As a pastor, when I encouraged people to attend our Good Friday liturgy, I would say something like this: “On Good Friday, we gather to remember the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and his death upon the Cross. If you’re wondering whether to attend, I ask you to consider one question. Would you…
10 Ways to Preach the Transfiguration Sermon
Preaching the Transfiguration Sermon is indeed a high calling! (Get it?) Though the Feast of the Transfiguration is August 6th in the lectionary, we read the story at the end of Epiphany, on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday. The Transfiguration serves both as a dramatic epiphany of Jesus’s identity and a fitting preparation for the…
12 Challenges of the Christmas Eve Service
Even if your shopping is complete and the gifts are wrapped, the pastor knows that there is one more thing to do before Christmas morning. Hold Christmas Eve Services. Whether you are preaching, celebrating the Eucharist, leading the prayers, singing the carols, handing out bulletins, or greeting people at the door, it is a big…
The “Perfect” Christmas Eve Sermon??
Christmas Eve is rough on preachers; at least for this one. The atmosphere for a truly great sermon is all there: scenery, families, music, lighting, Scripture, attendance, joy, and a holy hope in every heart and on every face. But my Christmas Eve sermons (33 and counting) are never equal to this setting. They always seem weak and…
5 Essential Elements of a Funeral Sermon
It’s been an exhausting week. You spent much of it at the hospital, praying for a dying Christian, giving comfort to a grieving family. You missed time with your own family to be a pastor to the parish. You sat with a beloved parishioner’s children as they argued over how they wanted the funeral and…
Let John Chrysostom Preach His Nativity Sermon on Christmas Sunday
Several years ago, I served as the Assistant Rector at a large Anglican Church. This meant, of course, that I had the wonderful opportunity of preaching cultural holiday weekends when attendance would be predictably low … i.e. Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, etc. One of the key weekends that I always got to preach…
Learning to Preach from G. Campbell Morgan (Preachers of the Past, pt. 4)
This is part 4 of “Preachers of the Past,” a series where we discuss four distinct preachers from the past, ranging from 347 A.D. to 1945. We’ve included detailed preaching points for study and discussion towards the bottom of this post. Some Background on G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945) Campbell Morgan was the son of a…
Learning to Preach from Phillips Brooks (Preachers of the Past, pt. 3)
This is part 3 of “Preachers of the Past,” a series where we discuss four distinct preachers from the past, ranging from 347 A.D. to 1945. We’ve included detailed preaching points for study and discussion towards the bottom of this post. Some background on Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) Phillips Brooks was an American Episcopal minister, and…
Learning to Preach from Martin Luther (Preachers of the Past, pt. 2)
Grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone, Christ alone, this was Luther’s soteriological sermon to the world.
Learning to Preach from John Chrysostom (Preachers of the Past, pt. 1)
This is part 1 of “Preachers of the Past,” a series where we discuss four distinct preachers from the past, ranging from 347 A.D. to 1945. We’ve included detailed preaching points for study and discussion towards the bottom of this post. Some Background on John Chrysostom (A.D. 347–407) John was born in Antioch to a…
Why and How to Preach about St. Patrick this St. Patrick’s Day
The pub nearest me has festooned itself with green, orange, and white bunting. My doctor’s waiting room is plastered with cardboard shamrocks that say LUCKY. McDonald’s has brought back (for a limited time) its Shamrock Shake. Yes, my friends, it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, and since this year [2024] that falls on a Sunday, we…
The Power of Low-Tech Sermon Visuals: Here’s How to Use Them Effectively
In preaching, don’t underestimate the impact of a humble object lesson or lowly flip-chart.
