Preaching Coach Podcast with Dr. David Allen

In today’s episode, Dr. David Allen discusses how to plan a sermon on the first half of Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” which is part 1 of a 2-part podcast episode. Part 2, examining the phrase, “for theirs is the kingdom of God,” will follow soon.

Learn more about Preaching Coach and find resources to help you prepare sermons and deliver them well at PreachingCoach.com.

In this episode, Dr. David Allen argues that the public reading of Scripture is often done poorly and should be a Word-centered act of worship. He reflects on his own early tendency to read Scripture perfunctorily, then points to Reformation-era Church of Scotland practices and cites Nehemiah 8 and 1 Timothy 4 in explaining the biblical priority of public reading, exhortation, and teaching. Dr. Allen shares 10 practical keys for reading well, including choosing a reasonable-length text, using oral interpretation, practicing ahead of time, improving mechanics (diction, rate, pitch, volume), projecting, reading naturally, being heard/understood/felt, using good posture, varying eye contact, and not rushing. He demonstrates the difference by reading Luke 19:1–10 in two different styles, illuminating helpful and unhelpful ways to read Scripture.

In this episode, Dr. David Allen reads a book chapter which could have been a sermon – “Marks of Maturity in the Ministry,” by Warren Wiersbe. Listen to this chapter from “Listening to the Giants,” and ponder the wise words about preaching a sermon versus a message and being a man who acts rather than reacts.

In this episode, Dr. David Allen reads a transcript of Thomas Chalmers’ Sermon, “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.” This episode is the third installment in a series looking at significant sermons from the past.

In this episode, Dr. David Allen shares a recording of Dr. Roy Metts’ 2004 Founders Day sermon at Criswell College. This episode is the second installment in a series looking at significant sermons from the past. In his sermon, Dr. Metts delivers an expositional message from Colossians 1.