In Preaching Articles: "Bad Leadership"

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jul 11, 2024

This week work at paying attention to your soul. Listen to your emotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what is going on beneath the surface of all your “doing”.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1, John 16:32, John 16:32

Tags: Approval, personal holiness, Growth in Christ, pastoral leadership, God's Approval, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ministry Killers Every Pastor’s Wife Faces

By Charles Stone on Aug 21, 2025

Eight in ten pastors’ wives say they feel unappreciated or unaccepted by their husband’s congregations. Charles Stone and his wife give insight into how to protect your spouse and your marriage during the sometimes difficult calling of pastoral ministry.

Tags: Ministry, stress, Marriage, wife, family, Stress, Pastoral Care, Ministry Health, Pastors Wife, Marriage Support, Church Body of Christ, Marriage General, church leadership, ministry, marriage support, Church Leadership, relationships, priorities, home, Difficulties, pastoral care, Spouse  (view more)  (view less)

Those Frustrating Times With Church Members

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 14, 2023

"Any pastor can tell you about it. Even when you do your best to serve God by ministering to His people, some church members are not going to forgive you. You didn’t do it their way, weren’t there when they called, didn’t jump at their bark." So how do you handle these kinds of situations?

Tags: Love like Christ, pastoral leadership, church membership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, ministry struggles, Difficult People, conflict  (view more)  (view less)

3 Big Problems With Running A Church Like A Business

By Karl Vaters on Oct 4, 2022

"We’re always decrying the rise of the consumer culture within the church. But how should we expect people to act when pastors act like CEOs marketing Jesus as a product?"

Tags: Lord Of The Church, shallow church, Jesus is Lord, pastoral leadership, church and business, Pastoral Ministry, avoiding burnout, church ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Pastors Never Know Who’s In The Audience

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 18, 2022

When a pastor stands to preach, he never knows who is listening to him. And if his sermon is recorded or broadcast, he has no clue who will be hearing his words. He will do well to make sure he knows what he’s talking about.

Tags: Preaching Blunders, communication, preaching, teaching, Teaching, Preaching, preaching tips, pastoral leadership, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, Communication  (view more)  (view less)

If You're Going To Do Church That Way, Do It Well

By Karl Vaters on Nov 30, 2023

Churches don’t become great by adding more programs. They get better at the ones they already have.

Tags: liturgy, Denomination, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, church leadership, People Over Programs, Form and Substance, Do What's right, e  (view more)  (view less)

8 Questions To Ask Before You Preach A Sermon

By Josh Reich on Oct 17, 2022

8 questions to ask as you prepare to preach your next sermon.

Tags: preaching, teaching, Preaching Help, pastoral leadership, preaching the Word, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching, Teaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Doing Ministry Without Losing Your Soul Part 1

By Lance Witt on May 13, 2024

"There is nothing worse than trying to inspire people to be passionate about God when you have little or no passion yourself. There is nothing more empty feeling than trying to connect people to God when you feel disconnected from God."

Tags: soul care, avoiding burnout, church ministry, Growing in Faith, Christ's Love for Us, Healthy Ministry, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

The Top 3 Reasons Church Growth Ideas Usually Fail In Smaller Churches

By Karl Vaters on Aug 31, 2022

We're often told that small churches are failing at church growth. But sometimes church growth ideas are failing in smaller churches.

Tags: Church Growth, Context, pastoral leadership, Church Attendance, church ministry, rural church, Growth Strategy, Urban Church, context, church attendance  (view more)  (view less)

12 Simple Ways To Be A Pastor Who Prays Like A Warrior

By Hal Seed on Nov 11, 2022

I believe every pastor ought to be a prayer warrior.

Scripture: Isaiah 56:7, 1 Samuel 3:10

Tags: God hears prayer, daily prayer, Prayer for Others, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Holy Spirit's Power, Seek God's Face, Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Finishing (Your Sermon) Well

By Michael Voll on Dec 5, 2022

Come Sunday morning many times we preachers fill our sermons with funny stories, but forget to point to the ultimate story of Jesus Christ.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: preaching the gospel, Sermon Prep, preaching, teaching, Sermon prep, Preaching, illustration, application, pastoral leadership, sermon prep, preaching Christ, Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Relevant, Old Paths

By Rev. Burk Parsons on Nov 26, 2022

If we are to redirect the current paths of young people, we must begin in the church by taking up the charge to come alongside younger men and women, and teach them the old, ancient values of God's Word.

Tags: child training, bible study, Bible Study, Bible Truth, pastoral leadership, teach children, call to discipleship, guard the truth, teach, BIBLE STUDY, bible truth  (view more)  (view less)

Why I Said Yes To Pastoral Ministry

By Chuck Warnock on Dec 16, 2022

Pastoral calling can fade under pressure, success, or discouragement. This reflection uncovers why ministers lose sight of their call and how to remember it again.

Tags: Church, Call, pastor, Pastors, Small Church, Church General, Pastoral Calling, Clergy Encouragement, Leadership General, Pastoral Ministry, Spiritual Renewal, Pastor, church, Ministry Burnout  (view more)  (view less)

When Is A Sermon Good Enough?

By Stephen Gregory on Jul 16, 2024

A pastor wrestles with preparation, expectations, and perfectionism, discovering how God uses imperfect sermons when the preacher is faithful, honest, and attentive to the flock.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3

Tags: Church, Preaching, pastor, spiritual growth, Communication General, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching Challenges, Spiritual Growth, Ministry Leadership, Pastor, Sermon Preparation, preaching, church, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Reasonable Compensation For Pastors And Ministers

By Thomas J. Winters on Jan 10, 2025

Pastoral compensation must be fair, transparent, and compliant with IRS standards. This guide explains how churches determine reasonable pay and avoid excess benefit violations.

Tags: Money, Leader, Budget, pastor, finances, practice, Pastoral Compensation, IRS Compliance, Nonprofit Accountability, Minister Pay, Speculation, Church Practices, Leadership General, Church Governance, Pastor, leader  (view more)  (view less)