As a preacher, I'm also a writer. It took me years (years!) to say those words, but once I said them, it felt as though I was confessing out loud some truth I had known for years. For me, as a mostly-manuscript preacher, my sermons begin as typed words on a page. There are few things more intimidating than an empty page. So, as a writer who often preaches what I write, where do I find my inspiration? I remember in seminary I preached a sermon based on one of the psalms for my

As I walk through a metaphorical wilderness right now, I find myself looking for the beauty. Where are the flowers blooming? On the cacti by the roadside. Where is the water? In the space I've created for birds out on my balcony. Whose voices do I hear? The voices of those who love me, and, most importantly, the very voice of God...

When I was a solo pastor, I was the only regular preacher at my church. Week in and week out, I was preparing sermons and preaching them. I didn’t hate the work of preaching - in fact, I loved it. But the cycle was relentless. And in busy seasons, the work became more taxing. I sometimes wondered: What fresh words or ideas can I possibly offer now? In 2017, I began a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program, and met regularly with a “sermon team.” This was a small group of par