About this episode

John Whittaker discusses the importance of purposeful preaching and connecting with congregations.

John Whitaker believes that every sermon should have a purpose and a point - because we aren't just teaching the Bible, we are teaching the Bible to people. In this session (recorded in 2025 at our St Pete, Florida preacher training event) John speaks about the need to hone our homiletical skills so that we can connect with our congregations as complicated individuals, rather than a block of abstract "listeners." Homiletics is the study of how to effectively communicate the message of the Christian faith through preaching and teaching. It involves understanding the biblical texts, the needs and concerns of the audience, and the use of language and other communication techniques to convey the message in a way that is meaningful and impactful. John is passionate about connecting people with the life-changing message of the Bible. He loves to bring the Bible to life and connect it to your life, so that it helps you live the life God created you for. John enjoys his life too... When he’s not preaching or teaching, you might find him at a local coffee shop meeting with and encouraging other local ministers. Or you could find him hanging out at home with his wife and partner…

People in this episode

Host: Mike Neglia

Guest: John Whittaker

Topics covered

• expository preaching
• homiletics
• sermon preparation
• connecting with congregations
• effective communication

Keywords

• sermon
• homiletics
• Bible teaching
• preaching skills
• Christian faith

Mentioned in this episode

Places: St Pete, Florida

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