Philosophy of Preaching
Give the Text a Voice Not a Makeover
Jason Meyer has some good thoughts on the need for preachers to rely on the power of the Word and not on their artistry and personality: Many a good book has suffered at the...
Preaching for My Own Ego
Gary Burge shares this account in his book Interpreting the Gospel of John: As a newly-ordained Presbyterian minister I served as interim pastor at a small church in...
Rhetorical Goals and Strategies: The Why and How of Preaching
It's easy to get in a rut. I know from experience. Sermon after sermon comes off the production line packaged in the standard format with little to no clear purpose driving...
Popery in the Pulpit
The preacher has neither authority nor right to use the pulpit as a place to express his own opinions on anything: the pulpit is not a soapbox. Too many preachers have...
So, Preacher, What’s Your Thing?
I recently listened to an audio recording of Sinclair Ferguson addressing the topic of "Preaching Christ in All the Scriptures." In the following excerpt he explains why he...
What Is the Relationship Between Hermeneutics & Homiletics?
Sometimes when I tell people I teach homiletics, they reply, "I remember when I took a class on Bible interpretation in college.” At that point I know they have confused...
Just Get the Point of the Passage—That’s All We’re Asking Out of You
I recently heard John MacArthur relate an experience he had during his seminary days with scholar-extraordinaire Charles Feinberg. It is quite humorous (especially when you...
The Adventure Called Preaching
Preaching is an adventure. It really is. It's an exciting, somewhat risky enterprise, because you never know what's going to happen when you preach. There's no way to...
Impression or Information: What Is Your Objective in Preaching?
When you preach do you preach primarily to impart information to your listeners or to make an impact and impression on your listeners? This is an important question, the...
Logos, Ethos, & Pathos: Experiencing the Pleasure of God in Preaching
Do you ever long to sense the pleasure of God as you preach? Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we...
“Lord, Send a Revival”: Preaching for Gospel Renewal
What kind of preaching stimulates true growth and vibrancy in a local church? In his book Center Church Tim Keller gives 5 characteristics of preaching for gospel renewal or...
Seven Qualities of Effective Expository Preaching
In his book 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching, Wayne McDill gives seven qualities of effective expository preaching: The preacher’s first aim is to discover the text...
Practice of Preaching
Show Your Support! Your Main Points Need It.
How often do we simply assert our main point in a sermon, read a couple of supporting verses with little to no comment, and then move on to illustrate or apply the concept?...
What Is the Foundation of an Expository Sermon?
In a recent Preaching Points podcast Jeffrey Arthurs argues that the exegetical idea is the foundation of an expository sermon. What is the exegetical idea? It is...
Resources for Preaching
Reviewing the Main Points 05.31.13
Looking for something to read this weekend related to preaching? Here are some links and "main points" collected from recent blog posts and other online resources. When Your...
Christ-Centered Sermons: Models of Redemptive Preaching
If you're like me and have read Bryan Chapell's Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon and benefited from his discussion of redemptive-historical...
Greidanus Talks about Preaching Christ from the Old Testament
Sidney Greidanus is well known for his work on preaching Christ from the Old Testament. He is the author of Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary...