Sermon Helps Featured Articles Archives

• Preaching the Big Idea: An Interview with Dave Ferguson  (July 26, 2007)
  In his book The Big Idea (Zondervan), pastor Dave Ferguson talks about how his church has taken the homiletical concept of a single driving idea for the sermon and extended that across the entire teaching platform of the church. Preaching editor Michael Duduit recently visited with Dave.
• An Alphabet of Grace  (November 1, 2007)
  A 26-word parade of hope: beginning with God, ending with life, and urging us to do the same. Brief enough to write on a napkin or memorize in a moment, yet solid enough to weather two thousand years of storms and questions.
• Understanding the Word: An Interview with Eugene Peterson  (November 1, 2007)
  Michael Duduit recently sat down with Peterson to talk about how his work with the biblical text related to his years as a pastor and preacher.
• Bible and Bible Reference Survey 2007  (November 1, 2007)
  Each year brings a continuing flow of various study bibles and this one has been no different. Some such Bibles seem merely to be the result of marketing efforts, but others are truly helpful.
• Finding the Timeless Truth  (March 1, 2007)
  Somewhere in the process of sermonizing the preacher must turn up the heat on the passage and himself and discover the timeless, universal truth that remains
• Why Preach Biblical Prophecy?  (January 1, 2007)
  Whatever may be our theological system, this is the end of the doctrinal encyclopedia that generally gets scant utterance in the typical evangelical pulpit.
• Preaching on Sensitive Subjects  (March 1, 2007)
  I thought I was the first to discover this technique of dealing with controversial issues from the pulpit. But it turns out this little find of mine has been unearthed many times in the past.
• Using Humor in the Pulpit  (March 1, 2007)
  It is not necessary, on a Sunday morning, to become a comedian for Christ. Yet neither is there a scriptural reference that claims blessed are the bored.
• The Power of the Big Idea  (July 1, 2007)
  What did you learn in church today? How is it possible that so many people, young and old, can respond with nothing but silence to such a simple question after spending an entire Sunday morning in church? Is it too little teach­ing? Is it too little Scripture? Is it too little application of Scripture in the teaching? What's the problem?
• When a Story Is the Best Response  (July 1, 2007)
  Whenever we face a communication challenge, telling a story is a good option, and sometimes it is the very best option.
• Beware Tuneless Preaching  (July 12, 2007)
  Part One of a Series on Preaching and Trinitarian Worship
• The Pastor as Coach  (November 30, 2007)
  A professional coach who was a pastor for 18 years answers questions such as how the roles and responsibilities of pastoring are similar to coaching.
• The Christmas Truce -- Could it Work in our Churches?  (November 30, 2006)
  Perhaps those of us who celebrate the birth of the Savior could learn a lesson from a World War I Christmas miracle as we engage those who do not share our beliefs and faith in Jesus.
• MacArthur: The Emergent Church is a Form of Paganism  (November 28, 2007)
  Paul Edwards interviews pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church John MacArthur about the emerging church movement in America.
• Crucify Your Ministry  (December 17, 2007)
  Your ministry will change lives only if you crucify your own agenda and invite Jesus to resurrect His plans for your work. Here's how.
• Christianity and Islam: How Common is the Ground?  (December 7, 2007)
  As this column goes to press, hundreds of presumably Muslim protestors in Sudan are shouting for the execution of a British school teacher. Her offense? Insulting Islam because her class of 7-year-olds named a teddy bear Muhammed.
• The Golden Compass: Briefing Your Concerned Congregation  (December 5, 2007)
  Another book/film combo has given Christians a real challenge -- one that will require careful thinking and intellectual engagement, but not fear.
• What to Say...When You've Said It All  (March 1, 2007)
  How does one approach the final sermons in a church before resignation? After having to deal with this challenge a few times, let me make a few observations.
• Study the Passage: The vital step in preparing powerful sermons  (May 1, 2007)
  The first step in preparing a biblical message is to study the passage...
• Of Gnats And Camels  (November 1, 2006)
  We live in exciting days of evangelistic possibilities. Like never before, people are searching for spiritual answers to meaningful, eternal questions. And though many of these answers are misguided and empty, the spiritual yearning of the human heart ought to remind us that God has wired us for