Leading Ideas shares Rev. Charley Reeb’s list of nine pulpit no-no’s.
“Many preachers shoot themselves in the foot when they start off with hackneyed or formulaic phrases that fail to capture the fleeting attention of those in the pew.  Charley Reeb, a Florida pastor known as a gifted preacher, outlines nine opening lines that good preachers avoid.”

Here’s the basic list but you can read more here.

1. Last night I was watching Netflix
2. I have three points today
3. Let me tell you a funny story
4. Our scripture lesson for today is
5. Before I begin today
6. My New Testament professor said
7. Let me illustrate
8. Did you hear the one about the priest, the minister, and the rabbi?
9. For those of you not here last week, let me recap

Charley Reeb is senior pastor of Pasadena Community Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. He blogs about preaching at charleyreeb.com. His new book, That’ll Preach!: 5 Simple Steps to Your Best Sermon Ever (Abingdon Press), comes out in May 2017.

Last Updated on January 30, 2024