#113 Sermon Preparation Made Powerful: The Missing Step Most Preachers Skip

Dr. Dee Stokes and Rev. Dr. Adam White share groundbreaking insights from their research on what makes preaching truly compelling.

Most preachers spend hours on sermon preparation – studying scripture, crafting illustrations, and polishing delivery. But research shows there’s a crucial step that’s often missing: creating intentional spaces to hear what our congregations are actually receiving from our preaching. In this episode, Dr. Dee Stokes and Rev. Dr. Adam White share insights from their groundbreaking “And How Will They Hear?” initiative at Luther Seminary, revealing how systematic listening transforms both preaching and congregational engagement.

Through their work with diverse cohorts of preachers, they’ve discovered that the most compelling sermons aren’t necessarily the most polished – they’re the ones where preachers have learned to listen deeply to both God and their congregations. Learn practical tools for gathering meaningful feedback, understand why vulnerability matters more than ever in preaching, and discover how shifting from evaluation to understanding can deepen your sermon’s impact. Plus, hear why reimagining God’s agency in preaching might be the key to unlocking more powerful proclamation.

Show Notes:

Featuring

Headshot of Dr. Dee Stokes

Dr. Dee Stokes

Dr. Dee Stokes is an entrepreneurial minister, educator, consultant, author, and podcaster with 30 years of experience in education. She brings a unique perspective as someone who understands co-vocational ministry, having served in both educational and pastoral roles. Her expertise spans from PreK-8 administration to university-level teaching, along with experience as a Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor.

Rev. Dr. Adam White Faith+Lead headshot

Rev. Dr. Adam White

Rev. Adam White serves as Senior Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church. With degrees from Hastings College, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and Luther Seminary, he brings both academic and practical ministry experience. He has served in campus ministry at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and teaches as an Adjunct Instructor at Luther Seminary.

Meet Your Hosts

  • Katie Langston

    Katie Langston is a doubter by nature and a believer by grace. She grew up Mormon in Cache Valley, Utah, and converted to orthodox (little "o") Christianity after a profound experience of God's grace over a decade ago. Now she works as the director of digital strategy for Faith+Lead and as pastor of mission and outreach at New Promise Lutheran Church in St. George, Utah. Katie is the author of a spiritual memoir called Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace.

  • Dr. Dwight Zscheile

    Dr. Dwight Zscheile is vice president of innovation and professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary. His latest book is Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future (with Michael Binder and Tessa Pinkstaff, Fortress Press, 2023).

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