Skip to content

Soul Preaching

Menu
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • Popular Updates
    • Preaching Methods
    • Homiletic Theory
    • Sermon Construction
    • Exegesis
    • Feature Articles
  • SUBSCRIBE
Menu
Writing Sermon For Preaching

Naming Your Sermon

Posted on September 16, 2011

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Among our most popular posts are the ones on Sermon Titles. There is just not that much information in book form or on the web on the issue. However, one might be able to learn from other people who have to title something. The other day I found this site that talks about titling a book.

There are 7 approaches. I began to think about how this might translate into a sermon title. So I looked at each one and thought about the implications for sermon titling. For this post I will take a sermon I preached entitled “God’s Perspective” on the book of Habakkuk that emphasized that Habakkuk was confused about God’s actions before he saw it from God’s perspective. I was never really happy with the title so perhaps this site can help me come up with a better one.

Command

The first approach is to make a command. The example given on the website was “Write your Best Book Ever.” Perhaps we could use a title like “Change Your Perspective.” That doesn’t really feel like a command. Maybe a little more dramatic like, “Look Up!” Assuming that up will be a change of perspective rather than looking around. That feels a little better. Plus it easily translates into a refrain that can be used in the close of the sermon. “You might see the wicked winning….All I gotta tell ya is Look Up…..etc….” Look Up feels better to me than my original God’s Perspective.

How To

Writing Sermon For PreachingThe next approach is how to. The example given on the website was “How to Make Your Article Go the Extra Mile.” I don’t really like How-To titles because the sermon could degenerate into a lecture and as I have written elsewhere the sermon ain’t a lecture. But a how to title might be “How to Answer the Unanswerable Question.” Here the sermon emphasizes Habakkuk’s question of why God allows evil. The sermon attempts to answer the question. However, the sermon didn’t really answer that question so I probably should go on. Another title might be “How to Wait for The Answer.” That is better because the sermon actually addressees Habakkuk waiting for the answer that ultimately comes from God. One could use illustrations from life on waiting. In any case this sermon title is better than my original one.

The Provocative Statement

The example given in the website was “5 Mistakes to Avoid That Drive Your Web Visitors Away In Less Than 2 Minutes.” A possible sermon title in line with this approach would be: “God’s Answers Don’t Make Sense.” The sermon could deal with the fact that God does answer, but often we dont’ want to follow or believe the answer.

The Question

A question-title might be: “Why Wait on the Answer?” Here Habakkuk had 3 questions and the last one he had to wait on the answer. However when the answer came it provoked a response of worship and thanksgiving in chapter 3.

The Big Promise

A Big promise might be: “You Gonna Celebrate When you Hear the Answer.” I would probably shorten that to “Wait till you Hear it.” Here the sermon emphasizes that the answer will come, and when you hear it you will celebrate.

Confusing Title

A thought in line with the previous ideas is “Celebrating Tomorrow’s Answer.” However that does not really seem to be confusing. I think I should try to mix metaphors. This is actually a very difficult thing to do. However a more appropriate title might be: “3 Questions, 2 Answers, and a Shout.” Here Habakkuk’s 3 questions are reduced to 2 answers and then there is the more complex answer which becomes God’s answer and Habakkuk’s praise for it. So the 3rd answer is actually both God’s answer and Habakkuk’s response to the answer. In previous questions Habakkuk was almost an adversary of God, but in this one the two become one in the praise.

The Top Benefit

A Top Benefit Sermon Title might be: “Praising for the Answers.”

One thing that is interesting about this exercise is that it helped to clarify what the sermon would be about. Such an approach is probably a valuable exercise for all preachers when thinking about titling a sermon. I don’t think that this list is the best one for sermons, but it can be used to think of better sermon titles. I think that the title, “Wait till you Hear it.” is much better than my original title, “God’s Perspective” so this method did work.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailSizzling Sermon Titles? Strange Sermon Titles Nommo – Creative Power of the Word Default ThumbnailKerygma and Didache

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • How The Blues Helped My Preaching
  • Preaching Truth Through the Blues
  • What The Blues Teaches Us About Celebration
  • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
  • Thou Shalt Have Good News
  • The Answer Is In The Records
  • Just Keep the Ball In Play

Free Email Training

Sign up for the New Preaching TIPS Email Newsletter. You will recieve 5-7 emails a week.

Click Here

Revised Common Lectionary

  • August 03, 2025: Proper 13 (18)
    on July 28, 2025 at 5:00 am

    * Hosea 11:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-9, 43 * Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14 * 2:18-23 and Psalm 49:1-12 * Colossians 3:1-11 * Luke 12:13-21

  • July 27, 2025: Proper 12 (17)
    on July 21, 2025 at 5:00 am
  • July 20, 2025: Proper 11 (16)
    on July 14, 2025 at 5:00 am
  • July 13, 2025: Proper 10 (15)
    on July 7, 2025 at 5:00 am
  • July 06, 2025: Proper 9 (14)
    on June 30, 2025 at 5:00 am

In this video, we take a candid look at the new direction for SoulPreaching.com and what it means to preach with a limp. For years, we’ve focused on practical tips to help preachers structure and deliver sermons. But now, we’re making a turn toward blues theology—preaching that tells the truth about pain, wrestles with injustice, and rises with authentic hope.

The blues teaches us that God’s people don’t just dance; sometimes they limp. That’s the kind of honest preaching we need in this moment—preaching rooted in lament, resistance, and real hope.

Watch as we lay out:

Where SoulPreaching.com has been

Why this blues turn matters

What it means to “preach with a limp”

👉 Read the full article here: https://soulpreaching.com/blues-preach-with-a-limp
👉 Subscribe for more resources: https://soulpreaching.com/9-2
Preaching With A Limp
People don’t need another polished performance.
They need something real.

This video dives deep into the connection between authenticity and effective preaching, drawing from the raw honesty of the blues tradition. The blues never lied. It didn’t fake joy, didn’t clean up pain, and didn’t hide behind big words. It told the truth — out loud.

And that’s what preaching must do too.

If your sermon doesn’t come from your gut, it won’t land in theirs.
If your preaching ain’t real, it ain’t healing.
And if your gospel wears a mask, the people will too.

This is a call to preach from your scars, not just your notes.
To stop performing… and start testifying.

#Authenticity #Preaching #BluesTheology #RealGospel #BlackChurch #SoulPreaching #NoMoreMasks #BluesAndTheWord
Authenticity, Blues, and Preaching.
What do the blues have to do with the gospel? Everything.

In this video, we explore why passion is essential in preaching — not just performance, not just polish, but real, soul-deep fire. The kind of passion that groans like the blues, that feels what it says, and that tells the truth even when it's messy.

Drawing from the rich tradition of Black preaching and the raw honesty of the blues, we look at how this music can reignite the pulpit — not just to inform, but to transform. From the gut to the gospel, from the blues to the blessing.

If you’re a preacher, a speaker, or someone longing to hear truth on fire, this one’s for you.

🕊️ Don't just preach. Feel it. Live it. Sing it.

#Preaching #Blues #BlackChurch #PassionInPreaching #SoulPreaching #GospelTruth #BluesTheology
Passion, Blues, and Preaching
Cover of Crowder's All My Hope.
All My Hope
Gravity by John Mayer cover #smuleglobal
Gravity Smule cover
Tracks of My Tears - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles cover #smuleglobal
Tracks of my Tears Cover
You will only get better writing sermons by writing many sermons. In this video I share the importance of getting our reps in....practice more. Sermon Construction is a muscle. Like any other muscle you need to exercise it for health.
Get Better At Writing Sermons By Writing More Of Them!
The sermon construction tool that you might not be using.
Use The Hymnal To Write Better Sermons!
The one question that will totally and fully improve your sermon construction.
The One Question That Will Make Your Sermon Construction Better
Load More... Subscribe

shermancox

Instagram post 18035264126160509 Instagram post 18035264126160509
Instagram post 18039911987063802 Instagram post 18039911987063802
Instagram post 18053936150312478 Instagram post 18053936150312478
Instagram post 18041906996079829 Instagram post 18041906996079829
Instagram post 17910296783919000 Instagram post 17910296783919000
Instagram post 18035493148903548 Instagram post 18035493148903548
Instagram post 17887097775081541 Instagram post 17887097775081541
#smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning
I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal
Instagram post 18087447073438590 Instagram post 18087447073438590
Instagram post 17851233018147535 Instagram post 17851233018147535
Instagram post 17907649217946063 Instagram post 17907649217946063
Intro to prayer Intro to prayer
Instagram post 17982108473571505 Instagram post 17982108473571505
Instagram post 18030258256647195 Instagram post 18030258256647195
Instagram post 18128574130309862 Instagram post 18128574130309862
Instagram post 18388873843007811 Instagram post 18388873843007811
What’s on the wall when I’m singing? What’s on the wall when I’m singing?
How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist. How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist.
Goodness of God cover. Goodness of God cover.
Follow on Instagram

Instagram

shermancox

Instagram post 18035264126160509 Instagram post 18035264126160509
Instagram post 18039911987063802 Instagram post 18039911987063802
Instagram post 18053936150312478 Instagram post 18053936150312478
Instagram post 18041906996079829 Instagram post 18041906996079829
Instagram post 17910296783919000 Instagram post 17910296783919000
Instagram post 18035493148903548 Instagram post 18035493148903548
Instagram post 17887097775081541 Instagram post 17887097775081541
#smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning #smule #smuleduet #easylikesundaymorning
I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal I feel Good #smule #smuleglobal
Instagram post 18087447073438590 Instagram post 18087447073438590
Instagram post 17851233018147535 Instagram post 17851233018147535
Instagram post 17907649217946063 Instagram post 17907649217946063
Intro to prayer Intro to prayer
Instagram post 17982108473571505 Instagram post 17982108473571505
Instagram post 18030258256647195 Instagram post 18030258256647195
Instagram post 18128574130309862 Instagram post 18128574130309862
Instagram post 18388873843007811 Instagram post 18388873843007811
What’s on the wall when I’m singing? What’s on the wall when I’m singing?
How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist. How bout some blues harp. With a blues guitarist.
Goodness of God cover. Goodness of God cover.
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • How The Blues Helped My Preaching
  • Preaching Truth Through the Blues
  • What The Blues Teaches Us About Celebration
  • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit
  • Thou Shalt Have Good News

Archives

  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • September 2024
  • March 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • March 2019
  • August 2018
  • June 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • December 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006

Categories

  • 11Cartoons
  • 11Fiction
  • 11Instruction
  • Associate Ministry
  • Audio
  • Basic Preaching
  • Bible Study
  • Black Church
  • Black Preaching Style
  • blog
  • Book of the Month
  • Book Reviews
  • Devotional
  • Exegesis
  • Feature Articles
  • feedburner
  • Fixing the Sermon
  • Funeral
  • General
  • Gospel Music
  • Headline
  • History
  • Homiletic Theory
  • Issues
  • MiniBlog
  • Ministry
  • Negro Spirituals
  • Planning
  • Podcast
  • Practice
  • Prayer
  • Preaching
  • Preaching Methods
  • Preaching Style
  • Premium
  • Questions and Answers
  • racism
  • Scripture Selection
  • Sermon Analysis
  • Sermon Construction
  • Sermon Craft
  • Sermon Editing
  • Sermon Outline
  • Sermons
  • Software
  • Theology
  • Titles
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Web Ministry
  • WebSeminar
  • Whooping
  • Without Notes
©2025 Soul Preaching | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme