What makes a faithful sermon? Is it verse-by-verse exposition, topical teaching, or something deeper? In this episode of Practically Pastoring, Frank sits down with Michael Moore. A bi-vocational pastor and the creator behind Honest Youth Pastor. We talk about sermon prep, youth ministry curriculum, and the role of AI in preaching.

Michael shares his framework for sermon reviews, how pastors should think about using curriculum, and why tribalism in the church can cloud our judgment of good preaching. Plus, we dive into the realities of critique, feedback, and how pastors can sharpen their sermons with humility and accountability.

If you’ve ever wrestled with sermon prep, preaching philosophy, or the future of pastoring in a digital age—this episode is for you.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & Michael Moore (“Honest Youth Pastor”)

01:00 – What makes a faithful sermon? Exegesis vs. exposition

07:20 – Why young preachers copy personalities over doing the hard work

09:50 – Youth pastors & curriculum: when is it helpful, when is it harmful?

17:10 – AI in preaching: ethical use or dangerous shortcut?

23:30 – The “taco illustration” for sermon prep & AI

31:00 – The importance of real feedback vs. AI feedback

33:00 – Michael’s documentaries on pastors & pushback he’s received

38:40 – Pastors people praise vs. pastors people roast (Russell Johnson, Tim Keller, etc.)

47:20 – The problem of tribalism in church circles

50:00 – How to create a sermon feedback system in smaller churches

57:20 – Why thick skin & structured critique are essential

01:01:20 – Final thoughts + Michael’s plugs

🔗 Michael Moore (Honest Youth Pastor)

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Hosts:

🧔🏽‍♂️ Frank Gil - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/pastorfrankgil/

⁠⁠👨🏼 Jeff Simpson - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffcsimpson/

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👨🏼‍💼 Andrew Larsen - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/andrewjlarsen/⁠⁠

🏋🏼 Timothy Miller - ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/timothyamiller/⁠⁠

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