Skip to content

Soul Preaching

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

Preach Something Significant

Posted on July 18, 2011

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To be honest, I have been in a very cynical mood about preaching as of late. What are we doing and why are we doing it!? Those two questions have caused me to go back and attempt to re-think this site and my work to this point. As I thought about these questions a saying came to mind…you might even call it a mantra. What is it?

Preach Something Significant!

Yes, please stop preaching what you saw on TV or what you heard on the radio! You know it seems, in many cases, that we preachers have become simply parrots of the prevailing order. We are “ditto heads” spouting the status quo.

Preachers Tell Us What Is Important

If one wanted to find the biggest problem in Christianity then listen to the preachers. Whatever most preachers are avoiding in their sermons. Whatever most preachers are not addressing. Those things are probably going to be the things that are most needed today.

Oh yes, we preachers often demonstrate what is important by our avoiding certain subjects to ensure our popularity. If legalism is the great problem of the day, then you will probably find a majority of preachers preaching against the evils of lawlessness and the need to “tow the line.”

What If Legalism Isn’t The Problem?

However, if the opposite is the problem. If lawlessness runs rampant. If people live as if Christianity has nothing at all to do with contemporary living. If we have our musicians thanking God for the strength to make music that demeans our women and glorifies the worst in our community while gyrating in scantily clad adornment. Then you will have preachers condemning as legalists those who see this mess.

In other words, you have what you have now! Preacher preaching against the evils of legalism and condemning the alleged “pharisees in the church” while not saying a mumbling word about the perveuyers of evil and wickedness in our church and community. That aint prophetic! That ain’t what you were called to do.

No…stop preaching what is easy. Stop preaching what everybody else is preaching! Preach the truth! Preach Something Significant!

The Truth Hurts

This is certainly gonna make some folks mad and angry, but if you are gonna preach something significant then somebody is gonna get mad. Change can’t come while you are kissing behinds. Significant Preaching requires letting people know the real demands of the God’s Coming Kingdom. Significant preaching requires letting people know how to become a member of God’s Coming Kingdom. Yes forgiveness is a part of Significant preaching but so are ethics. Yes grace is a part of Significant preaching but so is a changed life.

If your religion can’t change the way you live down here, why do you think it will translate you into paradise in the life to come? No, I want a religion that has the power to change me. I want to sing with the Hawkins Singers, “A Change has come over me!” I want to “look at my hands and they looked new, then look at my feet, and they did to!” Preach that! Preach something significant.

Stop telling the people about the cars and boats and houses they will get when they “plant a seed.” Stop telling the people about “getting their stuff back from the devil.” No, instead why don’t you preach the gospel of the kingdom!

The Famine

Amos 8:11 says

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

We are here now. We have preaching everywhere. It is on the internet, on the radio, and on the television airwaves. And in the midst of all of this too many of us preachers are contributing to the famine. Let us as preachers stop contributing to the famine. My sisters and brothers, that is where we are now. And it is time to stand up and start preaching it before it is too late.

Preach Something Significant!

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

Related posts:

Default ThumbnailStop The Madness In Our Preaching Healing BalmPreaching Matters 7 Steps to a Good Sermon or How To Create and Preach a Sermon Default ThumbnailStealing Sermons

12 thoughts on “Preach Something Significant”

  1. Minister Evangeline says:
    July 18, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    Preach something significant. I love the phrase. So many times we preach what we think the people want to hear instead of preaching what the Holy Spirit has placed in our spirit to preach. Thanks for reminding me to preach something significant. If I preach what the Holy Spirit has given me to preach it will be something significant. It is not always easy to stand alone and preach things that people really don’t want to hear. People want to hear that moneyd is coming. I am in a dry place right now with my ministry. But I will remember to preach something significant which will always point me back to why I am doing what God called me to do in the first place.

  2. Sherman Haywood Cox II says:
    July 20, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    the thing that is very interesting about this “your money cometh” theology is that it doesn’t even work. The people are still poor and they don’t hear anything of substance from the preacher either…

  3. Minister Evangeline says:
    July 22, 2011 at 9:20 am

    your right about “your money cometh” theology not working. Then what do the people do when the money don’t come. We must preach the word and we must preach it in truth. When the money don’t come people are turned away from God.

  4. Ptr Roger Abuloc says:
    July 22, 2011 at 10:29 pm

    Yes indeed, preaching is not only situational but current happening, to the needs of the people especially to those who are hurting and hungry for the Word. I have preached to a very depressed place and my message was the causes for their poverty and want and how they can reverse the situation by turning to Jesus Christ and the Good News. Treat these people with compassion and love. This is the Great Commission is all about.

  5. WysWoods says:
    July 23, 2011 at 4:10 am

    Thank you for what I call the “preacher’s poke. I am reading this as I am praying and preparing for a missionary workshop today where God has changed my focus from “poor pitiful me in grief” to “time to get up and go after grief” and I was worried that it would be too different . I opened up the email and the message was for me today.

  6. tom edwards says:
    July 23, 2011 at 9:26 am

    Some of us as men and women of God sad to say have become like the reptile the turns brown when in a brown enviroment and green when in green surrounding. But I believe that its time to cry loud and spare not, exort, reprove, and rebuke. I was at the car wash and i was conversing with a preacher from one of the main line demonation.He was relating to me that the church provided a parsonage, liberal salary and the only thig he had to purchase was his car. Then he hung his head and said you don’t know what it’s like when the board have you in their pocket. Many time preachers preach cake and ice cream because we’ve become accustom to a certian lifstyle and fear losing our jobs. Shame on us the Lord says in no uncertain terms ” My preacher are dumb dogs that can not bark as the enemy come into the camp” My prayer is that some preacher will see himself in this blog and repent

  7. Almalik says:
    July 28, 2011 at 7:25 pm

    Okay then, so as an associate minister, are you saying to me to go ahead and whip the wolves? Why, the pastor just ignores those things that are significant, those wrongs that happen right up under his nose. Folk going to other churches more than they come to their “home” church; ministry leaders that don’t lead; deacons and musicians and choir members that don’t show up and when they do show up they are unconcerned. As an associate minister, should I just go ahead and pull my belt off even when the pastor doesn’t pull his off?

  8. James says:
    August 1, 2011 at 10:58 am

    Thank for this provoking post concerning preaching. Pastors and members alike need to be reminded that the Word of God is for instruction and correction. I am asking the Lord to help me to deal with the significant matters in the Bible and to preach it with boldness.

  9. Sherman Haywood Cox II says:
    August 1, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    I have a post coming up that addresses Almalik’s question….

  10. Pingback: Nothing found for 3742
  11. Zeusage says:
    August 29, 2011 at 1:00 am

    I think your cynicism hath inspired me.
    Okay, I know it has.
    And I thank you sir.
    My problem is, Mostly all my sermons I have written,
    are somewhat untypical/oddball/ needs to be said.
    That is the only need i see. THE TRUTH.
    Indeed I have been called to preach.
    I am somewhat ready.[scared] ha ha.
    Your posts are quite inspirational, I must say.
    I have been sitting on several sermons, That if named, would cause an uproar. So be it. I see the same needs as you do.
    Praise the Lord for (your)cynicism.Zeusage

  12. Rhonda Grant Jordan says:
    July 6, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    Thank-you, as a minister,the sermons given to me by the Holy Spirit, dealt with issues and themes that many do not want to address. Yet, I have been told by some that my sermons are too hard for the people and I should be preaching on how to live on a daily basis. That is just what I do, but my focus is living the way that Jesus Christ has called us to live and to be witnesses of the truth and to live the truth. I am determined to preach the Word that God gives for I know that it is to point people to the cross and to His Kingdom. I love God and His people and as a minister of the gospel,that love must be translated so others will come running asking what must I do to be saved.

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

  • The Moan and the Whoop: Where Blues Meets Preaching
  • Sermon is Art Not Lecture
  • Why The Psalms and the Prophets Sound Like Blues
  • How The Blues Helped My Preaching
  • Preaching Truth Through the Blues
  • What The Blues Teaches Us About Celebration
  • Stop Sleeping In The Pulpit

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 10, 2025: Proper 14 (19)
    on August 4, 2025 at 5:00 am

    * Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 and Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 * Genesis 15:1-6 and Psalm 33:12-22 * Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 * Luke 12:32-40

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

What does the blues have to say about celebration? More than we think. In this video, we look at how the blues teaches us that real celebration doesn’t ignore pain—it rises out of it.

Too often in preaching, we rush to “celebration” and skip the struggle. But the blues shows us how to hold lament and joy together, and how to preach a hope that’s rooted in reality.

Watch as we explore:

Why celebration means more when it grows out of lament

How the blues teaches us to preach with honesty and depth

What true “rise” looks like in the pulpit

👉 Read the full article here: https://soulpreaching.com/what-the-blues-teaches-us-about-celebration
👉 Subscribe for more resources: https://soulpreaching.com/9-2
Celebration and the Blues
What does it mean to preach the truth with the honesty and depth of the blues? In this video, we explore how the blues teaches us to name pain, sit in lament, confront injustice, and rise with hope that’s real—not manufactured.

The blues doesn’t rush past the struggle. It tells the truth about life and points toward God’s presence in the middle of it. That’s exactly what our preaching needs right now.

Watch as we break down:

Why the blues is a model for truthful preaching

How lament makes space for authentic hope

What it looks like to confront injustice from the pulpit

👉 Read the full article here: https://soulpreaching.com/preaching-truth-through-the-blues
👉 Subscribe for more resources: https://soulpreaching.com/9-2
Preaching Through The Blues
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!
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

  • The Moan and the Whoop: Where Blues Meets Preaching
  • Sermon is Art Not Lecture
  • Why The Psalms and the Prophets Sound Like Blues
  • How The Blues Helped My Preaching
  • Preaching Truth Through the Blues

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