In Preaching Articles: "Call To Discipleship"

Preaching God's Dangerous Truth

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jun 17, 2020

Preaching must resist political birthright-stealers and proclaim the dangerous truth that God has come. Advent calls us to vision, courage, and bold proclamation.

Scripture: Luke 2:10, Matthew 13:17, Matthew 10:7, Revelation 10:10-11, Micah 4:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching, pastoral courage, Pastoral Courage

4 Attributes Of Powerful Preaching

By Kevin Deyoung on Jan 29, 2025

Kevin DeYoung presents four qualities of what he calls "truly good preaching–-the kind that resonates with people and the kind God tends to employ."

Scripture: Matthew 7:28-29

Tags: Preaching, Authenticity, Clarity, Veracity, Authority, Leadership General, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Slaves In Your Church’s Backyard

By David Batstone on Dec 14, 2022

Modern slavery hides in plain sight. These stories reveal how trafficking thrives worldwide and even locally, calling Christians to seek justice with persistent, sacrificial love.

Tags: Compassion, Culture, Slavery, Justice, traffic, injustice, Human Trafficking, abolition, culture, Modern Slavery, Abolition  (view more)  (view less)

When Mission Replaces God: Escaping The Trap Of Missionalism

By Skye Jethani on Jul 29, 2024

Skye Jethani: "While a vision for serving God is needed, and the desperate condition of our world cannot be ignored, there is a higher calling that is going unanswered in many Christian communities."

Scripture: Psalm 62:1-6

Tags: Evangelism, Missions, renewal, evangelism, Renewal  (view more)  (view less)

7 Ways To Tell If It's A God Thing

By Ron Edmondson on Apr 3, 2023

God often calls His people into assignments that seem impossible or irrational. Here are seven marks that may indicate the task before you is truly from Him.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Chronicles 20:12, 1 Corinthians 1:27, Philippians 4:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: opportunity, christian living, Christian Living

Powerful Preaching Means Transformation, Not Information

By James Scott on Jul 13, 2020

Being informed by Scripture can still leave lives unchanged. Biblical Christianity calls for Christ to be formed within us, producing real transformation, not mere knowledge.

Scripture: Galatians 4:19, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 1:27, James 1:22-25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Transformation, preaching, Pastoral Theology

Preaching A Notable Sermon Without Using Notes

By Rev. Tejado Hanchell on Aug 19, 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."

Tags: Preaching, memories, memorization, preaching

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

Preaching Real Gospel Change In A World Obsessed With Self-Improvement

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 7, 2025

True transformation is not moral effort but new life in Christ. Preachers must translate “change” into gospel terms, clarifying how God recreates, reshapes, and renews His people.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:7

Tags: Church, Growth, Discipleship, Preaching, Change, Transformation, counsel, Christian growth, new life in Christ, Spiritual Transformation, preaching, church, Christian Growth, New Life In Christ  (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)

What Is Saving Faith?

By R. C. Sproul on Sep 1, 2022

Faith is central to Christianity. The New Testament repeatedly calls people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a definite body of content to be believed, which is part and parcel of our religious activity.

Scripture: James 2:14-17

Tags: Salvation, justification, Adoption, Reformation, saving faith, Preach Christ, God's righteousness, preaching the gospel, salvation by grace  (view more)  (view less)

Is The Body Of Christ In Trouble?

By Barry O. Johnson on Sep 12, 2024

Barry Johnson offers some helpful insights into the state of the Church in America, and offers a loving call for pastors to take bold steps of faith wherever God has planted them.

Tags: Gospel, Truth, Preaching, Body of Christ, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Good & Bad Cases Of Church Discipline

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 11, 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

Pastor, Are You Chasing Stray Dogs?

By Chris Surber on Jan 27, 2023

"Here is a list of people who have left the church in the last few years. We would like you to call on them to see if you can win a few of them back."

Tags: Church, Preaching, members, Church Health, stray dog, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Shepherd God’s Flock: Our Job As Pastors

By Chris Pascarella on Sep 20, 2022

As pastors, we’re called to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2). In fact, God holds us accountable for our shepherding (Hebrews 13:17). But what does it look like to shepherd?

Scripture: Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:2

Tags: Shepherd, strategy, Eldership, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, shepherding, Shepherding  (view more)  (view less)