Preaching Through Podcast

Send us Fan Mail A killer introduction is critical for getting people to not just listen to your sermon... but actually care about the message you're about to share. A rookie preacher can captivate attention with a strong introduction as easily as a veteran preacher can lose people without a thoughtful and thought provoking introduction. In this episode, we listen to and analyze examples of f...

Send us Fan Mail We all tend to shrink God down to size in our minds, crafting Him into a more comfortable and understandable being.  But in today's episode, the focus is on expanding the vision of who God truly is in all His greatness, glory, goodness, and grace. We will unpack the profound implications wrapped up in what we call “the 4 Gs.” Even if you don’t preach an entire series on them,...

Send us Fan Mail Whether you're a seasoned preacher or just starting out, a clear sermon structure is crucial for effectively communicating biblical truth.  In today's episode, we'll be breaking down the essential architecture of an impactful sermon point. You'll discover the key elements that must be included to captivate your listeners' attention, convince them of the tr...

Send us Fan Mail Do you sometimes feel like an imposter when you step into the pulpit? Like you're trying to imitate other preachers rather than preaching as your authentic self? Finding your unique preaching voice can free you up to genuinely pastor your flock.  Yes, the sound of your voice has something to do with it... but it's really much more than that! It is your personality, passi...

Send us Fan Mail Preaching through an entire book of the Bible can seem daunting. How do you keep people engaged week after week? What if you hit confusing passages or genealogies? And how slow should you take it - verse by verse or breezing through larger sections? In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast we tackle all of the key decisions preachers face when planning a sermon series for prea...

Send us Fan Mail God's biggest rival isn't Satan, it's money. Money is already sensitive topic for so many. When the church starts talking about money it ticks the boxes of culturally and emotionally difficult topics. Lead pastors should talk about money — Jesus did and even when he wasn't talking about finances, much of his stories and example involved the concept of money. If...

Send us Fan Mail New lead pastor? Merging with another congregation? Sharing some disappointing news that impacts everyone? Changing the name of your church? Most preachers will experience the responsibility of preaching through a big change that impacts everyone in their congregation and leading change is rarely easy and seamless. But doing it well it's essential if you hope to thrive on the...

Send us Fan Mail Preaching through summer months is a different experience for every church. For churches in Phoenix, Arizona summer includes 31 consecutive days 110 degrees... for churches in Toledo, Ohio the summers represent the best months of the year.  But no matter what unique challenges you face each summer, the opportunity for ministry impact is real and it's the responsibility of pre...

Send us Fan Mail You're at a new church... Maybe you planted it. Or, maybe you're stepping into a new role at an already established church. What should that first year of preaching look like? Are there principles to help you navigate building your preaching calendar, naming your sermon series, or setting up your weekly sermon? We think there are! In this episode of Preaching Through Pod...

Send us Fan Mail There are two questions you should ask people in your newcomers class.  The first one is a no-brainer. "What made you decide to visit our church." The second question... "Why did you decide to come back?" How great would it be if everyone who visited on Easter Sunday would return for the next week? You actually have more influence on the return visit than you m...

Send us Fan Mail You frequently find yourself navigating the nuanced worlds of praise, criticism, and most palpably, silence when it comes to your preaching. How serious do you take the criticism? How meaningful is the praise? How do you continue to invest and give your best when it feels like no one is listening... good or bad? In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast we dive into these three...

Send us Fan Mail Are you preaching from a manuscript? Do you have a bullet point list that serves as your sermon notes? Are you stepping into the pulpit with no notes with your entire message memorized and ready to deliver? Very few pastors ever start out, completely satisfied with how they handle their sermon notes for every sermon — maybe over time you get a bit more comfortable, but in the end...

Send us Fan Mail How fun would it be to use your best stories, best illustrations, best jokes, and best sermon content for two, three, even four sermons straight? What's more... everyone shows up for every message! This is the opportunity afforded when you are invited to preach at camps and conferences and that's exactly what we're talking about in this episode of Preaching Through...

Send us Fan Mail Get used to preaching in front of a camera — it's not going away. In fact, it may become more and more common for pastors to teach and preach through a lens to supplement the live weekend preaching.  In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast you'll discover some of the insights and instruction you can lean on as you seek to become a more effective communicator through...

Send us Fan Mail There is a 'right way' to preach through a wedding and funeral... 'get out of the way, its not about you.' It's true, no one is there to see you, yet, you have such an important part. From storytelling, to sharing the Gospel, to ministering to the people involved, there is an opportunity to use the preaching moment to remind people of what's important...

Send us Fan Mail What do you believe your sermons have the power to do? What do you believe about the weekly preaching moment? Who or what should have influence over your preaching?  What are your Assumptions, Beliefs, and Convictions about preaching?  Every preacher has them but very few write them down and if you have never written them down, it is worth your time. In this episode of Preaching T...

Send us Fan Mail Preaching is most effective at leading congregational change when aligned with and supporting other discipleship environments in the church. The annual calendar provides natural seasons of momentum and choosing one core emphasis or initiative to "disproportionately" promote throughout the fall allows for maximum focus and impact without overwhelming people. Imagine showi...

Send us Fan Mail If you're unhappy with your sermon prep process, you're not alone. When surveying pastors and asking them to share an area where they would like to become stronger in related to their preaching an overwhelming amount say things like: A better sermon prep process More organized preparation process Better rhythm for my sermon prep A prep process that doesn't bleed int...

Send us Fan Mail  Concubines, slavery, the murder of women and children, adultery, and conspiracy are just a few of the topics in Old Testament books that can discourage pastors from embracing the Hebrew Scriptures and stick with the New Testament books. It's understandable. On top of that, we are living in the New Covenant and much of what we find in Old Testament books is not really meant f...

Send us Fan Mail Preaching through a non-fiction book sermon series. There are many benefits to incorporating the work of other authors, pastors, and writers into your sermons, even doing entire studies around their works... but should you do it? Is it wise?  There are benefits to preaching through non-fiction books but there are also many cautions and do the cautions outweigh the benefits? Preach...

Send us Fan Mail You will be responsible for preaching through tough texts. Whether the texts are tough theologically speaking or tough culturally speaking, your people will be watching how you handle yourself and the scriptures. As important as it is to handle God's Word with care and intentionality, it is equally important to communicate the beauty of why God's way is best. How do you...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered why after preaching for 30 or 40 minutes on a Sunday you are wiped that afternoon (when you could easily speak for an hour at the Rotary Club and not think twice)? Preaching is not the conveying of information but a call to transformation and a huge part of that call is your experience.  The greatest gift you bring to the preaching moment is your entire self...

Send us Fan Mail Over 600 pastors were asked, "How many Sundays do you teach a year." Nearly 45% responded that they teach 45 to 52 Sundays.  Pastors are preaching too much and whether that is by default or design, having a sermon calendar will not only help you schedule in the time off you need to make it through the long-haul of ministry,  you will also discover the added planning will...

Send us Fan Mail If Easter Sunday is the Super Bowl of preaching, Christmas is the college football national championship. There's a lot of hype, excitement, and planning to make the most of these two events, yet they represent just two moments in your larger ministry. How much priority should be placed on each one? What is the true evangelism opportunity that exists? Where should we set our...

Send us Fan Mail If you preach to people who are in pain you will always have an audience. This is especially true during many big cultural events that we have become accustomed to seeing flash on our screens as a part of the 24/7 news cycle. At the most trivial level these cultural events are controversial... but often they are tragedy. There is a soberness to it and our hope is that this convers...