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Episode 9: Key Tips for Beginners with Dave Martin

Every preacher has a first sermon. But what makes the difference between stumbling through and stepping up with confidence?

In this episode, we sit down with Dave Martin — experienced pastor and preaching trainer — to hear his most practical advice for those just starting out. Dave shares lessons learned the hard way, what he wishes he knew earlier, and the habits that can set new preachers on a path of steady growth.

We cover:

• How to overcome nerves and prepare with clarity
• The essential building blocks of a faithful sermon
• Common mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them

If you’re a beginner preacher, or walking alongside someone who is, this episode offers wisdom that’s both realistic and deeply encouraging.

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Episode 8: Storytelling in Preaching with Mike Raiter

Why do some sermons stick in the mind and not just for days, but for years? Often, it’s because they connect truth to story.

In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Raiter, preacher, author, and director of the Centre for Biblical Preaching. We explore the role of storytelling in gospel proclamation. Mike unpacks how stories can illuminate, persuade, and reach the heart without distracting from the text.

We discuss:

• How Jesus used storytelling to engage and confront
• Practical tips for finding, crafting, and delivering stories
• How to make your stories serve the text, not steal the spotlight

If you’ve ever struggled to keep your listeners leaning in, or wondered how to make truth land with lasting impact, this episode will help you tell stories that preach.

Centre for Biblical Preaching: cbp.org.au

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Episode 7: Preaching With Women in Mind with Jenny Salt

What do preachers need to keep in mind when they’re preaching to women? How can we communicate the truth of God's word in a way that resonates with the whole church?

In this episode, we’re joined by Jenny Salt, lecturer, speaker, and long-time gospel communicator, to reflect on how preaching can honour and engage the women in our congregations.

Jenny shares insights on:

• Common blind spots male preachers may not realise
• How to avoid stereotypes while addressing real experiences
• What women listen for and what they wish preachers knew

Whether you’re preaching to a mixed church, a women’s event, or just want to grow in speaking across the whole body of Christ, Jenny brings wisdom, warmth, and clarity to a conversation every preacher should hear.

Hear more from Jenny on her podcast: smbc.edu.au/resources/salt-conversations

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Episode 6: Advanced Rhetoric with Darren Middleton

What takes a sermon from faithful to powerful? From clear to compelling?

In this episode, we’re joined by Darren Middleton, pastor, preacher, and preaching trainer, to explore the role of rhetoric in gospel preaching. Not empty persuasion, but the thoughtful, Spirit-filled use of language to engage hearts and minds with God’s word.

Darren unpacks:

• How rhetorical devices can serve the text, not overshadow it
• Why repetition, rhythm, and contrast matter in oral communication
• The difference between being clever and being clear
• How to grow as a communicator without becoming performative

This isn’t about hype it’s about preaching with conviction, clarity, and imagination. If you want to sharpen your delivery and better move people toward Christ, this episode will stretch and inspire you.

Darren's Podcast on Reformed Teaching is available here as well: https://discipleshipunplugged.buzzsprout.com/

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Episode 5: Preaching Christ from the Old Testament with Jared Hood

How do we preach Christ from passages where His name is never mentioned? And how do we avoid either forcing Him into the text or missing Him altogether?

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Jared Hood, Principal of the Presbyterian Theological College and long-time Old Testament preacher and lecturer. Jared helps us think carefully and faithfully about how to preach Christ from the Old Testament not as a preaching trick, but as a theological and biblical necessity.

We explore:

• Why Christ-centred preaching matters for the whole Bible
• Different ways Christ genuinely emerges from Old Testament texts
• Pitfalls to avoid when connecting the Testaments

Whether you’re preaching from Exodus, Proverbs, or the Prophets, this conversation will equip you to preach the Old Testament with depth, care, and gospel clarity.

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Episode 4: Outline, Structure & Preaching Wisdom — with Peter Adam

What makes a sermon not just true, but clear, compelling, and memorable? Often, it comes down to structure and a title or outline that sticks.

In this episode, Peter Adam, beloved preacher, lecturer, and trusted mentor to generations of gospel workers, helps us think wisely about how to move from text to structure with clarity and faithfulness. He unpacks:

• How to shape a sermon that truly serves your hearers
• Why great outlines and titles matter more than we think
• Common structure mistakes and how to avoid them
• How to let the passage drive the shape, without sounding dull or predictable

Peter also shares rich, pastoral wisdom about the preacher’s heart, the goal of transformation, and the lifelong task of growing as a servant of the Word.

If you’ve ever wondered how to go from good exegesis to a gripping outline with a memorable title this episode will sharpen both your structure and your soul.

peteradam.org

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How do you find the big idea of a passage — and craft a question that makes people lean in from the very start?

In this episode, we’re joined by David Cook, experienced expositor and preaching trainer, to unpack how to identify the central message of a text and frame it in a way that grabs your hearers’ attention.

David shares practical steps for developing clear, faithful big ideas and marketable big questions that connect real life with God’s word — so your expositional preaching is both biblically grounded and impossible to ignore.

If you want to move beyond vague introductions and help your congregation feel the urgent relevance of Scripture, this episode will sharpen your preaching from the very first sentence.

David Cook's Preaching Trust: https://eptrust.org.au

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How do you finish a sermon so it lands with clarity, conviction, and lasting impact instead of drifting to an awkward or forgettable close?

In this episode, we talk with Rory Shiner, author, pastor, and seasoned preacher, about the art of ending sermons well. Rory shares why your final words can make or break your sermon, practical ways to end with gospel-driven power (without cheesy clichés), and examples of endings that stick in people’s hearts.

If you’ve ever felt your sermon just fizzles at the end, this conversation will help you finish strong and point people clearly to Jesus.