In Preaching Articles: "Attending Church"

4 Reasons Why You Should Share The Pulpit

By Kevin Larson on Aug 16, 2024

Sharing the pulpit strengthens the church, protects the pastor, and equips future leaders. Fear and pride keep pastors from doing it, but the cost is too high to ignore.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:12, 1 Timothy 5:17, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Equip, training, Pastoral Ministry, preaching, Pulpit  (view more)  (view less)

Rethinking "Next Steps” In Discipleship

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 30, 2020

Churches often talk about “next steps,” but the phrase can become vague and ineffective. Meaningful discipleship requires clear, practical, and relational pathways for spiritual growth.

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 10:24-25, James 1:22, Colossians 1:28, 2 Peter 3:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Story, success, step, next, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why "Preach Like The Room Is Full" Is Some Of The Worst Advice

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 16, 2025

"Even if only three people show up to church, preach like the room is full!" That's some of the worst advice I've ever received in ministry.

Tags: Preaching, opportunity, full room, terrible advice, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

6 Tips On How Pastors Can Help Others Discover Their Spiritual Gifts

By Charles Stone on Apr 1, 2023

The more pastors help people discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual gifts, the healthier our churches become. How have you helped others discover their gifts?

Tags: Preaching, Spiritual Gifts, preaching

It’s Time To Get Mean About The Vision God Has Given You

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 1, 2021

Your church is in desperate need of a vision that is informed by God’s Word, inspired by God’s Spirit, and applied passionately and broken-heartedly to your local context.

Tags: Amen

What Pastors Are Trying To Do

By Joe Mckeever on Aug 16, 2022

The church member stares and wonders what’s going on and why you’re making so much noise until the day he/she meets Jesus.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 5:17

Tags: Faithfulness, Transformation, Follow Jesus, preaching Christ

Was Jesus Numerically Challenged?

By Ray Hollenbach on Jun 29, 2020

Is numerical growth proof of God’s grace? This reflection questions the assumption that size equals faithfulness and contrasts modern metrics with Jesus’ slow, seed-shaped vision of the church.

Scripture: Acts 2:41, Matthew 28:19-20, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, 1 Peter 2:5, Matthew 13:31-33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Growth, Faithfulness, number

When The Pastor Feels Unappreciated

By Chris Surber on Apr 26, 2025

Pastors who feel unseen must anchor their identity in Christ, practice wise self-care, and teach their churches about mutual care without sounding self-serving.

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Timothy 5:17, Acts 16:33, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 13:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: encouragement, Encouragement

New Poll: What's The Average Length Of Sermon Prep?

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 16, 2021

Sermon preparation is one of the most time-consuming and least visible parts of pastoral ministry. Many church members underestimate the hours required to faithfully prepare a single message.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Timothy 4:13-16, Acts 6:4, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Prayer, preparation, average, Prep, Time  (view more)  (view less)

Preach A Funeral Like You'll Never Be Invited Back

By Chris Surber on Jul 14, 2025

A crowd of non-churchgoers just gathered in a church. Call me crazy. I don't know much. But perhaps you should tell them about Jesus?

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Tags: Christ, Preaching, Funeral, preaching

4 Traits Of Speakers Who Connect With Their Audience

By Lane Sebring on Jul 11, 2023

Recently my church hosted a leadership conference to encourage and equip our lay leaders and staff. One of the speakers at the event, Nikki, impacted me with her engaging presentation.

Tags: Preaching, humor, Honesty, Communication Speech, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Two Questions To Break Despair

By Marion Clark on Dec 2, 2022

There is a great need for Christian counselors with the expertise to unravel the problems of life. The more a pastor is equipped in this area, the better they will be able to serve the members of their church who are facing difficulties and trials.

Tags: Hope, encouragement, Counselor, Despair, pastoral care, WISE COUNSEL, fixing eyes on Jesus, counseling  (view more)  (view less)

The Ultimate Character Test Any Great Leader Passes

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 14, 2023

Moral failure takes out more leaders than it should. But real success is deeper than just avoiding the ditch.

Tags: leadership, Character, Faithfulness, Home Life, Integrity, Popularity, pastoral leadership, church leadership, First Things First, Leadership Failure, True Success, e, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Vacation Bible School Promotion And Communication, Part Two

By Lisa Eifert on May 16, 2024

Getting kids to VBS is big step. It’s a great way to help kids during the vulnerable summer months and introduce new families to your church. Communication and promotion are key steps to ensuring your church reaches as many kids as possible. There’s a lot that can be done to promote it so remember to call on your teens and a powerful group message service like One Call Now.

Tags: Communication, Technology, VBS, Youth Ministry, communication  (view more)  (view less)

Are You An Itinerant Pastor?

By Nathan Rouse on Sep 26, 2020

This addiction to "new" is breaking churches and ruining the credibility of those who minister in the pulpit. We need pastors who won't leave; we need pastors who will cleave.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Timothy 4:5, Hebrews 13:17, Galatians 6:9, Philippians 2:3-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Itinerant, Attrition, Pastoral Ministry, preaching, Pulpit  (view more)  (view less)