3 Questions for Preachers

Proclamation Preparation

Photo by Click and Learn Photography on Unsplash

Inspired by Mike Bullmore’s article The 5 Greatest Heart Challenges Preachers Face, here are three questions we can ask ourselves as we prepare to preach:

1. Did I work hard? Did I rely on grace? These are not mutually exclusive.

   1. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).

2. Did I do my best? Did I handle God’s Word rightly — giving it my due dilligence?

   1. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15)

3. Did I devote myself to my work in the Scripture — did I give it my all with the time I have been given? Did I neglect any gifts, abusing them or taking them for granted, using them without carefulness? Am I continually practicing, immersing myself, and I am making progress?

   1. “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (1 Tim. 4:13–15)

I’m preaching and leading worship music in our children’s service this Sunday! My passage is Acts 17-18 and my sermon is titled The Lord of Heaven and Earth: Two Motivations for Missionaries. Would you please say a quick prayer for me?

---

ESV Teen Study Bible

The ESV Teen Study Bible is similar to Bibles I used when I was a youth — but better. The 365 devotions and study tools make this the perfect all-in-one Bible for teens. Up to 40% off from Westminster Bookstore, and use code DIVEINDIGDEEP for 5% off your entire order always.

Edited by pastor Jon Nielson, the ESV Teen Study Bible features numerous study and resource materials—including 12,000 accessible study notes adapted from the ESV Concise Study Bible, 365 devotions adapted from God's Great Story by Jon Nielson, and 200 sidebars defining key doctrines and helping teens apply Scripture to their own lives. It also has full-page introductions for each biblical book, more than 150 maps and illustrations, an extensive glossary and concordance, and over a dozen topical articles. These features help facilitate deep engagement with the Scriptures, impacting the minds, hearts, and lives of teen followers of Christ.

More: Father’s Day Gift Guide at Westminster Bookstore

---

SOLA Network Trifecta

This weekend I have what I call the SOLA Network trifecta — a new piece of content, being featured as an editor’s pick, and making it to the top trending list. All of these might change out soon so check them out on our homepage sola.network or direct:

1. New content: In Your Light We See Light: An Interview with Paul Uyen

2. Editor’s pick: Like Father, Like Son: The Obedience of Joseph, the Father of Jesus

3. Top trending: Paul and Silas in Prison! 3 Ways to Worship and Witness in a Worst-Case Scenario

More: Free eBooks

---

---

Endnotes

In The Weightiness of Preaching, Doug Logan, Jr and Matt Cohen help you apply Francis Grimké’s enduring wisdom to your preaching. Francis Grimké’s legacy as a Reformed Black preacher is esteemed, and this book offers timeless wisdom for modern preaching. Giveaway and review.

• Dive In Dig Deep Weekly: A weekly digest of my book reviews and ministry news.

• Book Reviews, Messages, Prayer Poems, ePamphlets, Bulwark Ministries, Interviews, Free eBooks, Around the Web, TGIF, Preaching & Teaching, youtube.com/@diveindigdeep, Aaron Lee at SOLA Network

• Partners: Westminster Bookstore, Reformation Heritage Books, Logos Bible Software, Lexham Press, Voice of the Martyrs, Alabaster Bibles and Books, Moody Publishers, New Growth Press, Riverside Podcasting, Zenni: Affordable Eyewear, Publish Peace Totes and Stickers at Cotton Bureau, and many more!