In Preaching Articles: "Believe"

Preaching That Cultivates Life Together

By Chris Surber on May 19, 2025

Faithful preaching does more than communicate truth. It helps form a community united in Christ, where believers learn to live, serve, and grow together.

Scripture: Acts 14:14-15, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 4:18, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Fellowship

Why Great Sermons Also Include Listening

By Ryan Huguley on May 30, 2025

Preaching is not only about the preacher delivering the message but also about the congregation listening well. Scripture calls believers to receive the Word with prayer, humility, and expectation.

Scripture: Luke 16:17, James 1:21-22, Hebrews 4:12, Acts 17:11, 1 Thessalonians 2:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Listen, Great, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, Biblical Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Smart Preachers Help Propagate Dumb Ideas

By Larry Osborne on Jun 11, 2021

Smart people can believe some really dumb things. What's worse--I think I've taught some of them from the pulpit.

Tags: Preaching, advice, cliche, platitude, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Secrets To Sermons On Giving

By Bob Russell on Jan 7, 2025

Stewardship preaching doesn’t have to repel people. With timing, tone, and practical teaching, pastors can address money biblically and help believers grow in generosity.

Scripture: Mark 10:21

Tags: Faith, Money, Healing, Giving, Stewardship, Power, Preaching, miracles, Funeral, Generosity, Homosexuality, Tithes, election, Tithing, Labor, Giving General, Christian Giving, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Should You Preach Without Notes?

By Rev. Tejado Hanchell on Aug 18, 2020

"I believe every preacher should have at least one sermon in his heart that he could preach with or without notes if called upon at a moment's notice."

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, Psalm 119:11, Colossians 3:16

Tags: Preaching, memorization, Pastoral Ministry, preaching

Most Pastors Reject Pulpit Political Endorsements

By Carol Pipes on Mar 17, 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)

There Is No 'us' Or 'them,' There Is Just 'us'

By Jeff K. Clarke on Dec 16, 2021

One of the primary reasons we struggle with differing views on any subject is that we believe acceptance equals agreement. That is, to accept a person or their argument is to agree with them.

Scripture: John 13:34-35

Tags: Love, Fear, conversation, anger, disagreement  (view more)  (view less)

Because Of Your Gifts Or In Spite Of Them: God Speaks Through Preaching

By Stephanie J. Spencer on Dec 1, 2019

"God uses broken vessels to shine His light. I believe He can speak through me because of my gifts or in spite of my gifts, depending on the circumstance."

Tags: Inadequacy, broken vessel, preaching, Preaching

8 Preachable Marks Of A Transformed Life

By Philip Nation on Jan 8, 2025

Spiritual transformation is God’s work in believers, shaping them into Christ’s image. These eight biblical marks help pastors guide their people toward genuine gospel change.

Scripture: Galatians 4:19, Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 12:1-2

Tags: Church, Discipleship, Preaching, pastor, Transformation, transformed life, Pastor, preaching, church, Transformed Life  (view more)  (view less)

Good & Bad Cases Of Church Discipline

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 10, 2025

A real church incident exposes why believers distrust discipline. Yet Scripture shows discipline is meant to heal, not harm, calling us to restore one another with Christ’s presence.

Tags: pastoral care, Pastoral Care

I Write Stories During Sermons

By Carolyn C. Givens on May 11, 2021

Some believers process truth most deeply through narrative. This article explores how imaginative engagement during sermons can be disciplined by Scripture rather than distracted from it.

Scripture: John 1:14, Jeremiah 31:33, 2 Corinthians 5:20, James 1:21, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Parable, Preaching, Story, Engage, narrative, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Forgiveness Is Not

By Ron Edmondson on Jun 9, 2022

Understanding forgiveness doesn’t make it easier to forgive, but it does make it more meaningful. I believe understanding the process could make us more likely to offer the forgiveness we are commanded to give.

Tags: Grace, Forgiveness, relationships, Loving Others, Being merciful , grace  (view more)  (view less)

7 Ideas For Creativity In Series Planning

By Peter Mead on Jun 26, 2023

I believe in preaching series through books of the Bible. I do it. I teach others to do it. But I think we could all do with some extra creativity when it comes to planning a series.

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:4

Tags: Bible, Preaching, preaching the Word, sermon series, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

How To Make Christmas Your Best Outreach Of The Year

By Carey Nieuwhof on Dec 18, 2023

You might think it’s an event you do, or perhaps it’s Easter. But whether Christmas has historically been your best opportunity to reach unchurched people or not, I believe it could be.

Tags:

9 Things I Learned From Preaching About Homosexuality

By Josh Reich on Mar 3, 2021

Your language and tone tells your church how to communicate it. Not only are you training your church what to believe about homosexuality, but you are also training them how to talk about it, what they will sound like.

Tags: Preaching, Homosexuality