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Elevate How You Preach So You Can Grow Your Church
Grow as a communicator, retain weekend visitors, engage your members, and advance the mission God has put in front of you.
👇 Enrollment Closes 👇
Friday, August 28th
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How Your Preaching Can Help Your Church Sprint Out of This Pandemic
People will return to your church and engage because of the preaching. Survey after survey confirms the pastor’s weekly teaching plays a major factor in why people choose to stay at a church.
So much of church life has come to a screeching hault because of this pandemic. Most churches that are meeting in person are reporting no more than a 30% return in attendance. The expectation is that in the next year, the best most churches will see is a 70% return.
But not every pastor is struggling to get people to come back.
The Perfect "Welcome Gift"
Every week, visitors and regular attendees give you a HUGE gift… 30-40 minutes of their time.
There is only one ‘gift’ they want in return — a message that is helpful, true, and engaging.
If people stay because of the preaching it is also true that people will leave because of the preaching. With so much importance on the preaching it is essential that your preaching be interesting.
What you are teaching is right, what you are teaching is true… and if people are not listening, it is not their fault they are not interested in what’s being said.
The secret to church growth is to meet the hearer where they are and capture their hearts and minds. It is the pastor’s responsibility to make the message interesting.
If People Are Not Returning, If Your Church Is Not Growing, It Is Time to Look In the Mirror.
Church growth doesn’t come because it is expected — church growth is determined by what you choose to inspect.
Exponential growth happens through microscopic evaluation and strategic adjustments.
Greeters, music, transitions, announcements, videos, parking, and Sunday school — every weekend experience goes under the microscope. The question is, how often is the preaching examined through that same microscope?
After all, your preaching will inspire visitors to return and members to stay — it is important that it be examined.
There Are Two Reasons Pastors Receive So Little Evaluation — Fear or Uncertainty.
The fear of going underneath the microscope and opening yourself up to feedback may be rooted in some level of insecurity or pride. Fortunately, this reasoning applies to a minority of pastors.
The majority of pastors do not receive regular evaluation and feedback because they are uncertain who to ask.
A healthy church is filled with qualified evaluators who have listened to thousands of messages and can provide valuable insight and feedback for your messages.
Pastors don’t need evaluators who are good preachers… pastors need evaluators who are good at evaluating preaching.
When you consider the potential in church growth that can come directly as a result from the growth happening in you, opening yourself up to evaluation is not as scary as it may initially appear — it is essential.
When the Pastor Grows, the Church Can Grow.
Do you want to become a better preacher? Do you want to become a better pastor?
How about we get specific — do you want to increase guest retention by 15% in the coming year?
Pastors get so little helpful feedback that it doesn’t take much growth to experience a huge return. It doesn’t take hours and hours — it is the little stuff that produces a huge payoff.
When the pastor grows, the church can grow — the question pastors must ask is, “Do I want the church to grow?”
Remember, visitors will return and members will stay because of your preaching. If you want your church to grow it means you will need to grow. To grow, it will require you go under the microscope for evaluation…
And what you will find will not be nearly as scary as what you initially anticipate.
The Gaps that Exist In Your Preaching Are Gaps that Are Common to Every Preacher.
Far too many preachers assume that their people care about what they’re saying. The major gap that exists in modern day preaching is the interest gap.
It takes work to compel listeners to care about the message you are delivering. Too often preachers lean on ‘it’s the Bible so you should care’ and for a weekly 30-40 minute message, that is not enough.
God’s Word is the protein of the meal, your preaching serves as the presentation of the meal… and the presentation matters.
Your sermon preparation must start with a belief that, “No one cares about what I am going to say.” From there you can ask the important question of, “How do I compel them to care about this message?”
There Are 7 Gaps In Modern Day Preaching
Interest Gap
The gap between the preacher's belief that what they are sharing is interesting and what the hearer actually finds interesting.
Substance Gap
Substance versus surface. This gap represents a preacher's inability to go beyond what is obvious to everyone in the room.
Style Gap
The gap between moment to moment communication. People do not remember what you say, but what you emphasize. A preaching style must have multiple gears and the pastor must cycle through those gears throughout the message.
Editing Gap
The gap between what is left in the message and what is taken out — all in effort to create a flow in the story. Preachers must evaluate their content, solicit feedback, and strip out elements that take away from the core message.
Congruence Gap
The gap between what is being said and how it is being said. If the passage is about joy, is the pastor communicating that message with joy?
Illustration Gap
The gap between illustration and principle. The message is presented with too much principle and not enough illustration — or too much illustration and not enough principle.
Non-believer Gap
The gap of not taking non-Christians into account. Asking yourself, from 1-10, “Would I have wanted one of my non-Christian friends to hear this message?”
How can you inspire visitors to return? Make your preaching interesting.
How can you make your preaching interesting? Identify the gaps in your preaching.
How do you close the gaps in your preaching? Practice.
When you are willing to look at your preaching under the microscope and are determined to close the gaps, your preaching will become:
- Interesting
- Easier to follow
- Evangelistic
- Deeper
- Substantive
- Succinct
- Shorter
Why Would You Not Want These Things For Yourself, Your Church, and The Kingdom?
Committing to closing the gaps requires approaching your sermons with a new mentality: Caring about the audience, not just the sermon. If a pastor does not want to get better at preaching, does that pastor really love the people they are preaching to? Is that pastor doing what they’re doing to serve or doing things the way their doing them because it is easy?
Closing the gaps, elevating your preaching — it will be disorienting, confusing, and slow going… and totally worth it.
The adjustments you make will lead to retaining visitors, challenging members, and ultimately introduce more people to Jesus. However, it will get worse before it gets better — preaching can get harder, preparation can take longer — especially if you choose to attempt to close the gaps by yourself.
Sacrificing Your Comfort and Routine In the Short-term Helps You Become the Leader Your People Need In the Long-term.
A mind set on the future of your church, opening yourself up to evaluation and feedback, and a commitment to closing the gaps is all done in service to your people and out of love for the Gospel.
God has chosen to use you to further His Kingdom and despite the natural desire to be comfortable, there is no room in our work for comfort. When the pastor stops growing, everything else stops growing.
It is vital to the mission that the pastor grows in teaching, preaching, and overall leadership... discovering the voice God has placed inside for such a time as this.
A commitment to becoming a better preacher is noble… but this is about so much more than preaching.
Pastor — this is about you. It is about finding your voice, preaching a message unique to you, stepping into how God has wired you to communicate…
You need it, your people need it, and you can take the first step today to becoming the preacher God has made you to be.
Introducing Preaching Academy
A post-graduate level program to help pastors see measurable impact from every sermon they teach by closing the gaps in their preaching.
Join Preaching academy and quickly learn how to write faithful messages faster than ever, increase attendance in mid-week programs, inspire your people to invite guests to attend church, and retain visitors beyond their 2nd or 3rd visits.
Here Is How It Works
Preaching Academy delivers seven distinct postgraduate level lectures covering seven areas of growth, essential for pastors. Each lesson is presented in on-demand video format by one of the Preaching Academy instructors.
Enroll in Preaching Academy and immediately gain access to the curriculum website. You can get to work, immediately!
Your first video is an introduction to the Preaching Academy system followed by a disclaimer that you will be challenged to apply new ideas, strategies, and practices which may be uncomfortable and disruptive. You have permission to process, evaluate, and apply the structure that allows God to speak to you and through you to your people.
Annual Preaching Planning
The first session challenges pastors step back and explore the concept of creating a dynamic preaching calendar and then walks through the process of creating the first draft for your church. Simple, practical, and actionable.
Sermon Series
Practical advice about what you can preaching through every single month of the year — whether short, long, expositional, or topical messages — there are best practices to follow in order to plan compelling, marketable, and well-done sermon series that serve your people.
Boxes
Exploring the phases of constructing a sermon, framing your message using five essential framing questions, and preparing a sermon framework from which a working outline or manuscript can flow out of.
Sermon Structure
A simplistic approach to three distinct movements in your sermon and unpacking each movement, what should be accomplished during each movement to engage your audience, and the difference between starting your sermon prep and your sermon delivery.
Weekly Structure
Structuring your week to be ready to preach by Friday, finishing your message with time to spare, how to arrange your schedule to fulfill every responsibility of your role with faithfulness — going through the process of the seven day sermon.
Practice, Feedback, Evaluation
The final step, the bow you put on the package, that makes your sermon special, elevates your message, and helps you connect with your congregation on an entirely different level. How to overcome the weakness of the first time and delivering a final, polished product to the ears of those in your care.
Learning without Copying
How to avoid sounding like the preachers who have had the greatest influence in your shaping as a pastor. Avoid becoming a clone and instead discover the unique voice God has placed inside of you to be the pastor your people need.
And It Really Does Work!
"You've given me both Friday and Saturday back!"
This is giving me a weekly system to be able to prepare my message, standup in front of people and preach with passion and purpose and prepare our people to reach the world for Christ.
I now preach the message to myself and our staff on Thursday. You’ve given me both Friday and Saturday back.
The better preparation has allowed me to devote time on other leadership things. Numerous families have come up to me saying, “What have you been eating lately? Your preaching has gotten better.”
Pastor Chris
Preaching Academy System Student
"That sermon should have been heard by 1,000 people!"
I am not new to preaching. I am even a communication major from college but I’d say I have fallen in some bad patterns over the years and have even lost some of my motivation to improve in the area of preaching.
I wondered if I would really notice any difference the first week after the training or if anyone in the congregation would notice. I was skeptical thinking it would take months for any real difference to be obvious. I wanted to try and really trust God for this to work.
During the fellowship time after church I had a very honest guy come up to me with feedback. He said, “That sermon should have been heard by 1,000 people.” It really connected with him and convicted him.
Then at least 4 or 5 people who don’t usually say anything about the sermon said it was really good.
I was blown away by the results that had been seen so instantly. Even though I know I have a lot further to go it was very encouraging to know that the extra energy and effort had not been in vain.
Pastor Scott
Preaching Academy System Student
What Preaching Academy Students Learn
The Preaching Academy curriculum focuses on seven major areas of mastery essential to teachers and ministry leaders.
Annual Preaching Plan
Creating a dynamic calendar while balancing the tension of creativity and discipline.
Boxes
Five essential framing questions to build a sermon that a strong outline can flow out of.
Weekly Structure
Crafting a ready-to-preach sermon by Friday and remaining faithful to all other areas of ministry.
Learning without Copying
Becoming a confident preacher — avoiding the pitfall of becoming a clone or becoming confused.
Sermon Series
Best practices for creating compelling, marketable, and well-done sermon series that serve your church.
Sermon Structure
A three-movement approach to structure your sermon for engagement and connection.
Practice, Feedback, Evaluation
Delivering a sermon a polished, podcast-ready sermon week after week.
Elevate Your Preaching in 2020
Committing to Growth Is All About Stewardship
The Gospel is too important and the time is too short to settle for incremental change.
Your preaching is what attracts visitors, and keeps people coming back.
Preaching Academy is designed to help you experience exponential growth in communicating God's Word.
The Gospel is too important and the time is too short to settle for incremental change.
Your preaching is what attracts visitors, and keeps people coming back.
Elevate Your Leadership Beyond the Pulpit
Get a collection of premium bonus resources pastors use to elevate their impact and close the gaps in and out of the pulpit.
The Pastor's Planner
The Pastor’s Planner is a PDF to help you prioritize the most important actions, keep you focused on the most important people, and help you remember what’s coming soon. With one page for each week, it will help you stay focused on what (and who) matters most.
Ministry Evaluation Forms
One of the best ways for your church to get better is to evaluate everything you’re doing in light of your mission, vision, calling and strategy. That’s why we put together a practical tool to help you evaluate everything.
These seven forms will help you evaluate and improve every area of your church.
Event Sermon Templates
This collection of event sermon templates is a helpful guide for special events and occasions. Each template can be easily imported into a Sermonary account or be edited as a PDF or Word doc.
7 Proven Sermon Templates
Proven sermon templates to expedite sermon planning, systematize your message structure, and guide your sermon prep time.
Includes templates from Timothy Keller, Andy Stanley. Also includes 3-point sermon template , The Defender’s Outline, verse-by-verse running commentary, as well as youth and children’s leader templates.
A Total Value of Over $299
These pastor bonuses are delivered immediately when you enroll in Preaching Academy.
A Simple Investment to Grow Your Church
Join Preaching Academy
$299
$147
7 Master Course Level Videos
The Pastor’s Planner
Ministry Evaluation Forms
7 Proven Sermon Outline Templates
Event Sermon Templates
Lifetime Access
30-Day Money-back Guarantee
Elevate Your Preaching Risk-Free
Preaching Academy comes with a 100% money-back guarantee. When you implement the proven preaching and communication strategies learned in this course you will:
- Write faithful messages faster than ever before.
- Grow the amount of positive feedback from church leaders.
- Meet more visitors every weekend and see them return in future weeks.
- Experience members share the portions of your message that helped them.
- Hear more “Amens” during your weekly services.
- Read a steady stream of Monday emails from members thank you for your message.
- Increase attendance for mid-week programs.
- See a jump in annual guest attendance.
The Preaching Academy curriculum has been created by pastors who have provided sermon-centered training to over 2000 pastors, prepared over 1000 sermon series, and delivered pastors with tools used to craft over 50,000 sermons. This training is the culmination of over 10 years of working with pastors just like you.
If within the first 30 days you do not see notable church growth after completing the curriculum and applying what you learn, send us an email to support@preaching.academy and we will give you a full refund. No red tape, no hassle, no questions.
No red tape, no hassle, no questions — after going through Preaching Academy, if you do not believe the instruction will lead to church growth, let us know and we will give you a 100% refund — no questions asked, no strings attached.
Meet Your Instructors
Michael Lukaszewski
Former youth pastor, church planter, senior pastor, and church consultant, you could say Michael’s lived nine lives—and he’s still going. Today, he writes books and articles and helps create courses for church leaders. Michael’s a graduate of Florida State University and did post-graduate work at Liberty University. Husband to Jennie and father to three kids, you can find him smoking ribs or grilling steaks on the Big Green Egg on the weekends.
Justin Trapp
Justin Trapp is a church leader and former bivocational pastor. He is the founder of Ministry Pass, a sermon resource library used by 50,000 church leaders in over 125 countries. He is also the co-founder of Sermonary, a sermon platform where pastors write and present sermons using custom outlines, a point-by-point message builder, and an easy-to-use preaching mode.
Wade Bearden
Wade Bearden is a writer, speaker, film critic, and minister. His work has been featured on Christianity Today, Christ and Pop Culture, Relevant, and Think Christian. Recently, he co-founded Sermonary-a cloud-based sermon creation tool for pastors. Each week, he co-hosts Seeing and Believing, a Christ and Pop Culture podcast about film and television. Wade also holds an MA in Theological Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God University, where he’s on faculty in the Bible and Theology department. Wade lives in Houston with his wife Priscilla and their two boys.
How do I access the curriculum?
Preaching Academy is 100% web-based. When you enroll you will be given membership access to our virtual classroom and take your courses on any device that has an internet connection.
Is this a monthly membership?
Preaching Academy is a one-time only enrollment payment. There is no subscription or hidden costs. Once you enroll, the curriculum is yours to keep forever.
How long do I have to wait for access?
After completing your enrollment form you will receive immediate access to all curriculum contained inside of our membership area. You will receive an email with your login name and password.
How long will I have access to Preaching Academy?
Forever! As long as you are student in good standing you will have access to any Preaching Academy course curriculum you purchase.
Who is Preaching Academy for?
Anyone who wants to become a better preacher and communicator. The curriculum is designed specifically for ministry leaders who preach regularly — quarterly, monthly, or weekly.
Is there a return policy?
Yes, we do! We offer a 30-day no questions asked, no strings attached refund policy. You can learn more about our return policy here.
I have a question not answered here.
We are happy to help answer any questions you have. Please send a message to support@preaching.academy with your question and a member from our team will get back with you.
Any Pastor Can Grow Their Church with Preaching Academy
I have always been committed to growing as a communicator so I was really happy to go through Preaching Academy. I had several helpful takeaways I have already applied.
Josh Gosney
Preaching Academy System Student
Committed to Growing
Practical and Helpful
I loved Preaching Academy. It was practical and helpful. Would recommend!
Isaac Salazar
Preaching Academy System Student
I was a youth pastor with limited preaching experience when I came across Preaching Academy. Needless to say, I wanted to tell you how helpful it was!
Jacob Thompson
Basketball Future Hall of Famer
Committed to Growing
The Pastor Who Grows Leads A Church That Grows
You have set goals for how many annual visitors and annual members you would like to welcome this year. If you haven’t met that goal in the past, don’t be discouraged.
Not every pastor struggles with reaching their aspirations for new visitors and new members.
The pastors who experience the greatest success in ministry is the pastor who completes the training they start.
Any pastor can grow their congregation by following the Preaching Academy training because it reveals the gaps in modern-day preaching and teaches you how to close them in your own sermons.