Preaching Through Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

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Every pastor knows Sunday comes with relentless regularity. But what happens when ministry busyness threatens your ability to prepare well? One of the most universal challenges facing lead pastors is learning to preach effectively when your schedule is completely overwhelmed.

Not all busyness is the same. There's strategic busyness, circumstantial busyness, and 'how did I get here?' busyness. No matter what type of busyness you're currently navigating, there are five critical areas for sustainable preaching in busy seasons:

• Managing your emotional energy in a role that requires weekly vulnerability
• Protecting your priorities when everything feels urgent
• Processing key decisions with trusted people who provide insight and ownership
• Establishing healthy boundaries without damaging relationships
• Letting people down graciously while managing expectations

We also confront a dangerous assumption many pastors carry: that they must be everywhere, know everything, and do everything. These aren't just impractical expectations—they're attempts at divine attributes (omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence) that are only found in the Lord.

Whether you're in a strategic season requiring intense focus, managing unexpected family demands, or realizing your schedule has spun out of control, this episode offers a framework for protecting your sermon prep time while leading faithfully through the busyness of ministry.

Mentioned Resources
8-Hour Sermon Prep Training Day
Short-Term Vision Training Day
Designing Your Ideal Week Training Day
Personal Retreat Training Day
The Preaching Pack

Related Episodes
Preaching Through Effective Sermon Prep
How to Prepare a Sermon
Preaching Through a Sermon Calendar

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

Manuscripting sermons is a practice that divides preachers, but when done intentionally, it can become a powerful tool for ministry. The benefits might be more significant than many preachers would imagine.

In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast, we explore sermon preparation with pastor Taylor Burgess, who shares his journey with manuscripting and how it serves his growing congregation of about 1,300 people across four weekly services.

What drives a preacher to manuscript their sermons? When might it be most beneficial? How does it impact consistency across multiple services? We tackle these questions and more through our conversation.

There are strategic advantages of writing sermons word-for-word and those advantages may be more or less significant depending on your context for ministry. 

Whether you manuscript or prefer a different approach, this conversation offers insights on leveraging written preparation without sacrificing authenticity. Because at the end of the day good preaching is good preaching, regardless of how many notes you bring to the pulpit.

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

Feedback can be a valuable tool for preachers who want to refine their craft and continually improve their sermons, but the reality is, many pastors aren’t receiving it. Why is that?

In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast, we unpack the critical role of feedback for preachers and address common barriers that keep pastors from seeking or receiving meaningful feedback. We explore the different kinds of feedback—before the sermon, between services, and after the fact—and how each serves a unique purpose in shaping sermons and preaching skills.

We dive deep into the questions: How do you get useful feedback? Who should be giving it? And what kind of feedback really helps a preacher grow without feeling overwhelmed or discouraged?

This episode also highlights the importance of having a feedback form and evaluation structure to guide sermon improvement, touching on practical ways to implement structured feedback in ministry settings. We offer insights into crafting evaluations that push preachers to their next level, helping them grow their skills and confidence. For anyone serious about getting better in the pulpit, feedback is non-negotiable—and this episode provides a roadmap for making it a productive part of your preaching journey.

Join us as we take a closer look at what good feedback looks like and why even imperfect feedback can have lasting value for preachers who are open to growth.

Find the complete show notes at:
https://faithfulandfruitful.com/402

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

Application in preaching goes beyond just explaining what a biblical passage means - it explores why it matters for people's lives today. While some argue the Holy Spirit alone should apply God's Word, Scripture shows God often uses preachers as a means of grace to help people understand how to obey and live out biblical truth.

Effective application avoids common pitfalls like legalism, moralism, or shaming. Instead, it invites people to see how the gospel empowers obedience. Practical tips include:

• Sprinkling application throughout the sermon, not just at the end
• Matching your tone to the tone of the text
• Bringing in other voices to broaden perspective
• Offering specific challenges or next steps occasionally
• Writing small group questions that progress from general to specific

Ultimately, people are looking for bold, courageous leadership. Preach confidently, trusting God will use your words to change lives. Don't shrink back from calling people to action and offering practical guidance on how to apply God's Word.

The aim is helping listeners see how Scripture should reshape their thinking and living. With the Holy Spirit's power, your preaching can be a catalyst for real transformation.

Find the complete show notes at:
https://faithfulandfruitful.com/401

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

A sabbatical can be a game-changer for high capacity, high vision lead pastors, offering an opportunity for deep rest and renewal. Those who have the chance to take one often find it to be an invaluable investment in their short-term ministry, long-term ministry, and overall spiritual well-being.

But do lead pastors deserve a sabbatical? The answer might surprise you.

In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast we dive deep into the most pressing and frequently asked questions about sabbaticals for pastors:

What, exactly, is a sabbatical?
Who should get a sabbatical?
How long should a sabbatical be?
What is a pastor supposed to do during sabbatical?
Who carries the weight while the pastor is gone?
How does the pastors assimilate back into ministry upon return?

We also explore practical tips on planning a sabbatical, from setting the right expectations to ensuring the time away is truly rejuvenating. Learn how to make a compelling case for this invaluable time away and navigate potential obstacles, even in environments where sabbaticals are not the norm.

The aim of a sabbatical is to provide a period of refreshment that can help pastors return to their congregations with renewed energy and perspective. We touch on the challenges and misconceptions surrounding sabbaticals and how to address them.

The topic of pastoral sabbaticals doesn't have to be a taboo discussion. If you can learn how to properly frame up the idea of a sabbatical to your governing board, even churches that have had poor experiences with the concept of sabbaticals can find they are incredible investments in the life of the church and the church leader.

Pastor Sabbatical Recommendations
https://faithfulandfruitful.com/pastor-sabbatical-recommendations/

CrossPoint Ministries
https://www.crosspointministry.com/coaching-counseling

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

Mars Hill planted a location in Phoenix, Arizona. Six months later the church collapsed. Instead of shutting down the church and returning home, Tim Birdwell launched a new church the very next Sunday. Not only did Tim transition from preaching occasionally to every week, he was following in the footsteps of a leader who built a large movement on the back of his communication skills.

Several years after Phoenix Bible Church established itself as its own unique congregation, the church was then faced with the possibility of merging with an older, historic church in decline.

In this episode we explore the initial challenges of founding a new congregation amidst controversy, developing your own authentic preaching voice when taking over for a dynamic communicator, and establishing a unique church identity.

Whether leading through crisis or leading through opportunity, transparent leadership, acknowledging and addressing congregational concerns, and maintaining a clear vision throughout it all are all critical components the ministry leader must navigate. And while doing all the heavy lifting, the leader is also faced with the challenge of nurturing relationships and cultivating community.

If you're interested in hearing one way to navigate crisis in your church and capitalize on the opportunities that arise, you'll love this episode with guest speaker, Pastor Tim Birdwell. Connect with Tim on X, https://x.com/timbirdwell.

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

Are you struggling to keep your sermons concise yet powerful? Preaching is an art form that you can improve in over time and the practice of shaving down your sermon lengths while striving to maintain impact is a discipline that will help you continue to preach with a punch over the long-haul.

Maintaining audience engagement, effortless transition into response time, and integrating the sermon better with the overall flow of the service is often an overflow of a sermon that is the perfect length for the message. 

It may appear that we want 'shorter sermons' but truthfully what we want to be able to do is make every minute count. Whether it's a 25, 30, 35, or even 50 minute sermon, if you've been intentional in your preparation, challenged yourself to make the most of every minute, and only use the words that are necessary, you'll find that all the benefits you want will follow.

In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast we explore practical tips like illustrating every point, rehearsing your sermon, rediscovering teh love of preaching, and ultimately using the moments before Sunday to maximize every moment on Sunday.

Whether you're a seasoned preacher or just starting out, this episode will inspire you to approach your sermon preparation with renewed intentionality and passion. Be challenged to say more with less and ultimately lead your congregation to a deeper encounter with Jesus. 

If you're up for discovering the sweet spot of time preached and interesting content, you'll love this episode with guest speaker, Pastor Chad Francis. Connect with Chad on Twitter, https://x.com/chadafrancis.

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

Sermon illustrations are vital for making biblical truths come alive in a way that will stick with listeners over the long-haul. Yet, illustration ideas is an ongoing struggle for many preachers. Uncovering an illustration that effectively shines a light on the text and seasons the message is not just a key discipline of message prep, but it is an art form.

If all an illustration was good for was to help make key truths real, tangible, and applicable to modern life, it would be enough. But illustrations actually play a huge role in the overall delivery in the message by way of pacing and dynamic. A great illustration will serve double duty by connecting God's Word to real life and provide a 'commercial break' in the sermon for the brain to reset, regroup, and ready itself for the next section of the message. 

The Bible itself is full of illustrations, from Genesis to Revelation, and packed right in the middle of it all is Jesus, the master illustrator. If the Holy Spirit inspired the biblical authors to capture the illustrative messages of their day we ought to be ready to step into the same practices for our day. 

But illustrations are tough and they don't just 'happen' by chance. In this episode of Preaching Through Podcast we'll dive into sources for illustrations, how to catalog illustrations, and insights for making the most of the illustrations that show up on your sermons. 

Captivating illustrations flow from a preacher who is passionate about connecting God's timeless truths to the listener. If that's something you believe is worth doing well you will love this episode with guest speaker, Pastor Dan Keaton. Connect with Dan on Twitter, https://x.com/dankeaton. 

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

A killer introduction is critical for getting people to not just listen to your sermon... but actually care about the message you're about to share. A rookie preacher can captivate attention with a strong introduction as easily as a veteran preacher can lose people without a thoughtful and thought provoking introduction.

In this episode, we listen to and analyze examples of five different types of introductions, from incorporating humor to asking engaging questions. We'll also analyze what it is about these introductions that make them work so you can steal each approach and improve this crucial element of your messages.

The goal of an introduction is to immediately grip the hearts and minds of the listeners amid many distractions (i.e., cell phones) vying for their attention. Creativity, variety, and relying on the Holy Spirit’s leading is key.

While introductions are important, equally crucial is making the rest of the sermon pay off through strong argumentation and connecting it back to the main idea. Keep leveling up preaching skills by checking out the resources at faithfulandfruitful.com.

The Preaching Lab - https://faithfulandfruitful.com/preaching-curriculum/

Preaching Through the 4Gs - https://ptpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2016775/14621611

Preaching Through Camps and Conferences - https://ptpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2016775/13578103

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.

Send us a text

We all tend to shrink God down to size in our minds, crafting Him into a more comfortable and understandable being. 

But in today's episode, the focus is on expanding the vision of who God truly is in all His greatness, glory, goodness, and grace. We will unpack the profound implications wrapped up in what we call “the 4 Gs.” Even if you don’t preach an entire series on them, these God-centered truths can revolutionize how you communicate the gospel.

The main points of the 4 Gs are: 

1. God is great, so we don't have to be in control. Understanding God's power allows us to trust Him instead of trying to control everything. 
2. God is glorious, so we don't have to fear others. Recognizing God's majesty makes other people seem less intimidating. 
3. God is good, so we don't need to look elsewhere for satisfaction. God is the ultimate source of joy and fulfillment. 
4. God is gracious, so we don't have to prove ourselves. We can rest in God's grace rather than striving to earn worth.

These good news truths should show up in our sermons again and again and feel familiar to your audience and core to your teaching. Repeating these aspects of God’s character reminds people of who God really is, and each one addresses a common struggle that comes from failing to see God properly. 

When we fail to regularly remind people of who God really is, it is human nature to fill that gap with our own thoughts and ideas, building a version in our minds that is often a lot like ourselves. It takes consistent reminders for our congregation not to lose sight of the true character of God.

Hearing about the 4 Gs should stir the soul and shape the way the gospel is preached. We must continually proclaim His greatness, glory, goodness, and grace until they saturate every fiber of our being. 

"You Can Change" by Tim Chester
https://amzn.to/3wBS9l7

"When People are Big and God is Small" by Ed Welch
https://amzn.to/3wGgBC4

Discover all of our free resources: https://faithfruit.us/podcast-links

Additional questions about this topic? Email us at info@faithfulandfruitful.com.

Preaching Through is powered by Faithful & Fruitful, leadership resources for pastors so they can have a faithful and fruitful ministry over the long-haul.