In Preaching Articles: "Challenges"

5 Mistakes More Likely To Be Made By Small Churches Than Big Churches

By Karl Vaters on May 25, 2022

Different sizes of churches serve different functions. And they face different challenges.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: strategy, Small Church, Equipping The Body, Traditions of Men

Death By Ministry

By Eugene Cho on Jan 22, 2025

Pastoral ministry is rewarding yet deeply taxing. These insights and statistics reveal its strain, spiritual battles, and the urgent need to care for our pastors well.

Tags: Ministry, leadership, pastor, Servanthood, Church Body of Christ, Pastor, Pastor Encouragement, Clergy Wellness, Leadership, ministry challenges, ministry, pastor encouragement, Pastoral Health, Ministry Challenges  (view more)  (view less)

How To Pastor An Evangelistic Church

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 23, 2021

Pastors, do you know what an"evangelistic church" looks like? Are you even taking the time to share the gospel?

Scripture: Ephesians 4:10, 1 Corinthians 11:1

Tags: Evangelism, leadership, challenge, Sharing Your Faith, Setting an example, evangelism, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

One Vital Preaching Skill That Just Can't Be Faked: Do You Have It?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 14, 2025

Brandon Cox challenges us to ask ourselves the tough questions about a core value.

Tags: preaching skill, preaching, Preaching, prepare, listener, orator  (view more)  (view less)

What Do Your People Want To Hear From The Pulpit?

By Ron Allen on Sep 13, 2020

"The most surprising challenge to emerge from the data is a request to preachers to bring controversial issues into the pulpit."

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Why Successful Churches Aren’t Turning The World Upside-Down – But The Outcasts Might

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 30, 2023

Jesus was the most culture-challenging, paradigm-shifting, tradition-breaking, change agent who ever lived.

Tags: leadership, Small Church, church in society, prophetic voice, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Kind Of Old-Time Religion The Church Really Needs

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 11, 2022

I often wonder what the church would look like if it really accepted the challenge to love everybody.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Tags: Love, Outreach, Religion, Generations

3 Ways Great Leaders Handle Tough Circumstances Differently

By Carey Nieuwhof on Dec 7, 2023

If you want to imitate the great leaders when you face challenging situations, do these three things.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:11, Psalm 62:5, Philippians 3:12

Tags: leadership, success, Obstacles, opposition, pastoral leadership, church leadership, Tough Circumstances, Mindset, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Final Piece Of Sermon Prep: What To Cut, What To Add

By Peter Mead on Aug 21, 2025

Rookie preachers wonder how they will fill the time. Experienced preachers know the real challenge is in what to leave out.

Scripture: Exodus 6:1-9

Tags: Preaching, Balance, information, sermon prep, selective, Sermon Prep, preaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

How Getting Personal Creates Powerful Preaching Moments

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 23, 2023

Although it may be a difficult challenge, sharing your personal experiences can lead your people to deeper faith in Christ.

Tags: Preaching, Story, storm, preaching

Your Struggling Church Can Turn Around Today – But Greatness Takes Time

By Karl Vaters on Aug 22, 2023

If you’re pastoring a church that has or is turning around, here's some great news - and possibly your greatest challenge.

Scripture: Revelation 21:5

Tags: leadership, renewal, patience, Church Health, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Success Is Never About Defeating The Giants

By Brandon Cox on Nov 26, 2023

Success isn’t about beating giants. It’s about building a life that grows through trials and challenges.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:34-37

Tags: success, goals, achievement, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, success in ministry, Facing Giants, church ministry  (view more)  (view less)

10 Last Minute Preaching Tips

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 26, 2020

Pastoral wisdom reminds us that preaching is personal, formational, and inseparably tied to humility, truth, and the living Christ. These quotes challenge and sharpen us.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2

Tags: Preaching, spiritual formation, preaching, Spiritual Formation

Do We Owe Every Wedding Ceremony A Fresh Sermon?

By Nathan Aaseng on Jun 4, 2023

The challenge is to make the wedding couple feel that the homily is not just a canned one, pulled out of the file and dusted off for the 35th time.

Tags: Wedding, Fresh, Preaching, preaching

Getting Out Of The Sermon Prep Rut

By Matt Brough on Nov 15, 2024

One of the challenges for preachers who have been preaching for some time is that it is much easier to coast, to do less preparation and to simply rely on your experience.

Tags: Sermon prep, Preaching, problem, sermon prep, Preaching Rut, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)