Here, I offer ten sermon prompts for the first Sunday of Advent, or Advent Sunday, which can also apply to the following three Sundays of Advent.
10 Ways to Preach the Church Year
10 Ways to Preach the Church Year is a practical guide for pastors looking to revitalize their preaching through the liturgical calendar. Whether you’re new to the Church Year or seeking fresh inspiration, this book provides ten sermon ideas for each of the key seasons and eventsโAdvent, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, and more. With thoughtful suggestions for…
10 Ways to Preach the Christ the King Sermon
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and…
10 Ways to Preach the All Saints Sermon
the Feast of All Saints gives the Church a way to celebrate and honor all known and unknown saints who have faithfully served Christ.
10 Ways to Preach the Holy Cross Sermon
There is power in the proclamation of the cross. The Feast of the Holy Cross is observed on September 14th to commemorate Constantine’s mother Helena’s discovery of the True Cross on that day in 330 AD. The feast sometimes features expressions of great devotion, such as kissing, bowing, genuflecting, participating in processions, and other forms…
Why Do Bishops Wear Purple?
Why do bishops wear purple? As a symbol of authority, sobriety, and boldness in the gospel. Please note: this article offers a theological rationale for the practice rather than a historical explanation. As a historical matter, Anglican bishops have more commonly worn scarlet, black, and white; episcopal purple was a relatively recent development. Purple and…
A Church Growth Checklist (Suddenly Surging Part 5)
(Part five of five in David Roseberryโs Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) A Pre-Flight Checklist A friend of mine had a passion for flying small planes as a hobby. He had invested countless hours in classroom instruction, flight training, and simulations, accumulating hundreds of hours in the cockpit. As an engineer by profession, he was…
Is there a Recipe for Church Growth? (Suddenly Surging Part 4)
(Part four of five in David Roseberryโs Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) A Pivotal Moment In the early days of Christ Church, the congregation I started in 1985, I was moved by a random encounter in a suburban parking lot. My heart was broken after I met one man and learned what had just happened…
What Do People Look For in a New Church? (Suddenly Surging Part 3)
(Part three of five in David Roseberry’s Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) A friend once shared a valuable lesson she learned from a performance review at her previous job. Although her position was secure, her boss wanted to address a specific personality trait that he found bothersome. When given a task, she tended to…
A Heart for Others (Suddenly Surging Part 2)
(Part two of five in David Roseberry’s Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) In the first of this series, I mentioned signs that churches might be growing and offered reasons why that might be. I have no proof for this beyond anecdotal evidence and what has been on X in a few places (here is…