Author: Administrador

During the 1960’s, researchers at the California Institute of Technology had the opportunity to study a small group of individuals who came to be known as “split-brain” patients.1 These patients had been greatly disabled by epileptic seizures involving the left and right hemispheres of the brain. As a last-resort measure, the incapacitating seizures between the … Continue reading “Preaching to the Right Brain”

We all understand the hectic nature of contemporary life, but some folks seem determined to carry it to extremes.A recent article in our local newspaper highlighted two area churches which have begun “express worship” services — one designed to last thirty minutes, the second stretched out to forty-five minutes. I’ve waited longer for a hamburger … Continue reading “It’s About Time”

Billy Wilder, the great movie producer, openly admitted: “I have a vast and terrible desire never to bore an audience.” With tacit agreement, Jack Parr, the father of late-night television, once declared: “The greatest sin is to be dull.”These two statements ought to haunt anyone who regularly practices the fine art of communication. Boredom is … Continue reading “Going Fishing”

One of the most uninteresting claims in the preaching literature is that preaching should meet human needs. The claim is uninteresting because it is obviously true and does not need repeating. To my mind, what would be more interesting is discussion on how preachers can recognize legitimate human needs when they see them.That kind of … Continue reading “Preaching and Discerning Human Need”

I learned a long time ago that good preachers have good outlines. I crafted my sermons with three points and a poem. I made sure my points all started with “p” or “s” or a common word like “under” or “over.” I would preach about Jesus — His “power,” His “presence,” His “perseverance.”I entitled one … Continue reading “Preaching with Forrest Gump”

Under the pastoral leadership of Bob Russell, Louisville’s Southeast Christian Church has become of the nation’s larger congregations, with nearly 10,000 persons attending worship in one of five weekend services. The church is now preparing to construct a new campus, complete with a 9200-seat sanctuary. Much of that growth relates to Russell’s compelling preaching style: … Continue reading “Using Humor in Preaching: An Interview with Bob Russell”

With this issue, Preaching officially celebrates its tenth birthday. Ten years of publication — sixty issues. Few of the hundreds of publications born each year last long enough to make such a claim, so forgive us the luxury of reveling in the moment.OK, revel over. Now what?Preaching’s first decade has corresponded with a renewed interest … Continue reading “Looking Ahead to the Next Ten”

When Jesus preached His greatest sermon on the love and grace of God, He didn’t say “Let me share three principles about God’s love.” Instead He said “There was a man who had two sons …”Story preaching, sometimes called narrative or parable preaching, has been an important method of Christian proclamation since Jesus told parables. … Continue reading “From Precept to Parable: A Case Study for Story Preaching”

When a family buys a VCR, they follow the owner’s manual for step by step directions in order to operate it. But, after using it for several weeks, they operate the VCR by second nature.This article is much like an owner’s manual. It presents twelve steps to developing basic sermon ideas on a text from … Continue reading “Twelve Steps to the Old Testament Sermon”

W. A. Criswell is one of the best-known biblical expositors in the evangelical world. He recently celebrated fifty years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, the largest congregation in the Southern Baptist Convention. (Billy Graham is his most famous church member.) He continues to serve that church as senior pastor, although his … Continue reading “Expositor of the Word: An interview with W. A. Criswell”