Author: Administrador

Axiom #1: “The speech before the speech” is step one in audience bonding. The narrative exposition more than any other expository form relies on bonding with the audience. This may be one of the very few preaching texts you will read that will talk about this strategic first step in pulpit communication. Bonding with an … Continue reading “The Seven Axioms Of Sermon Delivery”

It’s just a few minutes before I’m to speak. I’m preaching for a friend’s congregation where I’ve spoken on a number of occasions. The only element of liturgy left is the Lord’s Supper. Flashing through my mind is every preacher’s nightmare – I’ve already preached this sermon, here. Foraging through cobwebs, I’m trying to recall … Continue reading “The Elusive Illustration: Letting The Text Provide!”

Doug Pagitt is pastor of Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis, and one of the key influencers of the Emerging Church movement. His most recent book is Preaching Re-Imagined (Zondervan). He recently visited with Preaching editor Michael Duduit. Preaching: What is it about postmoderns that makes preaching to them such a particular challenge? Pagitt: I think it’s … Continue reading “Preaching As Dialogue: An Interview With Doug Pagitt”

Not long ago we did a Wednesday experiment with a video camera. We asked church-going people from dozens of churches what they remembered from the previous weekend’s sermon. We know what you’re thinking: “Uh-oh . . . wonder what my people would say about my sermon last week?” If your church-goers are like the ones … Continue reading “How Church-Wide Campaigns Can Rev Up Your Preaching”

A summary guide to any discipline is the “Cliffs Notes” version of the subject. It can be helpful in giving a broad and surface understanding of an extremely complicated and varied field but is unable to give detailed attention to its subtleties and complexities. It’s better with the ‘whole’ than its ‘parts.’ Still there is, … Continue reading “The Sphere Of Evangelical Homiletics: A Beginner’s Guide”

Many of my friends from college and seminary days now have children in college and beyond. Since my two boys are only 10 and 6, I have a hard time relating to issues of empty nests and kids moving out. (By the way, as a service to my favorite readers, I am including a picture … Continue reading “Preaching Hits 21 – And Gets A New Home”

When Alexander Maclaren entered the study in his home at 9 every morning to take up his sermon preparation, he would kick off his slippers and put on heavy outdoor work boots as a reminder to himself of the hard work he was about to do. It was this work ethic – coupled with his … Continue reading “Past Masters: Alexander Maclaren”

Now that American Idol has picked its silver-haired hero and started a national tour, the Fox network has to fill those lonely broadcast hours until January rolls around again. So they’ve come up with an Idol-wannabe program for the toe-tapping set: So You Think You Can Dance. On each edition of So You Think You … Continue reading “Getting Real”

James 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 1. A gift … Continue reading “God’s Word Is Likened To A Gift”

In his classic recommendations for seminary curriculum, B.B. Warfield of old Princeton called for “scholar-saints” in our pulpits today. Few have better embodied that ideal than Peter Taylor Forsyth (1848-1921). Born and raised in Scotland, he served five English congregations and then in 1901 became principal of Hackney College in London where he served until … Continue reading “Past Masters: P.T. Forsyth”