August 5, 2024

It's Monday, and if you're like me,  you're wondering if anyone still remembers yesterday's sermon--or, worse yet, you might be worrying whether yesterday's sermon was even worth remembering! 

Each week, we stand behind the pulpit and proclaim God's Word, hoping (and praying) it makes a difference in someone's life--and in the life we share together.

Praying is essential, and hope makes a big difference in the way we understand and share the Good News; but preaching sermons that have an impact on other people also requires serious work on our part.

If we want our listeners to be invested in and impacted by the sermons we preach, we need to be invested in (and impacted by) the work of sermon preparation.

There's no way around it.

Each Monday, we'll connect you with a handful of resources designed to help us plan, prepare, and preach with passion and purpose. We hope you'll find a few new methods, insights, and ideas you can use as you do this important work.

"The best way to blow an otherwise faithful message is to bring your undigested thoughts into the pulpit on Sunday." Ouch. Dive into Carey Nieuwhof's article to learn more about the "Sermon Matrix," and how it can help you prepare impactful sermons.

"Show, Don't Tell." Rev. Scott Hoezee's short (4 minute) video from the Center for Excellence in Preaching makes a case for "showing" as an essential part of preaching memorable sermons.

"When communication is unclear, it's never the audience's fault." (Carey Nieuwhof). Click the link for two ways you can explore the clarity of your own sermons--on your own and with a little help from your audience!

What's the purpose of your preaching?

The Louisa Woosley Preaching Initiative is a grant-funded program of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Our goal is to equip ministers and candidates for ministry to preach compelling sermons to today's diverse and often divided world. 

For more information about the initiative and our programs, visit our website.