Tips for Teachers:  How to Get People Listening

As preachers and teachers, we need to earn the interest of our listeners rather than assume they are interested. I realize the word “earning” may not qualify as one of your favourite words. Afterall, we preach a gospel of grace.…

When You Feel Like Quitting: Learning from Jeremiah

The prophet Jeremiah wasn’t a quitter, but there were days he wanted to quit. Read what he lived through over the course of his forty-year ministry and you will understand why he wanted to resign. God gave him one of…

Tips for Teachers: Helping People Feel Loved as You Teach

I vividly remember a comment a young woman made after hearing a guest preacher at our church.  As she left the service she asked me, “Why does that preacher hate us?” Now, I knew the man who was the guest…

Learning from the Prince of Expositors

Most of us who preach know about Charles Spurgeon, the man they call the “Prince of Preachers”. I suspect many of us don’t know about one of Spurgeon’s contemporaries, Andrew Maclaren. Maclaren was called the “Prince of Expositors.”  He’s credited…

Dealing with Criticism as a Preacher or Teacher

Preachers can count on being critiqued. In some ways, it’s only fair. Preaching, by its very nature, takes place in a public forum. And going public with our thoughts—even when seeking to exposit God’s Word—opens us to public response. Since…

Tips for Teachers (Getting Free From Your Notes)

If you are a teacher or preacher, you know the challenge of breaking free from looking at your notes as you teach. You probably would admit that, ideally, you'd like to be less tethered to your teaching notes. Yet, you…

Tips for Teachers (Tension holds attention)

From time to time, we’ll offer some practical tips for those engaged in teaching or preaching God’s Word. Our hope is to provide helpful insights on how teachers/preachers can grow in their effectiveness in communicating God’s Word to others. Here’s…