Preaching Changed My Life
A funeral sermon helped launch me on a path to ministry . . .
Preaching
Preaching helps pastors, preachers, and Bible teachers communicate God’s Word with clarity, faithfulness, and purpose. Explore practical, Scripture-shaped resources on sermon preparation, expository preaching, teaching methods, illustration and application, and leading people toward transformation. You’ll also find guidance on preaching in different seasons, teaching across age groups, handling difficult texts, and developing a healthy rhythm for study and delivery. Whether you preach weekly or teach in classes and small groups, these articles aim to strengthen your ministry of the Word.
February 8, 2024
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Integrity in the Pulpit’ (2005)
A 2005 reflection on “Integrity in the Pulpit” confronts sermon stealing, defines pulpit plagiarism, explores why it happens, and urges pastors to practice honesty by giving clear attribution in preaching.
November 1, 2023
Preaching with Depth
By Chris Philbeck “I’m pretty sure no one will go home and say, ‘That’s the best sermon I’ve ever heard.’” I spoke those words recently as part of my sermon introduction. Let me explain. I’m preaching chapter-by-chapter through the book of Romans in a series called, “Unashamed.” I love Romans because it gives such a thorough explanation of the gospel. Paul begins with the sinfulness of man, moves to the grace of God that makes salvation possible through faith, and then focuses on our continued pursuit of righteousness. MEAT AND POTATOES On this weekend I was preaching from Romans 6
September 1, 2023
What Does the Bible Say About Everything?
By Chris Philbeck As I write this column, I’m in the middle of a message series called, “Truth Over Trend” (series title not original to me). The specific topics are gender identity, same-sex relationships, deconstruction of the Christian faith, and having the courage to speak up for biblical truth. You’d have to have your head buried in the sand not to realize the seriousness of these issues in our world and culture, and the impact they have on our local communities and families. Writing the first two messages on gender identity and same-sex relationships reminded me of an important truth
5 Preaching Tips from C.S. Lewis
In a letter to a seventh-grade girl from 1959, C.S. Lewis shared eight pieces of writing advice, the first five of which I believe to be quite relevant for preachers.
A Calling Wrapped in Failure
By Chris Philbeck I recently read an article by Lewis Allen called “10 Things You Should Know About Preaching,” published at Crossway.org. One point in the article stood out to me: “Preaching is a calling wrapped in failure.” That may seem a little shocking to someone who isn’t a preacher, but let me share a couple things to think about. First, here’s the reality: We are imperfect beings trying to speak for a perfect God. On our best day, we’re going to fall short. I have sometimes said, “There are things in the Bible I believe and experience, and there
Preaching the Mother’s Day Sermon with Creativity and Compassion
"Over time I have become more aware of the pain many women, and sometimes men, experience on Mother’s Day," our Preach columnist Chris Philbeck shares. "Here are some suggestions that might help us reframe Mother’s Day in a way that blesses everyone . . ."
5 Sources for Illustrations to Enhance Your Sermons
By Chris Philbeck In the 1990s, while serving a church in Oklahoma, I took all my elders to the Leadership Conference at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. During the opening session, our church was awarded a yearlong subscription to SECC’s weekly tape ministry for being the church that came the farthest with their entire board of elders. So, over the next year, I had the opportunity to listen to weekend messages delivered by Bob Russell and Dave Stone. I still remember many of those messages, including one from Dave about the urgency of reaching lost people. To illustrate the
The Listener’s Role in Preaching
By Chris Philbeck Recently I’ve been walking through a season of life filled with disappointment. At one point my attitude got so bad I decided I needed to listen to a great sermon on how to overcome disappointment. I’ve always loved to listen to great preaching; I try to carve out time for that each week. I found a sermon from Dr. David Jeremiah called, “Joseph: Overcoming Disappointment.” I got out a notepad and a pen, clicked the link on my computer, and the first thing I heard him say was, “God takes our setbacks and turns them into comebacks.
What Is This Year’s Easter Message?
Veteran Preachers Share Plans for Their 2023 Resurrection Sermons
January 26, 2023
THROWBACK THURSDAY: ‘Preaching to the Eye’ (1897)
"By the use of such charts people 'hear the gospel' by the eye as well as by the ear," H.F. MacLane wrote in 1897. "And the message of truth is impressed upon the mind in such a way that it will not soon be forgotten."
The Power in Preaching
By Chris Philbeck In 2001, when I came to my current church, I had to adjust to having a Saturday night service. I had been a pastor for over 20 years, but the weekend service had always been exclusive to Sunday morning, and it took a while to feel comfortable preaching on Saturday night for various reasons. We didn’t have a particularly large crowd, and the people would be pretty spread out in a worship center that could seat around 1,400. The energy level was different on Saturday night, and the service just felt different. More often than I like
November 1, 2022
‘You Must Preach the Gospel’
The Testimony of the First-Known Somali Gospel Preacher
November 1, 2022
Close the Sale!
The Eternal Power of the Tried-and-True Public Invitation
After 70 Years, Carroll Kakac Still Preaching the Gospel
Carroll Kakac, 93, has been preaching for more than seven decades. His hearing isn’t great, he said, and neither is his eyesight. But it’s good enough. “As long as my health will permit me to do it, I’m going to do it,” said Kakac, who serves as minister of McLeansboro (Ill.) Christian Church. . . .
Pour Yourself into Your Preaching
By Chris Philbeck When my wife and I had been married for about 20 years, she took a part-time job to help pay for our children’s college. Fortunately for her, an opportunity came along to do something that fit with her artistic talent and interests, and she went to work for a small company that manufactured custom-made windows using a process called Stained Glass Overlay. Unlike traditional stained glass, she would use multiple materials like glass, multilayered polyester film, bevels, jewels, etc. to form a solid piece of decorative art glass. She absolutely loved her job and came home each
Pastor Pens Primer for Inexperienced Preachers
Kentucky pastor Mark Messmore has written a new book, "Simple Preaching Prep," aimed at helping equip both aspiring preachers and seasoned lay leaders for the task of preaching sermons to their congregations.
The Most Important Thing
By Chris Philbeck My wife and I recently attended a pastors and wives retreat just outside of Phoenix. It was a great experience for both of us. While we’ve been married for almost 40 years, it’s always good to get away from the busyness of life to reconnect. The retreat also included some times when the pastors and wives split to focus on separate topics. One session for the pastors began with the question: What do you think is the most important thing in good preaching? Hearing the various answers—such as connection, engagement, relevance, vulnerability, etc.—was interesting. At one point
Authentic Preaching
By Chris Philbeck In a scene from Walk the Line, a 2005 biographical movie on the life of Johnny Cash, Johnny and his band are in a studio with music executive Sam Phillips. The musicians are auditioning a gospel tune, but they are performing with little emotion or conviction. Finally, Phillips interrupts: “Hold on. Hold on. . . . Do you guys got something else?” After some interesting dialogue where the angry singer says Phillips is accusing him of not believing in God, Cash finally protests, “Well, you didn’t let us bring it home.” “Bring it home?” Phillips asks in
November 1, 2021
Your Sermon This Week Matters!
A Letter from a Fellow Preacher
