A Christmas Message of Hope for a Cynical World
In the midst of disaster, crisis, and discord, how do we preach hope to a world that desperately needs it? More importantly, how do we find hope when our own outlook is jaded by the challenges around us?
Three Sermons in Two Days? No Sweat! How to Plan for Your Christmas Weekend Preaching Marathon
With three sermons to preach in two days, Christmas weekend will demand a lot this year. By starting now, you can ensure you finish without the scramble of last-minute preparations. Check out our guide to find practical ideas to plan and preach creatively for less stress this preaching-intensive season.
The Ten Most Inspiring Gifts for Preachers (2017 Edition)
Wondering what to give the preacher in your life? Not sure what to put on your own Christmas list? Check out BsP's round-up of the most inspiring gifts for preachers—created by preachers (so you know they're items preachers really want!).
Three Sermon Themes for Advent
How do we make the well-known story of Christ's birth new again? How do we nurture the sense of longing and anticipation the advent season suggests? Consider these three themes to help your listeners (and yourself!) connect to the store anew.
Ask a Supply Preacher: What's it Like to Preach in a Different Context Each Week
As churches increasingly struggle to maintain full-time preaching staff, Cathie Caimano of Free Range Priest sees opportunity for a new model. In this guest post, she discusses supply preaching and what it's like to preach in a different context each week.
What Not to Preach on All Saints' Day
How do we harness the example of the Saints' stories without leaving our listeners feeling washed up and hopeless? There's one key element that takes the Saints off their proverbial pedestal so they can be a healthy model for our listeners.
8 Steps to Find Your Sermon When the Good News Frustrates, Disappoints, or Makes You Nervous
Why does a Gospel text bother us?
That’s the essential question when confronted with a text we don’t like. The essential answer is this:
The text bothers us because it conflicts with our understanding of God.
Jesus doesn’t always speak or act consistently with our faith.
So how do you find the sermon message when dealing with Gospel texts where Jesus frustrates, disappoints, or makes you nervous? This 8-step process examines the backstory of your faith so you can name your theology, identify the apparent inconsistencies in the text, and then bridge the gap between them.
3 Ways Your Backstory Informs Your Preaching (whether you're aware of it or not)
Maybe you want it revealed. Maybe you don't.
Regardless, it's on display in every sermon.
What am I talking about? Your backstory.
Your backstory is the story you tell in your sermons without "telling" it. It seeps into your sermons whether or not you say the word, "I."
Your backstory is the unique mixture of your theology, childhood, DNA, education, church experience, personality, political persuasion, and so much more. It affects how you approach the Sunday's scriptures, influences your conclusions about them, and shapes your style and the purpose for which you preach.
To preach the message you intend to preach, consider these three aspects of your backstory to help you use your backstory in service to your preaching.