In Preaching Articles: "Character"

How To Teach Old Testament Characters

By J.d. Greear on Feb 24, 2025

"I believe most contemporary teaching on Old Testament stories is hopelessly moralistic, giving us merely examples to emulate rather than a Savior to adore and hope in."

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Old Testament, David, Preaching, preaching

The Ultimate Character Test Any Great Leader Passes

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 13, 2023

Moral failure takes out more leaders than it should. But real success is deeper than just avoiding the ditch.

Tags: Leadership, pastoral leadership, church leadership, First Things First, Leadership Failure, True Success, e, leadership, Character, Faithfulness, Home Life, Integrity, Popularity  (view more)  (view less)

Should You Start A Chapter Of The Boring Preacher's Club?

By Michael Duduit on Sep 27, 2020

In a culture obsessed with activity and extremes, a little bit of boring can build character.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Are You A Well-Defined Leader?

By John Holm on Jul 18, 2021

"I've rarely coached someone who decided that more knowledge or more skill would help them become a successful leader. Instead, what they needed to learn was more about themselves."

Tags: Leader, Character, define, Leadership General

Have Mercy On Me: Four Glimpses Into The Heart Of God

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 7, 2022

God has made the world to turn again and again on fresh revelations of his mercy.

Scripture: Exodus 34:6-7, Exodus 33:19, Luke 1:78, Ephesians 2:3, 2 Chronicles 30:9, Romans 9:22-23, 2 Samuel 24:13-14, Psalm 51:1, Lamentations 4:10, Isaiah 30:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Mercy, Moses, God's Character, David

Framing Thanksgiving

By Mark Looyenga on Nov 13, 2024

Again and again in Scripture, biblical characters experience contentment amidst struggle or difficulty in ways that go beyond just circumstance.

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28, Ruth 1:16-17, Psalm 63:1-8, Philippians 4:11, James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6, Matthew 26:53, Matthew 27:14, Romans 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Thanksgiving, Contentment, gratitude, Perspective, perspective  (view more)  (view less)

Only One Perfect Pastor

By Taelor Gray on Apr 30, 2021

Growing up in church, I used to think of pastors as heroic, super-powered leaders who were almost like enhanced human beings. For me, they were moral superiors operating beyond the scope of failure and “common” struggle.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Galatians 2:11-14, Acts 20:17-38, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Tags: pastor, humanity, Imperfection, Pastoral Character, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

4 Deadly Dangers In Shortcutting Quality Exegesis

By Peter Mead on Dec 17, 2024

Shortcuts in exegesis result in a passage idea that does not carry the true content--nor the character--of the passage on which we claim to be preaching.

Scripture: Mark 4:35-41

Tags: Preaching, preaching

7 Ways To Affair-Proof Your Ministry

By Ron Edmondson on Jul 6, 2020

Moral failure devastates families and churches. These seven practical guardrails help leaders protect their hearts, marriages, and ministries from the pull of lust.

Scripture: 2 Samuel 11, Proverbs 4:23, 1 Corinthians 10:12, Matthew 5:28, 1 Timothy 3:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ministry, Marriage, temptation, Character, Integrity, ministry, Temptation  (view more)  (view less)

4 Deep Changes Your Preaching Should Produce

By Peter Mead on Sep 1, 2025

God's work is transformational. Is our preaching doing God's work?

Tags: deep change, preaching, Preaching, Character, Transformation, conduct  (view more)  (view less)

Check The Mirror, Pastor – After Five Years, Your Church Looks Like You

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 26, 2021

Show me a spiritually healthy church and I’ll show you a spiritually healthy pastor. Show me a spiritually unhealthy church and I’ll show you a spiritually unhealthy pastor.

Scripture: Hebrews 13:7

Tags: Humility, pastor, spiritual leadership, Pastoral Character, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

Promote Jesus: Not Personality, Professionalism, Or Brand

By Joe Hoagland on Jan 17, 2022

The church can learn a lot from worldly business and marketing trends but many times churches and church leaders end up promoting the wrong thing.

Tags: Jesus, focus on GOD, Pastoral Character, church marketing

The Battle Against Burnout

By Peter Walters on Feb 8, 2022

I think we don’t take seriously enough the fact that taking care of our bodies is a spiritual issue.

Scripture: 1 Kings 19:4-6, Mark 6:31, Leviticus 25:4, Exodus 20:8, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Proverbs 23:2, 1 Corinthians 6:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Body Temple, Rest, Commandments Sabbath, Pastoral Character

When The Pastor Has An Affair

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 15, 2022

Let me to share some of the best responses I have heard from churches that have gone through this tragic time.

Tags: Affair, Church Health, Pastoral Character, sexual immorality

How Leadership Capacity Affects The Growth And Health Of A Church

By Josh Reich on Oct 4, 2023

Now, we all know that God is the one who grows a church, but often that church is healthy and growing because of the character, quality and capacity of the lead pastor and leaders.

Tags: leadership, Discipline, leadership capacity, coaching, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)