Preaching Through Podcast

Faithful & Fruitful
  • 4.9 (27)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Preaching can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. The Preaching Through Podcast offers pastors and ministry leaders a seat at the table where honest, insightful conversations happen about the challenges and joys of preaching in the 21st century. Hosts Dave Shrein and Luke Simmons, alongside special guests, tackle the unique pressures of sermon preparation, the art of clear communication, and the spiritual responsibility of leading a congregation. Whether discussing how to preach through complex biblical books, navigate countercultural topics, or refine practical skills like introductions and illustrations, this podcast provides wisdom, encouragement, and actionable takeaways. Join a community of pastors committed to preaching Jesus faithfully and fruitfully in a rapidly changing world.

  1. 12/16/2025

    Preaching Through A Capital Campaign

    Send us a text What if the secret to a successful capital campaign has almost nothing to do with fundraising? New buildings don't fix stagnant churches. If God isn't already stirring something, more square footage won't change that. That's why the most important thing you can do during a capital campaign is preach vision — not obligation. This episode walks through the full anatomy of a capital campaign (or as we refer to them, resource initiatives):  The realistic math on what churches can raiseWhy late-fall timing captures four year-ends instead of threeHow to sequence vision meetings and pre-work so people have time to pray and process. But the real substance is in the preaching itself. This isn't a series on giving — it's a casting a vision for the mission. You're not preaching about the building. You're preaching about the heart behind it. Discover why people give to successful vision — they need to see what you're already doing, just at a larger scale. Learn how to cast concrete visual pictures instead of vague abstractions. And hear what it looks like when commitment day doesn't go as planned—and why that might be exactly what refines you as a leader. In this episode you're going to learn how to preach through a capital campaign that casts vision, tells stories, and Christ mission above money. Mentioned Resources 90-Day Tithe Challenge Training Day The Preaching Lab Cohort Lead Pastor Leadership Intensive Related Episodes Preaching Through A Vision Series Preaching Through Money Preaching Through Efficient Sermon Prep (2025) Preaching Through Efficient Sermon Prep (2024) Evergreen 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.

    44 min

  2. 12/09/2025

    Preaching Through Efficient Sermon Prep

    Send us a text How many hours did you spend on sermon prep this week? If the answer is "more than I needed to" or "more than I thought I would" you're not alone.. But here's what matters: did those extra hours actually make your sermon that much better? Or did they just delay the rest of your ministry? Here's the distinction that changes everything: Efficiency isn't about cutting corners. It's about eliminating the stuff that doesn't move the needle so you can reclaim time for everything else you're called to do. Pastor, you do so much more than preach. The question isn't whether you're busy. The question is whether you're protecting the rhythms that let you prepare faithfully without it consuming your whole week... or if you let even the best things to derail your sermon preparation. The real problem with sermon prep isn't effort. It's process. Without a defined process you are building a new system every week or you're trying to hit a home run with every sermon. Both strategies lead to the same place: burnout, last-minute scrambling, and a gnawing sense that sermon prep should feel less like a grind. In this episode we'll discuss: Impact of a preaching calendarHow to gather sermon content ahead of timeBuilding (and protecting) a consistent weekly rhythmInviting others into the processWhy "good enough" beats "perfect" every single time.This isn't about rushing or phoning it in. It's about working smart so you're not spending 20 hours to achieve what's possible in 8. Mentioned Resources 8-Hour Sermon Prep Training Day Designing Your Ideal Week Training Day Sermon Architecture Simplified Training Related Episodes Preaching Through a Sermon Calendar Preaching Through Busyness of Ministry Evergreen 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.

    41 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    Preaching Through Argumentation

    Send us a text When's the last time you convinced your kid to take a shower by just telling them they should? Exactly. So why do we expect people to deny themselves and follow Jesus just because we said so? Here's the distinction that changes everything: Asserting truth assumes people are ready to receive it. Arguing truth assumes they're not, and you have to convince them. Every sermon happens on contested ground. The world, the flesh, and the devil are whispering "Did God really say?" before you even open your mouth. Argumentation is how you fight to take that ground back. This episode unpacks how to move from proclamation to persuasion. Not trusting your communication theory over the Spirit, but removing obstacles that keep people from hearing. In this episode: Why surface-level preaching feels shallow (hint: it's all assertion, no argumentation)Three diagnostic questions that expose where people actually resist: Why do they resist this truth? Why don't they live like it's true? What assumptions make it difficult?The concept of "defeater beliefs," the hidden assumptions that make people dismiss your point before you even make itSteel manning vs. straw manning: how to articulate objections better than your congregation canFive tools for building your argument: biblical text, logic, historical examples, personal experience, and analogiesWhy you don't have to win the whole case in one sermon. You're just taking another swing at the tree.The bottom line: Preaching that feels deep and insightful isn't about coming up with new ideas. It's about understanding their ideas well enough to pick them apart and replace them with something better. Mentioned Resources The Reason for God by Tim Keller The Air We Breathe by Glenn Scrivener Sermon Architecture Simplified The Preaching Lab Related Episodes Preaching Through an Annual Theme Preaching Through Contextual Dynamics Preaching Through Your Sermon Points Evergreen 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.

    34 min

  4. 11/25/2025

    Preaching Through Contextual Dynamics

    Send us a text Do you ever preach something that lands perfectly at one service and completely misses at the next? Same message. Same words. Totally different response. That's the reality of contextual dynamics. This is the often-overlooked skill of adapting your preaching to connect with the actual people in the room. This episode explores the tension every preacher faces:  How do you meet people where they are without sacrificing biblical truth?  Over-contextualize and you adopt the idolatry of the culture. Under-contextualize and you become irrelevant. The goal is a faithful missionary encounter — connecting deeply enough to earn the right to challenge. Discover practical ways to build a contextual profile for your church, why pre-sermon feedback beats post-sermon critique, and how to sprinkle in illustrations that make overlooked groups feel seen. There's also a compelling test for every message: are you preaching in such a way that people wish they had invited their friends? In this episode you're we'll share how you can share the unchanging truth of Scripture in a way that actually lands with the variety of people sitting in your seats — and the ones you hope will be there soon. Mentioned Resources Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell The Preaching Lab Lead Pastor Leadership Intensive Evergreen 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.

    42 min

  5. 11/18/2025

    Preaching Through Yawns and Snoring

    Send us a text Ever looked out at your congregation mid-sermon and seen glazed eyes, heads nodding, or worse... someone scrolling their phone? If you're preaching with any regularity, you've been there. The questions isn't whether people will lose interest. The question is: what are you going to do about it? Here is the distinction that changes everything: Teaching assumes people are interested. Preaching assumes they are not, and it is your responsibility to make them interested.  You can't control someone's affections or make them care about the music or the sermon or any other part of the Sunday experience. That's the work of the Lord. But you absolutely can make them care about what you're saying. And if they're not tracking with you, you're not providing much for the Spirit to use in the moment. This episode unpacks specific mechanics you can lean on that keep people engaged.  Sermons aren't measured in minutes. They're measured in minutes beyond people's interest. Even a 15 minute sermon can lose people and so you can leverage introductions, illustrations, and vocal dynamics to keep people locked in. Mention Resources The Preaching Lab Preaching Evaluation Form Related Episodes Preaching Through Introductions Preaching Through Illustrations Preaching Through Vocal Dynamics & Body Language Evergreen 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.

    34 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    Preaching Through An Annual Theme

    Send us a text What if every sermon you preached this year connected to a single, cohesive theme? Not a year-long sermon series, but a unifying thread that brings focus, energy, and missional clarity to your entire teaching calendar — and leaks into your church? An annual preaching theme isn't a rally cry or a vision statement — it's a sort of discipleship framework that shapes how your congregation thinks about a particular aspect of the Christian life and in this episode we discuss one approach to introducing such a theme.  This episode is all about leveraging an annual preaching theme into a a missionary encounter with culture, speaking the language of culture while confronting it with the gospel. We will explore the what, why, and how of annual themes: Why a theme creates focus without requiring you to change your entire sermon calendar.The difference between themes that galvanize your church internally vs. those designed for missional engagement.How to involve your teaching team and leadership in the discernment process. Practical ways to reinforce the theme without it feeling forced or repetitive.Using the "glacier approach" — trusting that steady repetition over time carves out transformation.There is a crucial tension when preaching through an annual theme: how do you make the theme meaningful without it becoming mere window dressing? There are certain preaching mechanics as well as strategic decisions that help preachers create repetition without redundancy. Whether you're looking to bring fresh focus to a season of ministry, create language that resonates with your community, or simply provide your congregation with a mental framework that shapes discipleship, this episode offers a practical blueprint for implementing an annual theme that goes deeper than surface-level branding. Mentioned Resources Sermon Implication Grid Short-Term Vision Training Day Related Episodes Preaching Through a Sermon Calendar Preaching Through a Vision Series Evergreen 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.

    25 min

  7. 11/04/2025

    Preaching Through Busyness of Ministry

    Send us a text 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 vulnerabilityProtecting your priorities when everything feels urgentProcessing key decisions with trusted people who provide insight and ownershipEstablishing healthy boundaries without damaging relationshipsLetting people down graciously while managing expectationsWe 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 Evergreen 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.

    52 min

  8. 03/18/2025

    Preaching Through A Manuscript

    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. Evergreen 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.

    54 min
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4.9
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Preaching can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. The Preaching Through Podcast offers pastors and ministry leaders a seat at the table where honest, insightful conversations happen about the challenges and joys of preaching in the 21st century. Hosts Dave Shrein and Luke Simmons, alongside special guests, tackle the unique pressures of sermon preparation, the art of clear communication, and the spiritual responsibility of leading a congregation. Whether discussing how to preach through complex biblical books, navigate countercultural topics, or refine practical skills like introductions and illustrations, this podcast provides wisdom, encouragement, and actionable takeaways. Join a community of pastors committed to preaching Jesus faithfully and fruitfully in a rapidly changing world.

Information

  • Creator
    Faithful & Fruitful
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Faithful & Fruitful
  • Show Website
    Preaching Through Podcast

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