Sermon Delivery
How Preaching Rocket helped Joshua Watson connect better with his audience
July is story month. During the month of July we are sharing your stories. Joshua Watson is the associate pastor of iConnect Ministries in Austin, TX. They have a vision to reach wealthy business owners. Joshua shared a little with us how Preaching Rocket has helped him move people to action. “The turnaround in my…
Read MoreSix Ways to Make Your Sermon Stick
One of my favorite books is Made to Stick, by Chip and Dan Heath. It’s all about how some ideas stick, while other ideas fade away. As preachers, helping our messages stick is important. In the book, the Heath Brothers (typing that makes me hungry for a candy bar), give six ways to make a…
Read MoreThree Powerful Ways to Start Your Sermon
Euripides said a bad beginning makes a bad ending. That’s definitely true in sermons. Like a front porch of a house, your introduction should welcome people to the message. Your first five minutes are really important. They often determine if people will listen to the rest of the minutes. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “I felt that…
Read MoreHow to Effectively Communicate to Students
Andy Stanley spoke during a main session at the Orange Conference. Here are some highlights of his message on how to to effectively communicate to students. Your approach determines people’s response. We must adapt our approaches to connect with our target audiences. How do you win as many people as possible? You change your approach.…
Read MoreWhat Preachers Can Learn from the Best Business Communicators
I remember three things about the iPhone launch: 1. I was at home sick with the flu. 2. It was the first time I had ever watched Steve Jobs give a presentation. 3. After he was done, I really wanted an iPhone. I’ll be the first to admit that a sermon is different than a…
Read MoreWhat You Will Never Hear in Seminary About Preaching
I loved seminary. I really did. There is no substitute for on-the-job training and doing ministry in a real church, but there was no better way to learn the Bible. Those Bible classes were great. Though I have a Masters of Divinity, there were a few things I didn’t learn about preaching in seminary. It…
Read More5 Tips on Finding Your Own Voice
One of the Preaching Rocket core values is: Stop Downloading Sermons and Preach You’re Own. The reason we’re passionate about this is because we know that God has given you a unique voice and life experiences to share with others. We want every preacher we work with to find their own voice. Here are five…
Read MoreFive Things Every Sermon Needs
The word “sermon” comes from an old Latin word meaning “discourse.” But a sermon is far more important than a speech. A properly prepared and delivered message is powerful thing – God’s truth delivered through the voice of a herald. In most church services, the sermon is a central element. It’s too important to cut-and-paste.…
Read MoreWhy Stories Work Better than Bullet Points
Before there were books, movies and YouTube videos, there were stories. Passed down from generation to generation, stories told us where we came from and who we are. If you want your congregation to remember the concepts you’re preaching, tell a story. If you want your congregation to apply the Biblical principles you’re teaching, tell…
Read MoreThe Lonely Preacher
Preachers are often lonely. In fact, as we’ve talked with hundreds of pastors, we’ve found a common denominator that isn’t being talked about in too many circles. 1. Most preachers prepare alone. How do you prepare to preach? Do you take 1 day? Do you scramble on Saturdays? Do you study every day? There are…
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