Pointers for Preachers: Three Articles

Top Ten Sermon Introduction Mistakes

How you get your sermon started matters. While there is lots of room for error in the body of your sermon, there is little room for error in your introduction. It can be the difference between someone being on the edge of their seat or slumped in their seat, between using their phone’s Bible app or fantasy football app.

If you hook them with your introduction, you will have their attention for the entire sermon. If you lose them early on, it can be hard to get them back. Here are ten ways you make it easier on your church to check out. Read more

9 Preaching Principles to Follow for Special Occasions

There are some basic principles I would suggest for any special occasion. Spiritual sensitivity needs to be at its highest level, especially for opportunities that are not in a specific Christian context. Compromise of biblical truth is not an option, but doing one’s best to extend Christ-honoring grace and goodwill should be at the front and center of our agenda. What then should we consider as we prepare and then deliver our message? Read more

The Partnership of Evangelism and Preaching

It is fascinating to me how the lessons from history apply in contemporary settings.

For example, the religious and philosophical culture of the first century was intensely pluralistic. Many religions were accepted. Many gods worshiped. And oftentimes people “practiced” more than one religion through rituals and rites.

When Paul entered Athens in Acts 17, he encountered a number of religions, philosophies, and ideas. In some ways, Paul’s experience in Athens echoes contemporary Western society where religious pluralism is prevalent. I realize that pluralism in the first century was practical in nature while contemporary pluralism is more philosophical. In the first century, the practice of religion was more important than the beliefs, philosophies or truths that undergirded it.

Things have certainly shifted. But the reality is that the religious culture faced by Christianity’s first evangelists is not that dissimilar from the religious culture of today.

As such, we should learn some lessons from Paul’s evangelistic methods as well as his preaching themes from Acts 17:16-32. Read more