A Rule of Life for Preachers: The Preacher's Trust
Spirituality Lisa Cressman Spirituality Lisa Cressman

A Rule of Life for Preachers: The Preacher's Trust

At Backstory Preaching, we encourage preachers to develop and practice a type of rule of life specific to our vocation: The Preacher’s Trust. The Trust is a grace-filled structure upon which to grow as a child of God who happens to be called to preach, transforming our lives to reflect the Good News we preach. Discover the beauty of this spiritual practice for preachers.

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Preaching Advice Roundup: 16 Backstory Preaching mentors share strategies to make preaching easier, more effective, and more fun!
Craft, Process, Spirituality Lisa Cressman Craft, Process, Spirituality Lisa Cressman

Preaching Advice Roundup: 16 Backstory Preaching mentors share strategies to make preaching easier, more effective, and more fun!

Sometimes, one small tip is powerful enough to unlock a new competency or significantly improve a skill or process. That’s why today's blog is all tips, tips, and nothing but preaching tips. As the 2023-2024 Mentorship class wraps up their program and celebrates graduation, I asked current Backstory Preaching mentors to offer some of their favorite preaching strategies to help you craft more effective sermons in less time—while loving the process!

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3 Ways Your Backstory Informs Your Preaching (whether you're aware of it or not)
Spirituality Lisa Cressman Spirituality Lisa Cressman

3 Ways Your Backstory Informs Your Preaching (whether you're aware of it or not)

Maybe you want it revealed. Maybe you don't.

Regardless, it's on display in every sermon.

What am I talking about? Your backstory.

Your backstory is the story you tell in your sermons without "telling" it. It seeps into your sermons whether or not you say the word, "I." 

Your backstory is the unique mixture of your theology, childhood, DNA, education, church experience, personality, political persuasion, and so much more. It affects how you approach the Sunday's scriptures, influences your conclusions about them, and shapes your style and the purpose for which you preach.

To preach the message you intend to preach, consider these three aspects of your backstory to help you use your backstory in service to your preaching.

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I'm Not the Right Preacher for this Job
Spirituality Lisa Cressman Spirituality Lisa Cressman

I'm Not the Right Preacher for this Job

This is not where I expected to meet you. 

I never set out to run an online preaching formation center for Mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic clergy.

I was given this nice little idea to help a few preachers at a time. Work with them one-to-one for a year. Help them get better at preaching but tuck it into a process more like spiritual direction. 

But now, here I am. A tucked-away-in-a-corner preacher no one knows is now sending you emails, blogging, getting on Facebook, publishing a book, and inviting you to be part of a preaching approach that's way bigger than you or me.

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