Preaching tips, advice and inspiration, as featured in the Church Times.
See also Cally Hammond’s Sunday Readings column for thoughts on each week’s Lectionary readings.
Developing preaching
Preaching tips from Paula Gooder, Mark Oakley, Kate Bruce, Doug Gay, Pádraig Ó Tuama, Stephen Cottrell, Timothy Radcliffe OP and Sandra Millar
WATCH: Paula Gooder on Jesus’ parables and what we can learn from them for our own preaching
The study of Black Churches’ style of preaching could benefit the C of E, says Carol Tomlin
In the run-up to the Church Times Festival of Preaching, Nadim Nassar identifies a few prerequisites for the preacher
WATCH: Mark Oakley’s lecture from the 2019 Festival of Preaching: Danger in the Pulpit
WATCH: Sam Wells on setting objectives for your sermon, structuring your argument, and making the most of your delivery
Good preaching requires preachers to nourish themselves as well as their listeners, writes Frances Ward
Preaching in context
On the Church Times Podcast: Ally Barrett on why all-age preaching should be taken as seriously as the traditional sermon
Sermons in country churches present particular challenges and require attention and skill, says Lorraine Cavanagh
WATCH: Lucy Winkett on preaching to the state we’re in
Seasonal preaching
Kate Bruce advises preachers how they can avoid schmaltz and irrelevancy, and engage all-comers
Christianity’s Jewish roots are most obvious at this time. Patrick Moriarty offers advice for those leading services
The story of England’s national football team has lessons for England’s national Church, says Philip Lockley
We must pray urgently for a better relationship between humanity and the world, says Jessica Martin, in a Harvest sermon
Preaching on key theological topics
Originally published as part of the Church Times Theology Now series.
In my heart and in my head: the nature of God is a gift to preachers, suggests John Inge
The wonder of his work: preachers can draw on creation as a way in to belief, suggests John Inge
The risen Jesus is the realest thing of all: Melanie Marshall on preaching the way, the truth, and the life
Choosing heaven over hell: Melanie Marshall explores the theme of salvation in preaching
Where the Spirit leads: The Holy Spirit is most concrete Person of the Trinity, suggests Melanie Marshall
Looking back to the future: eschatology is an incentive to make sure we are on the right road, says Sam Wells
God has the last word: Sam Wells explores the significance of the Resurrection for the preacher
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Festival of Preaching
Run by Church Times and Canterbury Press, the biennial Festival of Preaching offers a varied programme of worship, lectures and workshops.
Watch again: Preaching in Perilous Times
Listen again to talks from the 2019 Festival of Preaching: Recorded talks on USB stick
Resources available from Church House Bookshop
For further inspiration head to Church House Bookshop: Top 10 Books About Preaching