In Preaching Articles: "Becoming Like Christ"

Don't Close Your Sermon Like That!

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 30, 2021

"Like meat, a great sermon makes its own gravy." Our job is to serve the whole meal.

Tags: Close

Leading Like Jesus Means Making Big Challenges

By James Scott on Jun 22, 2021

Jesus never shied away from calling people to make big changes--do you?

Tags: Jesus, obedience, challenge, Follow

Randy Alcorn: The Hope Of Easter Is That We Will Be Like Him

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 2, 2021

"As Jesus was raised to come back to live on Earth, so we will be raised to come back to live on Earth."

Tags: Jesus, Easter, Preaching, Cross, Promise, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching Is Like Setting A Wildfire—except When It's Not

By Jacob Myers on Mar 7, 2024

How do you decide what to burn and what to protect?

Scripture: Joshua 6:6-25, Proverbs 8:34

Tags: Preaching, Culture, Reality, Struggle, wildfire, preaching, culture  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Like You’re Having A Conversation

By Lane Sebring on Jan 20, 2026

Want your sermons to connect on a deeper level? Learn how a conversational preaching style can make your message more personal, relatable, and engaging.

Tags: authentic ministry, Authentic Ministry

Don't Like Small Churches? Me Neither

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 2, 2023

The problems most people have with small churches aren’t about size, they’re about sickness. And sickness can happen in churches of any size.

Tags: Community, Preaching, Small Church, community, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

You Are Up To The Task Whether You Feel Like It Or Not

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 17, 2022

Deep in the heart of every man I’ve ever met lurks a daunting question that casts a shadow over every major challenge we ever face: Am I up to this?

Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14, Philippians 1:6

Tags: leadership, Courage, Overwhelmed, confidence in God, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

3 Big Problems With Running A Church Like A Business

By Karl Vaters on Oct 3, 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: Jesus is Lord, pastoral leadership, church and business, Pastoral Ministry, avoiding burnout, church ministry, Lord Of The Church, shallow church  (view more)  (view less)

Sunday's Message Is For Babes In Christ And Old Saints: Can You Reach Them All?

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 12, 2021

Ask pastors what their toughest regular assignment is, and speaking a message that ministers to everyone is at or near the top of the list.

Scripture: Romans 8:28-30, 1 Peter 4:5-10

Tags: Preaching, Learning, language, Result, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

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

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 15, 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)

7 Phrases Christians Like To Say That Aren’t True

By Lori Hatcher on May 30, 2024

"We’ve all heard them—phrases that sound wise, insightful, and biblical. But are they really? Let’s look at some common sayings, compare them to the Bible, and see if they hold up."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, James 1:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 3:10, Daniel 10:11, Psalm 148:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Theology, Know the Truth, Biblical truth, chosen people, Enduring Hardship, help in temptation, guard the truth, Contending for truth  (view more)  (view less)

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

By Hal Seed on Nov 10, 2022

I believe every pastor ought to be a prayer warrior.

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

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

You Don't Feel Like Preaching? You're Not Alone

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Nov 12, 2021

"Just like Habakkuk wrote on and just like Andre sang on, I would encourage you to PREACH ON."

Tags: pain, Habakkuk, Preaching, Feelings, ignore, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Sometimes I Feel Like Giving Up, But I Know Better

By Brandon Cox on Apr 26, 2024

Sometimes, I feel that I’m spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere, and that I’m failing to meet the expectations of others.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12

Tags: Holy Spirit, Discouragement, confidence in God, giving up

4 Reasons Not To Give An Altar Call

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Aug 11, 2024

Altar calls can help seekers respond to Christ, but they can also distort the gospel when misused. Here are four situations in which giving an altar call becomes unwise.

Scripture: John 6:47, Luke 23:43, John 12:42, Romans 10:9-10, 1 Corinthians 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Invitation, altar call, gospel clarity, Gospel Clarity, Altar Call  (view more)  (view less)