Skill Builders—Preaching Development

Skill Builders

Home > Skill Builders

article

Though I Walk Through the Shadowed Valley

Finding healing in the midst of crises (mental, physical, and spiritual).

Gregory Hollifield

Read article

article

Make It Look Easy

The difference between unprepared preaching and good preaching.

Sean Palmer

Read article

article

Four Steps to Moving Forward

Help our listeners take the next step in both their walk with Christ and with their addiction and mental health issues has the potential to help them heal and move forward.

Chris Rappazini

Read article

Though I Walk Through the Shadowed Valley Make It Look Easy Four Steps to Moving Forward

The Preacher's Complete Skills Guide

Use our 9-step process for feeding your own soul, honing your craft, and connecting Scripture to real life. Each step has a Foundational Article (all the nuts bolts), our editors' picks to get you started, and then dozens more skill articles to dig deeper. Get the big picture of your weekly sermon prep process, or delve into one step at a time for focused development.

Step 1:
Prepare Your Soul
Consider how to keep your soul fresh with God—week after week.
Step 2:
Plan Your Preaching
Practical ways to determine your texts, topics, and series.
Step 3:
Get the Big Idea
Get the central idea of your text and stay focused on it.
Step 4:
Organize Your Sermon
Here's how to find the structure that will most effectively deliver.
Step 5:
Find the Big Story
Connect to the story of Scripture and Christ's redemptive work.
Step 6:
Illustrate Your Message
Here's your essential guide to sermon illustrations.
Step 7:
Apply Your Message
How to give clear, grace-filled applications for transformation.
Step 8:
Deliver and Evaluate
How to deliver and evaluate your sermon so people meet Christ.
Step 9:
Plan Special Topics
How to make the most out of preaching on holidays and special events.