In Preaching Articles: "Christian Disciplines"

You Can Love Ministry And Miss Jesus

By Marshall Segal on Dec 19, 2021

What captivates your heart more: what God does through you, or what he has done for you?

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:4-5, Philippians 3:7-8, Philippians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Luke 10:3, Matthew 10:7-8, Luke 10:17-20, Colossians 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Jesus, priorities, loving God, Christian Priorities

Journey In The Dark

By Peter Mead on Jan 13, 2022

God delights to transform lives. There are many ways to depict this journey of transformation, but let’s focus on one example from the Old Testament.

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3, Psalm 130:1-8

Tags: Psalms, Transformation, transformed life, Christian Maturity

How God Became A Man: What Jesus Did For Thirty Years

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 28, 2022

Don’t begrudge God the glory of your long, arduous maturation process. In it you are tasting the growing pains that Jesus knows very well. And he stands ready to help you persevere until God’s process is complete.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:26, Hebrews 5:7-9, Matthew 17:27, John 11:14, John 1:47, Luke 3:23, Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:8-51, Luke 2:52, John 4:18  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Jesus, Ordinary, Christian growth, incarnation of Jesus

Why I Love To Preach

By Joseph M. Stowell on Nov 24, 2021

Preaching is a strange mix of joy, agony, insecurity, and calling; this article explores why pastors keep returning to the pulpit and how God uses their weakness.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 2 Timothy 4:1-2, Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Church, Preaching, pastor, Palm Sunday, Homiletics, Disciplines General, Pastor, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Prepare Your Heart To Lead Your Home: Advent Advice For Fathers

By Douglas Wilson on Dec 11, 2025

A father who wants to lead and disciple his family needs to remember that the one thing he must cultivate is heart loyalty. He must, of course, connect that loyalty to scriptural and worthy objects, but if he does not have heart loyalty, childrearing will simply be one grief replaced by another.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:4

Tags: Christmas, Advent, parenting, discipling, teach children, Discipline, Attitudes of thanks, child training  (view more)  (view less)

5 Filters For A Funeral Sermon

By Chris Surber on Feb 6, 2022

I’ve preached a lot of funerals. Along the way I’ve learned some lessons from others and I’ve learned some lessons the hard way.

Tags: Preaching, Funerals Christian, preaching Christ, Funerals, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

6 Things Church Leaders Need To Know About Small Churches

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 14, 2022

Ninety percent of the churches on earth are under 200 people. Eighty percent are under 100. There may be no segment of the church that is more normative. But they may also be the most misunderstood.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:25

Tags: christian unity, Church Unity, Megachurch, Small Church

Why Preparing Sermons Takes Me So Long

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 30, 2020

A candid walk through sermon preparation, showing how prayer, Bible study, reflection, and disciplined refinement shape faithful and Spirit-led preaching.

Scripture: Exodus 14:8-14

Tags: Teaching, Study, Preaching, BIBLE STUDY, preparation, Homiletics, Bible Study, Pastoral Ministry, Sermon Preparation, bible study, preaching, teaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

The One Time Jesus Prayed For You (Part 2)

By Lance Witt on Apr 3, 2024

“What does true “unity” look like practically? If Jesus’ prayer was answered, what would be the evidence?”

Scripture: Romans 12:10, Acts 4:32-35

Tags: Generosity, christian unity, Church Unity, local church purpose

The First Step In Being A Great Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 11, 2022

The first step in being a great pastor is to walk with God.

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 16:11

Tags: pastor, Basics of Christianity, Intimacy With God, intimacy with Christ, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

Why Strategic Guest Speakers Can Spark Evangelism And Church Growth

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 8, 2023

High-profile guests can motivate invitations, attract visitors, reengage lapsed members, and strengthen systems when used wisely and sparingly.

Scripture: John 4:29, Luke 14:23, 1 Corinthians 9:22, Acts 13:44, Matthew 5:16  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Preaching, Christianity, Church Growth, Guest speaker, evangelism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

A Time To Speak

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 7, 2020

Silence in the face of injustice has consequences. The sanctity of life demands courage, clarity, and action from the church in a culture that often looks away.

Scripture: Psalm 139:13-14, Proverbs 24:11-12, Jeremiah 1:5, Genesis 1:27

Tags: Ethics, Preaching, Abortion, Sanctity of Life, preaching, Pro Life Christian  (view more)  (view less)

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

By Ed Stetzer on Jan 6, 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)

Re-Imagining Leadership

By Dan White Jr. on Oct 2, 2024

What does it really mean to grow in Christian leadership?

Tags: leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Leadership

How Do I Study A Specific Topic In The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 6, 2022

Studying the Bible does not need to be complex. Simple tools can help us glean amazing insights from the word.

Scripture: Proverbs 2:3-6, Jeremiah 29:13, 2 Timothy 2:7

Tags: BIBLE STUDY, Personal Growth, writing, spiritual growth, Bible Study, Spiritual Discipline, Journaling, Concordance, bible study  (view more)  (view less)