In this episode, I’m joined by Bob Hiller to talk about the craft of preaching, how to navigate the pressures of pastoral ministry in 2026, and what belongs in the homiletical moment. We also discuss the danger of being a ministerial lone-wolf, why sermons aren’t TED talks, and why the preacher’s job is the same as it’s always been: deliver Christ, and get out of the way.
Bob Hiller serves as the senior pastor of Community Lutheran Church in Escondido, California, where he lives with his wife and three kids. He also serves as the content editor for The Craft of Preaching, along with co-hosting the White Horse Inn. You can follow him on Facebook and Instagram.
Resources:
“Have No Fear, Little Flock,” Bob Hiller
“The Craft of Preaching with Bob Hiller,” Outside Ourselves
Finding Christ in the Straw: A Forty-Day Devotion on the Epistle of James, Bob Hiller
Preaching, Fred B. Craddock
Finding God in the Darkness: Hopeful Reflections from the Pits of Depression, Despair, and Disappointment, Bradley Gray
Sponsor:
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Credits:
Intro music: It Just Makes Me Happy
Composer: DJ Quads, soundcloud.com/aka-dj-quads
License: Creative Commons (BY-NC 3.0), creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
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