One of the earliest guides for pastors, the Book of Titus, tells a church leader to address drinking problems in the church, to instruct people “not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine” (Titus 2:3). The need hasn’t changed much. The National Institutes of Health estimate that 17.6 million people—about one in every 12…
Kevin A. Miller is rector of Church of the Savior in Wheaton, Illinois, a co-founder of PreachingToday.com, and a team member with LeaderWorks.org.
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.
3 Questions to Ask When Preaching from Pop Culture: Avoid My Mistakes
Pop culture is the known world for most people today. By definition, it is the “popular” and dominant culture, heavily influenced by mass media, in America and in much of the world. At Christianity Today, I worked with a colleague who was extremely bright and working on her doctorate in English. One time, she and…
The Power of the Sermon Checklist: Why You Need One, and How to Make Your Own
In his best-selling book The Checklist Manifesto, surgeon Atul Gawande makes the compelling case that the best way to ensure quality is something simple, old-fashioned, and overlooked: the checklist. In fact, he argues, we need the checklist more than ever, because today, information is so abundant and complex, it overwhelms our ability to process. To ensure…
Learning from Giants: 3 Authentic Ways to Learn from Gifted Preachers
This seems like a safe support group, so I’ll just say it: “My name is Kevin, and sometimes I have preacher envy.” When I hear great preaching, part of me appreciates the clarity and beauty of the Gospel; another part of me thinks, “I wish I could preach like that.” I remember listening to lectures…
