Learnings from Seminary with Preaching Today’s Biblical Preaching Award Winners

Learnings from Seminary with Preaching Today’s Biblical Preaching Award Winners

Author: Steve Carter August 23, 2022 Duration: 49:01
In this episode, Steve Carter chops it up with four recipients of the 2022 Preaching Today Biblical Preaching Award: Ryan Roach (Western Seminary, Portland, OR), Abby Stuckle (George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor, TX), Rachel Koch (Denver Seminary, Denver, CO), and Christian Schmitt (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Hamilton, MA). This award is given on the basis of faithful biblical exposition, clear and simple structure, creativity, pastoral application to daily life, and urgency in delivery. These students beautifully embody not just the excellence of world-class theological education, but also the humility of Jesus. They tackle some hard-hitting homiletics topics like: How to preach in a multiethnic church. Why preachers should know their passage AND their people well. Why expository preaching is a gift to the preacher and congregation. How to preach in a way your audience can absorb and process. The pros and cons of Haddon Robinson’s legendary “big idea” preaching model. This episode will add tools to your belt as a preacher, while infusing you with hope about the quality of today’s rising expositors. EPISODE LINKS You can read each guest’s award-winning sermon here.

Steve Carter hosts Craft & Character, a space where the art of preaching meets the inward journey of the preacher. This isn't about quick tips or isolated techniques; it's a deep, thoughtful exploration of how who you are fundamentally shapes what you say from the pulpit. Each episode rests on a central, challenging question: are you merely transferring religious information, or are you speaking from a place that has been genuinely and personally transformed? The conversations in this podcast argue that authentic, impactful communication of faith cannot happen without the messenger's own life being shaped by the very truths they proclaim. You'll hear Steve engage with a variety of voices on the intricate blend of skill development and spiritual formation. The discussions are grounded in practical wisdom for the craft of sermon preparation and delivery, while always circling back to the essential priority of character, integrity, and a vibrant personal walk. Designed for those in ministry, from seasoned pastors to those just starting out, this podcast offers a rare and refreshing honesty about the pressures and privileges of the role. It’s for anyone who believes that teaching well requires living well first, making Craft & Character a vital resource for personal growth and professional development within the realms of faith and leadership.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Craft & Character
Podcast Episodes
The Essential Preaching Frequencies with Erwin McManus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:07
Erwin McManus has spent decades honing his skill as a communicator, at Mosaic (the church he founded in Hollywood, CA), at conferences around the world, and in living rooms filled with a handful of friends. Wherever he g…
The Preacher's Checklist with Luke Norsworthy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:25
This episode is packed with insights from Luke Norsworthy, pastor of Westover Hills Church in Austin, Texas, and author of God Over Good and Befriending Your Monsters. His conversation with Steve Carter meanders through…
Help Is Here with Max Lucado [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:30
“I can’t do another meeting. I don’t want to preach another sermon. Lord, help me!” Two years into his pastorate, Max Lucado offered this prayer as a last-ditch effort to stay in ministry. God answered him, and now decad…
The Best of You with Alison Cook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:21
In Christian circles, thinking about yourself is often labeled selfish. Psychologist and theologian Dr. Alison Cook pushes back on this assumption, explaining why caring for yourself is actually the best way to care for…
The Required Humility with Steve Carter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:53
In this special episode of Craft and Character, Steve Carter shares why humility is the key to growing as a preacher一a reflection sparked by a conversation he had with Nancy Beach. Communicators give many reasons for neg…
Digital Hygiene with Jay Kim [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:10
Like many of us, Jay Kim often feels that involuntary urge to reach for his phone. As the lead pastor at Westgate Church in San Jose, CA, he knows firsthand that modern people crave guidance for using devices well. Jay’s…
The Heart of Preparation with Ken Shigematsu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:56
“Ken, if the ship sinks now, everyone will blame you.” It wasn’t the ideal pep talk for a pastor in his first few days on the job, especially at a church that had gone through 20 pastors in 20 years. But when someone spo…
Speaking to the Soul with Jeanne Stevens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:49
The modern world is a relentless waterfall of information一sound bytes and images flood our minds and trouble our hearts. Enter Jeanne Stevens, whose recent book, What’s Here Now?, unpacks the power of presence and how it…
Make the Good News Your Life's Work with Nick Hall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
Nick Hall’s mission is to raise up the next generation of evangelists. In our anxiety-filled age, Nick boldly models how the gospel offers the exact hope and comfort the world craves. His voice is prophetically challengi…
A Church Worth Fighting For with Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:19
In this episode, Steve Carter interviews Nancy Beach and her daughter Samantha Beach Kiley一two women humbly modeling what it looks like to lead the church in a skeptical age. They are both pastors, leaders, and champions…