In Preaching Articles: "Be The Church"

How To Choose Your Next Preaching Series

By John Percival on Sep 15, 2020

Seven pastoral questions to help you prayerfully and wisely choose your next sermon series and feed your church a balanced biblical diet.

Scripture: Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Colossians 1:28, Psalm 119:105  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preparation, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Most Pastors Reject Pulpit Political Endorsements

By Carol Pipes on Mar 18, 2024

A LifeWay Research survey shows nearly 90 percent of Protestant pastors believe candidates should not be endorsed from the pulpit, even during election season.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:27, 1 Corinthians 2:2, Romans 13:1, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Politics, election, candidate, Church And State, Church and State  (view more)  (view less)

The Perfect Length For A Sermon

By Thom Schultz on Nov 25, 2020

Many assume longer sermons are spiritually richer, but length alone does not produce transformation. Effective preaching focuses on clarity, engagement, and lasting impact.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8, Mark 4:33, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:27, John 16:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, length, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Leading *chreasters* To Christ: 8 Ideas

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 18, 2025

Christmas and Easter bring many first-time church guests. Learn practical strategies churches can use to connect with holiday visitors and encourage them to return.

Scripture: Luke 19:10, Matthew 28:19, John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 10:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Outreach, New, interest, evangelism, church  (view more)  (view less)

How Long Should A Sermon Be?

By Brian Orme on May 22, 2021

Pastors often wrestle with sermon length, but there is no universal rule. The most faithful approach considers the congregation, the preacher’s maturity, and the goal of feeding people without overwhelming them.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 20:7-9, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, length, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Children Need To Hear The Whole Bible

By Melissa Kruger on Oct 10, 2024

Faithful preaching through all of Scripture inevitably addresses difficult topics. When the church teaches the whole Bible, it helps parents guide children through important conversations in a biblical context.

Scripture: Acts 20:27, Deuteronomy 31:12-13, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119:9, Ephesians 6:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Church, Preaching, Sex, preaching, church, Family Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Have A Reproducing Culture

By Ron Edmondson on May 7, 2021

You can’t recruit leaders – at least not effectively – if you never develop a culture to do so. Reproducing cultures reproduce leaders.

Tags: empower, church culture, ministry vision, church leadership

Ten Traits Of The Healthiest Churches Ten Years From Now

By SermonCentral .com on May 10, 2021

So, what if we could look into the future ten years from now, and see the characteristics of the healthiest churches in America? Would you be willing to make changes now? Take a look.

Tags: Healthy Church, diversity, Church Small Groups, mission

Freedom And Vision: Building A Collaborative Team Culture

By Glenn Packiam on Aug 21, 2023

Should I tell the team what I want them to do or should I let them create on their own?

Tags: Freedom, ministry vision, church leadership, Empowered churches

Pastor: Lead Your Church From The Pulpit!

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 13, 2020

Pastors sometimes make the mistake of separating preaching from leading, but Brandon Cox explains how they go together.

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, preaching

Ten Principles For Pastors Leading Plateaued Churches

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 13, 2022

Many churches plateau, but pastors don’t have to. These ten principles guide leaders toward renewal through prayer, humility, small improvements, and practical, Spirit-led steps.

Tags: Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Apathy, Fail, Leadership General, pastoral leadership, shepherding, Pastor, Leadership, Shepherding, church, Pastoral Leadership, Plateaue, Ministry Health  (view more)  (view less)

5 Top Priorities For Increasing Your Church

By Charles Arn on Jan 11, 2025

Decades of research reveal five church-growth principles—disciple-making, relationships, felt-needs, transitions, and social networks—that help any church engage its community.

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Growth, Discipleship, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Ministry Leadership, Pastor, Leadership, Congregational Health  (view more)  (view less)

4 Ways To Approach Unsaved Church Members

By Brian Croft on Jul 24, 2024

Pastors often meet sincere people who desire church membership but show little grasp of the gospel. This article offers four pastoral principles for wise, patient discernment.

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Tags: Discernment, Local Church Leadership

3 Simple Questions For Better Church Outreach

By Kevin Harney on Mar 18, 2025

Churches often pray, plan, and invest in outreach efforts, yet see little evangelistic fruit. These three diagnostic questions reveal whether a congregation truly has the biblical conviction, the gospel-driven love, and the sacrificial willingness needed to cultivate an outreach-shaped culture.

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 11:1-30

Tags: leadership, Leadership

Top 10 Tips For Handling Church Critics

By Charles Stone on Aug 9, 2024

Criticism is unavoidable in ministry, but how pastors respond shapes their health and leadership. Here are practical ways to face critics with maturity and grace.

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1, James 1:19-20, Galatians 6:1, Proverbs 27:6, Colossians 3:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ministry Skills