Preachers’ Annual Gift LIst, 2024
Each year I channel my inner Santa Claus to pull together a list of ten fun gifts for preachers. If church members or your family don’t yet know what to get for you, point them to this list!
Backstory Preaching receives no compensation if items are purchased. I suggest them only because they look jolly!
Ho, ho, ho!
More Than "Meek & Mild": Preaching the real Mary
When Mary gazes gently at us from statues, paintings, and icons, what do we see? How do we understand her? Perhaps there's more to Mary than her "meek and mild" representations suggest.
Advent-Christmas Sermons: 5 Steps to Preach the Sermons Your Listeners Need
Whether you’re preaching once or at every service the rest of December, exegeting your congregation and determining the preaching “voice” that will best serve them can make your sermon prep more efficient and relevant. Consider this 5-step process to craft Advent-Christmas sermons that bring good news to your listeners’ contexts.
Cultivating Patience (A Free, At-Home Retreat)
However much we wish the the thorn in our sides would just go away, wishing will not bring the desired effect. Moreover, acting out our impatience is only adding thorns to others' sides, increasing their suffering. We could all use more patience—right now. From whence is it to come?
This free, at-home retreat is intended to help
When a Good Sermon Isn't Enough: Overcoming 3 Obstacles to Experiencing the Gospel
As preachers, we all strive for:
- a compelling introduction
- a clear message
- great stories that help our listeners connect abstract concepts to lived experience
- and a message that leaves the building with them
Why?
Because these elements help move the listener toward an encounter with the Living Word.
But sometimes, good sermon practices aren't enough.
As preachers, we may also need to remove obstacles that cast a shadow on people's experience of grace, truth, and love.
God grant us serenity
The Serenity Prayer brings us into the present; reframes our worries, angst, and stress; right-sizes our power; and returns us to the grace of God that can help us in this moment.
I offer it this Election Day in the United States as a spiritual practice for preachers this week—and to spark inspiration for preaching this Sunday.
Ditch Fear. Seed hope.
Due to the sheer repetition of circling our gaze between nails, soldiers, and oppressor, our fear mushrooms until we believe that death is stronger than God. Jesus himself is always there to remind us of the truth, but there is another figure we can look to as a guide in restoring our faith in God alone: Mary Magdalene.
Fostering Dialogue across the Political Divide (A Guest Post)
How can we preach on “hot topics” in a way that invites dialogue rather than driving a wedge into the red-blue divides of our congregations?
The sermon 52 Framework
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Live Lectio for Sermon Prep (Free!)
Get an early start on your sermon prep by joining us live on Facebook (Mondays at noon Central) as we prayerfully discuss the coming week's gospel passage (RCL & NL).
I participated in the Lectio study today with a complicated and double-speak Gospel (John 17:6-19) and WOW! I received so much great insight and am headed in a direction I feel really good about. Thank you to all my colleagues! If you are wondering if this is worth it, wonder no more. It is.
—Donna G.
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The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages was written to aid preacher’s in understanding what’s at stake for their listeners so they can craft sermons their audience can receive, even if they challenge cherished beliefs.
I just have to say WOW. I'm so grateful that I made the investment and joined The Collective. These Thursday [workshops] are a game-changer for me.
—Andrea M.