Is Your Preaching a "Performance"? 3 Guiding Questions
Spirituality Lisa Cressman Spirituality Lisa Cressman

Is Your Preaching a "Performance"? 3 Guiding Questions

It put the holy fear of God in my heart to realize I had the ability to perform the role of a preacher and be believed and trusted when I shouldn't be. I had skills at the ready to inflate my knowledge of scripture, embellish its presentation to appeal to certain people, or protect myself with silence. So what would guide me to ensure I wouldn't perform as a preacher, but enter the pulpit as a preacher of integrity regardless of the stakes?

Read More
7 Ways to Become a More Compelling Preacher
Process, Craft Lisa Cressman Process, Craft Lisa Cressman

7 Ways to Become a More Compelling Preacher

In an increasingly unchurched and biblically illiterate society, preaching is the only biblical education many ever get.

Preaching is also a primary factor in many newcomers' decision about whether to return for a second visit.

As a result, the quality of your sermons matters both to your congregation's spiritual growth and to your church's ability to become a spiritual home for those seeking one.

That sounds like a lot of pressure, particularly when preaching is only one part of the job. Fortunately, it is possible to improve and grow in your craft.

Read More
How to Keep Sermon Listeners on the Edge of their Seats
Craft Lisa Cressman Craft Lisa Cressman

How to Keep Sermon Listeners on the Edge of their Seats

Tension keeps us reading, watching, or listening. Think about any book or movie that kept your attention.

  • There's a need... a desire, wish, want, hope

  • that's blocked... thwarted, redirected, obstructed, obscured

  • which creates a questionIf? Who? How? When?

  • Questions create tension...suspense, anticipation, dissonance, uncertainty

  • that we need resolved....settled, resolved, determined, answered

And this unknown resolution keeps us on the edge of our seats.

Read More
What if You Never Had to Look for a Sermon Message Again?
Process Lisa Cressman Process Lisa Cressman

What if You Never Had to Look for a Sermon Message Again?

Even the most experienced preachers sometimes wonder how to pull another message out of too-familiar lessons.

Sermons driven by fear—or avoidance of embarrassment—may get the job done, but not pleasantly. 

What if there were another way? A better way?

What if we never had to look for a sermon message again? And no, I don't mean looking to the internet to "borrow" someone else's sermon.

I mean, what if we didn't have to look for the message at all?

Read More
Your free, At-home Easter Retreat (2026)
Lisa Cressman Lisa Cressman

Your free, At-home Easter Retreat (2026)

Perhaps your voice is happily worn out from your Alleluias and preaching, your tummy still rounded with your delicious Easter feast, and your body worn out from the hours spent on your feet and knees guiding your flock from death to Easter joy.

If that is you, then here is my gift: a free, downloadable, guided Easter Retreat that will help your spirit to rise again!

Read More

Blog Archives