message people remember and one they forget often comes down to this: did you linger on what's obvious, or la...

Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to a successful capital campaign has almost nothing to do with fundraising? New buildings don't fix stagnant churches. If God isn't already stirring something, more square footage won't change that. That's why the most important thing you can do during a capital campaign is preach vision — not obligation. This episode walks through the full a...

Send us Fan Mail How many hours did you spend on sermon prep this week? If the answer is "more than I needed to" or "more than I thought I would" you're not alone.. But here's what matters: did those extra hours actually make your sermon that much better? Or did they just delay the rest of your ministry? Here's the distinction that changes everything: Efficiency...

Send us Fan Mail When's the last time you convinced your kid to take a shower by just telling them they should? Exactly. So why do we expect people to deny themselves and follow Jesus just because we said so? Here's the distinction that changes everything: Asserting truth assumes people are ready to receive it. Arguing truth assumes they're not, and you have to convince them. Every...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever preach something that lands perfectly at one service and completely misses at the next? Same message. Same words. Totally different response. That's the reality of contextual dynamics. This is the often-overlooked skill of adapting your preaching to connect with the actual people in the room. This episode explores the tension every preacher faces:  How do you meet...

Send us Fan Mail Ever looked out at your congregation mid-sermon and seen glazed eyes, heads nodding, or worse... someone scrolling their phone? If you're preaching with any regularity, you've been there. The questions isn't whether people will lose interest. The question is: what are you going to do about it? Here is the distinction that changes everything: Teaching assumes people...

Send us Fan Mail What if every sermon you preached this year connected to a single, cohesive theme? Not a year-long sermon series, but a unifying thread that brings focus, energy, and missional clarity to your entire teaching calendar — and leaks into your church? An annual preaching theme isn't a rally cry or a vision statement — it's a sort of discipleship framework that shapes how you...

Send us Fan Mail Every pastor knows Sunday comes with relentless regularity. But what happens when ministry busyness threatens your ability to prepare well? One of the most universal challenges facing lead pastors is learning to preach effectively when your schedule is completely overwhelmed. Not all busyness is the same. There's strategic busyness, circumstantial busyness, and 'how did...

Send us Fan Mail Manuscripting sermons is a practice that divides preachers, but when done intentionally, it can become a powerful tool for ministry. The benefits might be more significant than many preachers would imagine. In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast, we explore sermon preparation with pastor Taylor Burgess, who shares his journey with manuscripting and how it serves his growing...

Send us Fan Mail The intersection of faith and sexuality remains one of the most challenging conversations in modern Christianity.  While some argue the church is overly focused on these issues, the reality is that God's design for gender and sexuality appears on the very first pages of Scripture. But what does the Bible actually teach about these vital topics? In this episode of Preaching Th...

Send us Fan Mail Is controversy something to avoid in the pulpit? Not necessarily. In a world increasingly hostile to biblical truth, pastors must learn to navigate countercultural convictions with both grace and clarity. This episode unpacks a seven-week series addressing core Christian beliefs that challenge modern cultural assumptions. The series covers seven key countercultural convictions: Lo...

Send us Fan Mail Not all vulnerability from the pulpit serves the same purpose - while some builds authentic connections, other forms can subtly manipulate or damage pastoral relationships. For pastors seeking to be genuine without crossing crucial boundaries, knowing the difference is essential. When does vulnerability cross the line from helpful to harmful? In this episode of Preaching Through P...

Send us Fan Mail The Book of Judges might seem like an unlikely candidate for a powerful sermon series, but within its ancient pages lies a mirror reflecting our modern struggle with faith, leadership, and moral direction. While some may shy away from its raw content and challenging narratives, this biblical text offers profound insights into human nature and God's unwavering faithfulness. Bu...

Send us Fan Mail Building an effective preaching team is more complex than simply sharing the Sunday morning workload. It's about developing multiple voices, creating cohesive messages, and strategically investing in the next generation of communicators. But how do you build a preaching team that maintains quality while developing new voices? The answer requires careful consideration and inte...

Send us Fan Mail Efficient sermon preparation is crucial for pastors, but it's often a struggle to balance thorough study with time constraints. This episode of Preaching Through Podcast dives into practical strategies for streamlining the sermon prep process without sacrificing quality. Key topics covered include: The importance of developing a systematic approach to sermon preparation Creat...

Send us Fan Mail Preaching through the book of Revelation can be both challenging and rewarding. While the imagery and symbolism may seem daunting, the core message is clear and relevant for today's believers. This episode of Preaching Through Podcast explores key insights and takeaways from tackling this often misunderstood book of the Bible: Revelation is both an attractional and disciplesh...

Send us Fan Mail Vocal dynamics and body language are crucial elements of effective preaching that often go overlooked. While the Holy Spirit is ultimately responsible for conviction, these communication tools help keep listeners engaged so they can hear and receive the message. This episode dives into practical tips for improving vocal dynamics and body language, drawing from content used in the...

Send us Fan Mail Feedback can be a valuable tool for preachers who want to refine their craft and continually improve their sermons, but the reality is, many pastors aren’t receiving it. Why is that? In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast , we unpack the critical role of feedback for preachers and address common barriers that keep pastors from seeking or receiving meaningful feedback. We exp...

Send us Fan Mail Application in preaching goes beyond just explaining what a biblical passage means - it explores why it matters for people's lives today. While some argue the Holy Spirit alone should apply God's Word, Scripture shows God often uses preachers as a means of grace to help people understand how to obey and live out biblical truth. Effective application avoids common pitfall...

Send us Fan Mail A sabbatical can be a game-changer for high capacity, high vision lead pastors, offering an opportunity for deep rest and renewal. Those who have the chance to take one often find it to be an invaluable investment in their short-term ministry, long-term ministry, and overall spiritual well-being. But do lead pastors deserve a sabbatical? The answer might surprise you. In this epis...

Send us Fan Mail Mars Hill planted a location in Phoenix, Arizona. Six months later the church collapsed. Instead of shutting down the church and returning home, Tim Birdwell launched a new church the very next Sunday. Not only did Tim transition from preaching occasionally to every week, he was following in the footsteps of a leader who built a large movement on the back of his communication skil...

Send us Fan Mail Are you struggling to keep your sermons concise yet powerful? Preaching is an art form that you can improve in over time and the practice of shaving down your sermon lengths while striving to maintain impact is a discipline that will help you continue to preach with a punch over the long-haul. Maintaining audience engagement, effortless transition into response time, and integrati...

Send us Fan Mail Sermon illustrations are vital for making biblical truths come alive in a way that will stick with listeners over the long-haul. Yet, illustration ideas is an ongoing struggle for many preachers. Uncovering an illustration that effectively shines a light on the text and seasons the message is not just a key discipline of message prep, but it is an art form. If all an illustration...