Monday Morning Preacher

Latest Episodes:

Get The Text Right Sep 14, 2017

Show notes

At some point in our weekly sermon prep process we need to slow down, put aside our agenda or preconceived notions, and listen to what God is saying through his Word. How do you do that every week? Of course illustrations and applications are important. But how and when in the process do you take time to get the text right? That’s what we unpack in this episode.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Basics of Sermon Delivery (Part 2) Aug 31, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, ummmmm, we take a look at, ummmmmm, three important parts of sermon delivery, ummmmm: Movement, Gestures, and, ummmmm, Filler Words. Okay, as you can see filler words can become a little annoying for our hearers. You were probably annoyed with only the four above. But it isn't only filler words that can cause our hearers to be distracted in our preaching. That is why we are also talking about some tips for using movement and gestures to further your delivery. Also, in case you missed it, you should check out Part 1 of this series, but after you finish up this episode. In Part 1 we discuss vocal variety and eye contact. We hope that these two episodes challenge you to take a look at your delivery. Find some ways to grow, learn, and maybe do some things that are a little uncomfortable for you, but it could lead to more natural and normal conversations.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The High Calling of Preaching: Lessons from Haddon Robinson Aug 17, 2017

Show notes

I was about 22 and a new believer when a tall, odd-looking preacher came to my new home church in Edina, Minnesota. They said his name was Haddon Robinson. I can’t remember what he preached on. I just remembered how he preached—with authority and yet tenderness, with eloquence and yet relevance. Haddon had gravitas in the pulpit. He spoke to my heart and my mind. And because he believed and felt what he said in that sermon, my heart was stirred by God’s Word that day. Who has influenced you as preacher? Which preachers have ignited your heart with the high call of preaching? Who are your preaching mentors, preachers who teach you about the craft of preaching? As a consummate, lifelong preaching learner, I need mentors and models of good preaching. We all do. That’s why in this week’s episode I talk with one of my fellow preachers, Bryan Wilkerson from Grace Chapel in Boston, to reminisce about the lessons we’ve both learned from one of our preaching mentors—Dr. Haddon Robinson. Bryan shares some humorous, challenging, and tender stories about this great man of God who has influenced thousands of preachers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Basics of Sermon Delivery (Part 1) Aug 03, 2017

Show notes

I think a lot of us preachers have picked up some bad sermon "delivery habits." Of course I'm a huge proponent of finding your unique preaching voice, but then again, that doesn't excuse my poor, untrained delivery mechanisms, including things like volume, speed, pitch, gestures, facial expressions, and filler words. For instance, when I go off script, I tend to say "you know" a lot. It gets annoying for my hearers. As one of my beloved mentors, Dr. Haddon Robinson (who passed away a few weeks ago), used to say, “While ministers spend hours every week on sermon construction, they seldom even give a few hours a year to thinking about their delivery.” As always, Haddon had a good point. So, in this week's episode we start exploring the basics of sermon delivery.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avoiding Preaching Ruts Jul 13, 2017

Show notes

For a decade I used to write complete sermon manuscripts, which has one huge plus—I can easily review my preaching trends. About six years ago I noticed I didn’t have a few “trends,” I had some preaching ruts. Every outline, every conclusion, every application in my sermons started to have the same look and tone and focus. How about you? Do you have any preaching ruts? Do you allow every genre of Scripture and every text within that genre to have a fresh structure? Do you preach through “the whole counsel” of God’s Word—not just the parts you like? Do different seasons in your church life lead to different emphases in your sermons? We explore preaching ruts and how to get out of them in this latest episode of Monday Morning Preacher. I even interviewed a minor league pitcher to find out how real pitchers get out of a rut. Check out how his insights about baseball apply to preachers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Outlining Your Sermon Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

A friend of mine once described a young preacher this way: "He has some great ideas but they aren't organized. It's like he offers people a bunch of pearls without the string." My friend was talking about how to structure your sermon. The string is your big idea—your central theme based on your text. The pearls are how you line up what you want to say about your big idea. Here's a crucial rule for preachers: some structure is better than no structure. And here's a corollary: a simple structure is better than a complex structure. After preaching for over 25 years, I'm still learning how to make a structure that's textually based, clear, simple, memorable, and transformational. If you want to get some more practical ideas about how to outline your sermon check out this episode!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finding Illustrations Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we feature a very fun topic—how to find illustrations. Where do you go for quality ways to make the abstract truths concrete? (See also our podcast on "The Ladder of Abstraction.") Where can you start cultivating your own repertoire of good stories, quotes, stats, etc., that will help make your ideas pop? In about 12 minutes you'll find some great ideas for these questions.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Cutting Room Floor Jun 01, 2017

Show notes

Here are the typical five stages of my weekly sermon prep process: STAGE 1: Wow, I have a great Bible text and big idea. I could preach about this forever. STAGE 2: Oh, no! What can I possibly say about this subject to fill up the 30-minute sermon time? STAGE 3: I have so much material I could talk for 90 minutes. It’s all so good. STAGE 5: Preach the sermon. You noticed I skipped STAGE 4. That’s one of the hardest parts of preaching—knowing what to cut. Filmmakers call it “the cutting room floor.” I’ve noticed something about my sermons lately: they often get better when I get more ruthless about leaving a little more stuff on the cutting room floor. And I’m talking about leaving good stuff on the cutting room floor—exegetical insights, word studies, witty comments, moving illustrations, and so forth. If you also struggle with “STAGE 4,” then this episode is for you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reaching Those Far From God May 11, 2017

Show notes

Almost every preacher has heard the phrase “spiritual but not religious.” It describes the rise of the Nones, folks without a religious affiliation. Some preachers think this trend is a disaster or a chore. Maybe, but Dave Ferguson, co-author of "Finding Your Way Back to God," calls this reality a massive opportunity to reach people through preaching. In this week’s episode we talk to Dave about how preachers can speak to people who are far from God.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Preaching in the Power of the Holy Spirit Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

At PreachingToday.com we talk a lot about the craft of preaching. After all, it is a human craft, which means that we can always learn and grow as preachers. But we're also passionate about the supernatural aspect of preaching. It is God's Word delivered in the power of the Holy Spirit. In this episode we talk to J. Kent Edwards, Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, CA, a guy who literally boils over with his passion for what it means to preach in the Spirit's power.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices