4 Steps to Prepare yourself for Sermon Pushback (1st of a 2-Part Series)
Receiving strong emotions from our listeners is part of preaching life, and the experience can feel uncomfortable, enraging, shaming, or frightening. When we accept as fact that pushback will come, we’re less surprised when we hear it, which makes us less vulnerable to its effects.
Even better, prayerfully preparing ourselves will increase our confidence so we know how to respond effectively, respectfully, and pastorally.
Preaching Wisdom for lay preachers (a guest post)
You know the Bible well. You have been asked to preach because others have seen something in you. Let the confidence of others give you the peace to proclaim God’s promises of endless forgiveness, hope, and life.
Lenten Quotes for Preaching and Reflection
An author turns a phrase and suddenly—we see. Multiple sermon ideas come to mind. That’s why I put together these collections. Whether you apply them to your sermons, Christian education, newsletters, weekly services, or your personal prayer or journaling, these quotes are sure to bring enlightenment, awe, and gratitude.
For the Love of Preaching: Make it playful work!
The vast majority of preachers I work with, including me!, would say their favorite part of sermon prep is exegesis. It’s likely the “new” aspect that’s actually at the root of why we enjoy exegesis. Every time we discover something new, our brains push out a little dopamine and we feel that rush of satisfaction. However, when we run out of “new” because we’ve read the same Scripture verses, footnotes and commentaries over and over, well, uh-oh. But we can infuse newness into every stage of sermon prep, and that’s the key to creating work that feels like play.
Beyond Candles & Icons: 5 Items to Inspire Your Sermon Prep
These items help us to be more mindful of the Spirit’s presence, remind us that our preaching really does make a difference, widen our creative pipelines, speed our sermon prep, and add considerably to the fun and joy of our vocation.
The Surprising Key to Writing Your Sermon Faster
There are times when muscling a sermon from the blank page through gritted teeth is actually counter-productive. When more is actually less. And when effort is not proportional to results. When we find ourselves dreading the blinking cursor at the top of our empty document, we may want to try a different tool than pure effort.
Stop and Smell the Ink: How Creative Play Makes You a Better Preacher
If you usually start your sermon prep with gritted teeth, we have an invitation for you. It's time to try a new way: begin with play.
How? We'll get to that.
But first, let's convince your logical left brain why letting your right brain have a turn at the wheel might get you to your destination more effectively.
A Rule of Life for Preachers: The Preacher's Trust
At Backstory Preaching, we encourage preachers to develop and practice a type of rule of life specific to our vocation: The Preacher’s Trust. The Trust is a grace-filled structure upon which to grow as a child of God who happens to be called to preach, transforming our lives to reflect the Good News we preach. Discover the beauty of this spiritual practice for preachers.
Happy Tenth Birthday, Backstory Preaching!
Happy Birthday to Backstory Preaching (BsP)! We are TEN years old! From the most unlikely of beginnings, here we are! Truly, the Holy Spirit's imagination is so much bigger than I ever dreamed it could be.
Christmas Retreat for Preachers (2025)
The flurry of Christmas activity is over. Now it is time to rest—and rejoice! This free, downloadable Christmas Retreat is our gift to help you do just that. Whether you have ninety minutes, three hours, or a whole day, we’ve provided suggestions for flexible schedules so you truly go on retreat for as much time as you have available.
Rest. Tumble into grace and lay there for a good while. Give thanks. Rise refreshed. We'll preach the Good News in 2026 together.