The Preaching Matters Podcast
Welcome to The Preaching Matters Podcast. Preaching Matters is a weekly podcast about expository preaching, sermon preparation, preaching tips, and the art and science of homiletics.
Our episodes discuss preaching and sermon preparation in a refreshing, engaging fashion. We discuss all matters related to preaching because Preaching Matters.
Reach out to Alan Carr at [email protected]. The Preaching Matters Podcast is a ministry of Alan Carr and The Sermon Notebook (http://www.sermonnotebook.org).
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 32 minutes
- Episodes
- 160
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2025
36 - Step 7 - Proclamation
This is where all our hard work finally pays off. We are afforded the privilege of standing in from of others and declaring the message the Lord has given us. Our purpose during this ti…
35 - Step 6 - Incubation
After we have taken all the steps necessary to study and prepare the material, we must also take the time to let the material take us. This process is known as incubation. We allow our …
34 - Outline, Manuscript, or No Notes?
I hope this episode helps you decide which way of presenting your sermon is best for you. Should you preach from an outline? Should you preach from a full manuscript? Or, should you pre…
33 - Step 12 - The Title
Sermon titles usually function in one of two ways. Some homileticians identify and use the title in much the same way as the theme or proposition of the sermon. It is the essence of wha…
32 - Step 5 - Preparation - The Conclusion
Conclusions are the most consistently weak parts of sermons. Many sermons stop without warning, while others drone on and on, to the dismay of tired and confused listeners. The conclusi…
31 - Step 5 - Preparation - The Introduction
Although the sermon introduction is obviously presented first in delivery, it should not be prepared until after the body of the sermon has been completed. Until the preacher has a serm…
30 - Step 5 - Preparation - Illustrations - Part 2
Sources of illustrative material include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The Bible (Three things are accomplished: the point in the sermon is illustrated, some Bible content is t…
Bonus Episode 4 - Don't Stop Reading At The Periods
When the Bible was originally written, there were no chapter and verse divisions. Chapter and verse breaks were added over time as the list below indicates.
- New Testament chapter divisio…
29 - Step 5 - Preparation - Illustrations - Part 1
The word illustrate means “to cast light upon something.” When used regarding preaching, it refers to those elements in a sermon which by analogy, in a general sense, allow the hearer t…
28 - Step 5 - Preparation - The Sub-Points
Although the skeletal outline is now in place, the major part of the writing of the sermon still remains. The “meat” must now be put on the “bones.” This will be done as subpoints are f…
27 - Step 5 - Preparation - The Main Points
The main points of any sermon have the function of establishing the proposition of the sermon. They may help define, explain, impress, or prove the proposition. Since the Keyword patter…
26 - Preparation - The Transitional Sentence
The transitional sentence fully answers the question asked in Step 4. In delivery, it follows the proposition. (The interrogative may be inserted verbally between the proposition and th…
25 - Preparation - Choosing A Keyword
The keyword is a homiletical device used to identify the main points of the sermon. As mentioned previously, the main points of a Keyword sermon are based on parallel ideas in the text …
24 - Preparation - The Proposition and Interrogative - Part 2
The Keyword method uses three primary kinds of propositions. They are listed here with sample propositions under each.
1. Proposition of Ability
- Every Christian can experience effective …
23 - Preparation - Writing A Proposition - Part 1
The Sermon Proposition
The proposition of a Keyword sermon is a brief, simple sentence that declares to the hearer what should be known about the theme of the sermon. The proposition can…
Bonus Episode 3 - Keeping Up With Your Stuff
Your digital content is essential to your work in the ministry. You need a method to store, find, and retrieve all the content you create. In this episode, I discuss how and where to st…
22 - Step 5 - Preparation - Determining The Theme
Step 2: Determine the Theme
The subjects listed above are too broad to be covered in a single sermon. Such a sermon, though based on a subject, would lack clear unity and cohesiveness. I…
21 - Preparation - The Keyword Method and the Sermon Subject
The Keyword methods of sermon outlining can be used with those sermons traditionally called expository, as well as with those called textual. It can also be used with so-called topical …
20 - Preparation - Part 1
In this episode, I introduce the Keyword Method of sermon preparation. This is a twelve-step system of sermon preparation that should prove useful in your sermon preparation.
We are rea…
19 - Step 4 - Interpretation - Part 5
As we interpret the text, we must use proper methods of biblical interpretation. Good hermeneutics are indispensable in excellent sermon preparation, 2 Timothy 2:15.” The phrase “rightl…