Serve the Meal: Why Preachers Must Trust the Word
My wife cooks healthy meals that nourish me day after day. Once I asked how she prepares them. She answered simply: start with good ingredients and use sauces that enhance the meal rather than cover it. That answer lingered with me as I thought about my role as a preacher of God’s Word. What do […]
FTC Mailbag
In this latest installment of the FTC Mailbag, Jared Wilson and Ronni Kurtz discuss listener-submitted questions and topics, including: family worship, elder pathways, ministry calling, loving a dying church, and sermon scheduling. As always, you can submit a question or topic for the mailbag at any time by emailing [email protected]
Preach to the Choir
“I know I’m preaching to the choir now!” Pastors will say this for a few reasons. First, they don’t want to sound patronizing: “I know you already know and agree with this!” Second, they’re feeling insecure about saying something that feels obvious, and they don’t want to seem “un-insightful.” So it has the effect, “Please […]
Building a Sermon with Biblical Theology
Unless the Lord tarries, this Sunday pulpits all over the globe will be filled with pastors preaching God’s Word to God’s people. The confidence in the exhortation of a sermon is not birthed in the preacher but in the inspired text he proclaims. This article seeks to advocate for the discipline of letting the Word […]
Changing a Church’s Culture: 3 Essential Factors
How does a church create a healthy, biblical culture? No church wakes up one morning known for evangelism or its thriving young adult program. Some aspects of a church’s culture depend on its context—the urban church will have a different makeup than the rural church. But much of a church’s culture is shaped by what […]
Preaching That Connects: Why Delivery Matters More Than You Think
The Overlooked Art of Delivery Delivering a sermon is an aspect of preaching that often receives insufficient attention. Much of this stems from the reality that pastors rightly do not wish to focus on entertaining their congregation. Rather, a pastor seeks to glorify the Lord, who uses the “foolishness of preaching” (1 Cor. 1:21) to […]
A Brief Theology of Preaching
In Martyn Lloyd-Jones’ book Preaching and Preachers, he states, “The primary task of the Church and of the Christian minister is the preaching of the Word of God.”1 If this is true, then it is essential for both the church and the minister to have a thorough understanding of preaching. What is it? Who is […]
Episode 319: What Congregations Don’t Know About Preaching
What’s the big deal? You’re just standing up there, talking. On this week’s episode of the For The Church Podcast, Jared Wilson and Ross Ferguson suggest some things about preaching the average church member may not know. Some misunderstandings, misperceptions, and even mis-aimed appreciations.
Harnessing the Winds of Revival
“While one must be careful not to let the winds destroy the ship, the skillful sailor will look for ways to harness that wind.”
The One Gift Every Pastor Must Have
When you stand before God’s people with Bible in hand, "the tide goes out." It is in those moments, when you attempt to speak on behalf of God, that all will see the veracity of your calling.