#135 | 50 Practical Preaching Tips

<p>Welcome to The On Preaching Podcast, the podcast dedicated to helping you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. </p> <p>In this episode, I want to offer you fifty practical tips to help you preach faithfully, clearly, and better. These pointers are not in any order of importance. They cover a range of subjects related to personal devotion, sermon prepartion, and pulpit ministry. And, of course, this list is not exhaustive. But I hope you fine some of these words of advice helpful as you prepare and preach. </p> <ol> <li>Plan your preaching.</li> <li>Start preparing as early as possible. </li> <li>Prepare when you are at your best. </li> <li>Gather tools for sermon preparation. </li> <li>Consult the best commentaries. </li> <li>Read and reread the text. </li> <li>Observe before you interpret. </li> <li>Learn to learn quicker. </li> <li>Give time for hte message to marinate. </li> <li>Keep a good record of your study notes. </li> <li>Preach the truth and tone of the text. </li> <li>Write complete sermon manuscripts. </li> <li>Write for the ear not the eye. </li> <li>Strive for clarity. </li> <li>Practice variety. </li> <li>Don't assume anything. </li> <li>Get good rest before you preach. </li> <li>Saturate sermon preparation in prayer. </li> <li>Make sure your title does not overpromise. </li> <li>Preach the sermon, don't read it. </li> <li>Be intentional about sermon length. </li> <li>Show it to them in the text. </li> <li>Present the gospel in every sermon. </li> <li>Keep your introduction brief. </li> <li>Only conclude the sermon once. </li> <li>Make smooth transitions. </li> <li>Don't be the hero of yoru illustrations. </li> <li>Be careful of indecent exposure. </li> <li>Use scripture for illustrations. </li> <li>Ask probing questions. </li> <li>Do not plagiarize. </li> <li>Use quotations sparingly.</li> <li>Make eye contact. </li> <li>Preach for a verdict. </li> <li>Be yourself. </li> <li>Guard your heart in the pulpit.</li> <li>Get honest feedback. </li> <li>Preach to an audience of one. </li> <li>Detemermine authorial intent. </li> <li>Prioritize your quiet time. </li> <li>Develop a sermon propositoin. </li> <li>Think topics, not texts. Think series, not sermons. </li> <li>Be specific. </li> <li>Preach apologetically</li> <li>Find a homiletical hero. </li> <li>Read books on preaching. </li> <li>Preach with sincere passion. </li> <li>Your sermon points should be necessary and natural. </li> <li>Put application in your sermon points. </li> <li>Live what you preach. </li> </ol> <p>For more information and resources, visit hbhcharlesjr.com</p>