In Preaching Articles: "Christian Disciplines"

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

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 1, 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 25, 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 12, 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)

Why I Switched To Preaching From A Manuscript

By Jeff Medders on Aug 20, 2020

Manuscript preaching is not a crutch but a discipline. For many pastors, it strengthens clarity, delivery, humility, and long-term ministry fruitfulness.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Mark 6:1-8, 2 Timothy 4:2, Ecclesiastes 12:9-10

Tags: manuscript, Outline

God's Checklist For Preaching Filled With Wisdom

By SermonCentral .com on May 28, 2025

James gives a clear description of what godly wisdom looks like. These practical marks help believers evaluate whether they are walking in wisdom from above.

Scripture: James 1:5, James 3:17-18, Matthew 5:9, Colossians 3:12-13, Galatians 5:22-23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Peace, Wisdom, Preaching, Pure, Christian Character, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Filters For A Funeral Sermon

By Chris Surber on Feb 7, 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 15, 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

Don’t Waste Your Creative Energy In Sermon Prep

By Peter Mead on Jul 21, 2020

Effective preaching requires both discipline and creativity. Knowing when to restrain creativity and when to unleash it can transform sermon preparation and delivery.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:6-8, 2 Timothy 2:15, Ezra 7:10, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, preaching, teaching

Preaching Without Notes: Four Must-Have Skills

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 13, 2021

Preaching without notes requires discipline, clarity, and structure. Without a clear gospel claim, sermons drift and leave listeners with nothing to remember.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:8-9, Habakkuk 2:2, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Communication, preparation, communication

The One Time Jesus Prayed For You (Part 2)

By Lance Witt on Apr 4, 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 12, 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 Preparing Sermons Takes Me So Long

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 31, 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)

Why Strategic Guest Speakers Can Spark Evangelism And Church Growth

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 9, 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 8, 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)

How Do I Study A Specific Topic In The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 7, 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)