In Preaching Articles: showing 1-15 of 28

Christmas Preaching Needs Resurrecting!

By Chris Surber on Dec 11, 2020

If we want Christmas preaching to matter, we've got to preach like Christmas matters.

Scripture: Luke 2:22-40, Mark 11:1-10, Matthew 1:21, Luke 11:24-12:23

Tags: Christmas, Preaching

4 Points Of Principle Preaching

By Chris Surber on Jun 11, 2019

"Can I call her up to the front on Sunday morning, have her sit in front of the congregation and use her sin as an example?”

Scripture: Psalm 128:1-2

Preach The Past: Discover Powerful Illustrations And Lessons From Church History

By Chris Surber on Apr 16, 2019

A working knowledge of Church history teaches us to be humble. Our footprints aren’t the first tracks on this road.

Scripture: Acts 2:13-40, Acts 25:1-17, Job 1:1-24:7

If You Overpack Your Sermon, Your Listeners Are In For A Bumpy Ride

By Chris Surber on Mar 4, 2019

Perhaps your sermon outline is actually a sermon series. Can you tell the difference?

Scripture: Acts 5:15-25

Tags: Preaching, Content, Logic, Research, central point  (view more)  (view less)

How Can I Possibly Do Sermon Prep When I'm Just Not Feeling It?

By Chris Surber on Feb 26, 2019

God feels far away. Everybody at home is mad at you. Even the dog won’t talk to you. What do you do when you need to do sermon prep but you just aren’t feeling it?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:11-15

Tags: Preaching, sermon prep, venue, immerse yourself

Does Your Sermon Pass The Geography Test?

By Chris Surber on Feb 16, 2019

The Gospel is for everybody everywhere. Is your sermon?

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-5, 2 Timothy 2:20-30

Tags: pain, Sin, Preaching, suffering, affluence  (view more)  (view less)

Forget Seminaries: What Are You Doing To Train The Next Generation Of Preachers?

By Chris Surber on Feb 15, 2019

We have a lot of people genuinely called, sincerely gifted people who struggle to find their way past the gatekeepers in our churches and denominations.

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-5, Mark 5:24-34

Tags: Discipleship, Gift, Seminary, Next Generation

How Your Preaching Can Destroy Modern Idols

By Chris Surber on Feb 4, 2019

Every church has those things that it clings to that are off the table for change or removal, and usually even for discussion--unless you bring them up.

Scripture: Leviticus 26:30

Tags: Preaching, destroy, Discussion, modern idols

Do You Preach To Real People Or Straw Men?

By Chris Surber on Jan 26, 2019

Preaching in the abstract means missing real lives and real people. Here are four ways to connect to real people.

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preaching, Sensitive, real people, straw men  (view more)  (view less)

Don't Get Caught In The Practical Preaching Trap

By Chris Surber on Jan 19, 2019

Life isn't a series of problems to be solved. It is a journey to be lived out.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Tags: Preaching, Practical, trap, glorify god, corporate worship  (view more)  (view less)

Preach A Funeral Like You'll Never Be Invited Back

By Chris Surber on Dec 7, 2018

A crowd of non-churchgoers just gathered in a church. Call me crazy. I don't know much. But perhaps you should tell them about Jesus?

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Christ, Preaching, Funeral

Bigger Is Not Necessarily Better: 3 Reasons I'm Convinced God Most Often Builds His Church Small

By Chris Surber on Nov 19, 2018

God uses big churches for certain Kingdom jobs, and God uses little churches for specific assignments.

Scripture: Matthew 18:20-21

Tags: Ministry, Community, Kingdom, Small Church, big versus small  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Like The Weeping Prophet

By Chris Surber on Sep 29, 2018

Love in the pastorate--not logic in the academic hall--wins people to Christ.

Tags: Prophet, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Matthew, Preaching, Gospel of Luke, Weeping  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching To Promote Life Together

By Chris Surber on Sep 27, 2018

Preach with a focus to cultivate life together and nurture incarnate community rather than simple gatherings of people.

Why You Should Train Others To Preach

By Chris Surber on Sep 20, 2018

What is your church doing to train future preachers and pastors?

Tags: Preaching, teach, instruct, benefit