Presentation
Finding Your Unique Voice as a Communicator
I grew up in a great church in Florida and was blessed to hear incredible messages as a teenager from Dr. Jerry Vines. Maybe you don’t know Dr. Vines, but he was my ministry hero. When I was an 18-year-old college freshman at Florida State University, I got my first job working at a church.…
Read MoreHow to Preach Like Andy Stanley
A few years ago, I calculated that I had preached about 2,000 times in my life. I’ve also listened to hundreds of sermons from dozens of different preachers. In my opinion, Andy is one of the top three speakers on the planet. Here are a few reasons. He understands the people. I get the sense…
Read MoreThe Link Between Communication and Leadership
Three days after September 11, President George W. Bush stood on a pile of rubble and addressed a group of emergency and construction workers. The President had already shared prepared remarks with the American people, but on this day, his comments here were unscripted. Surrounded by New York Citiy’s finest, he took a bullhorn and…
Read MoreFive Assumptions You Make that Render Your Sermon Ineffective
An assumption is taking something for granted. It’s an assumed truth that is not questioned. We do it in our relationships, our jobs and our lives all the time. And preachers make assumptions about their audience every sunday. Unfortunately, those assumptions can render a sermon ineffective. Here are five common assumptions pastors make. 1. Your…
Read MoreThe Eyes of Preaching
When I was in college, I took a speech class where I learned that eye contact was one of the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication. Physiologists and linguists tell us that we can speak and listen with our eyes. The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “An eye can threaten like a loaded and leveled…
Read MoreWhat To Do When You’re A Guest Speaker
The invitation to be a guest speaker is an incredible honor. Whether it’s a conference or another church, you’re filling a vital role. So here are five tips on how to be a good guest speaker. 1. Honor the host, but not at first. You should absolutely take time during your message to thank the…
Read More19 Tips for Preachers
1. Get feedback on your message BEFORE you preach it. Feedback after the fact is great, but if you seek input before you preach, you can make your message better. This could be as simple as sending it to another pastor, another staff member, or a volunteer or two in your church. Chances are, there are…
Read MoreInterview with Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens
Meet Jarrett and Jeanne Stevens, the pastors at Soul City Church in Chicago and our hosts for the Chicago stop on the Preach Better Sermons LIVE Tour. I’m excited for you to hear their message on September 27. By the way, it’s not too late to register.
Read MoreDo You Want to Impress People or Impact People?
If you want to impress people, talk about your successes. If you want to impact people, share your failures. John Maxwell said that. And John Maxwell is right. Too many times, preachers and public speakers talk about their success stories in an attempt to impress the audience and gain their respect. And while it’s sometimes…
Read MoreThe Two Most Important Words in a Sermon
What are the most important words of a sermon? “The Bible says” “Here’s what this means…” “In conclusion…” Brian Clark of Copy Blogger says the most important word in blogging is “you.” He’s writing about blogging, but let’s see what it means for preaching. Keep reading. “When it comes to writing engaging content, “you” is…
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