In Preaching Articles: "Church Body Of Christ"

When Your Pain Makes It Hard To Say "It Is Well With My Soul”

By Randy Alcorn on Mar 28, 2024

The pain was great, but God’s grace rose to the occasion. Despite his heartbreak, Spafford could say without pretense, “It is well with my soul.”

Scripture: Psalm 31:7, John 14:27, Isaiah 66:12-14

Tags: pain, Trusting God, Grief, Loss, God's peace, Glorious Future, coping with loss, Resting in Christ, Pain  (view more)  (view less)

The Double-Edged Sword Of Ambition

By Lance Witt on Jul 9, 2024

Ambition is a blessing and a curse. When it is God-directed and Spirit-managed, it can bear tremendous fruit. But when it is hijacked by self and ego, it can leave a wake of destruction in its path.

Tags: Faithfulness, motivation, Ambition, Rest in Christ, pastoral leadership, personal holiness, entering God's rest, ministry vision  (view more)  (view less)

How To Share Your Faith

By Josh Reich on Jul 15, 2022

Inviting someone to church or sharing your faith about Jesus can be awkward. It is nerve wracking, scary and often times not what many followers of Jesus want to do. Yet, the reality is if you are a follower of Jesus, you are to be a witness of Jesus. (Acts 1:8) That is a key and crucial piece of your new identity in Christ. It is not optional.

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Witnessing, Inviting People, Christian Witness, Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith, Gospel Presentation, evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

10 Preaching Questions With Ray Ortlund Jr.

By Colin Adams on Feb 21, 2025

Ray Ortlund reflects on preaching’s centrality, the weight of the pulpit, and the spiritual realities that shape a faithful, believable, Christ-exalting ministry.

Scripture: Romans 10:14

Tags: Homiletics

Preach A Crisp, Clear Gospel Message

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Feb 25, 2025

Larry Moyer: "For me, it all starts by communicating ten words: 'Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.'"

Tags: Evangelism, Salvation, Gospel, Preaching, Lost, evangelism, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What You’ll Never Hear About Preaching In Seminary

By Mark A. Howell on Sep 23, 2024

Ten pastoral reminders on suffering, study, pride, family, and faithfulness to help ministers endure and honor Christ in long-term ministry.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-17, 1 Timothy 4:6-8, Psalm 19:7, Hebrews 4:13, 1 Timothy 3:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Spiritual Discipline, preaching

Preaching Is More Than Telling The Truth

By Peter Mead on Mar 18, 2024

Effective preaching is not about clever outlines but about proclaiming Christ, explaining Scripture faithfully, and leading hearers toward understanding and transformation.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth, Preaching, memory, Outline, Homiletics, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Preach Like A Pharisee?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 27, 2024

Pharisaical preaching burdens people with opinions, moralism, and guilt while starving them of grace. The pulpit must reflect Christ, not control.

Scripture: Matthew 23:4, Matthew 23:5, Titus 2:11-12, Galatians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 4:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Preaching, guilt, spiritual leadership, grace, preaching, Spiritual Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Pastors Don't Need To Know

By Ron Edmondson on Aug 2, 2024

Pastors often receive information they never needed. Protecting your ministry means refusing gossip, rumors, and private details that cause harm rather than help.

Tags: Gossip, Church Health, Christian Values

3 Tools Small Group Leaders Need To Succeed

By John Gilman Ii on Aug 7, 2024

Small groups help churches grow because they help strangers become great friends. People stay at churches where they find friends because friendship covers a multitude of sins. Small groups involve us in others’ lives and really invest us in the church. These friendships eventually turn into deep, meaningful connections that can last a lifetime.

Tags: friendship, Small groups, church organization

Pastors: The Ceo Has To Go

By Derek Vreeland on Aug 23, 2023

I feel the impulse to forsake the pastoral vocation of word and sacrament, prayer and disciple-making, in favor of becoming a CEO who gets things done.

Tags: liturgy, Theology, church and business, consumerism

Heads Up, Eyes Open, Everyone Looking Around Weekend Invitations

By Dean Hawk on Aug 2, 2023

I’m curious. When and where did ministers first begin asking people to bow their heads, close their eyes, and secretly raise their hand in a church service if they wanted to accept Jesus? Why do we feel like we need to sneak people into heaven?

Tags: Salvation, gospel invitation, Empowered churches

Passion, Prayer, And Planning Ministry: Building The Nehemiah Way

By Todd Brown on Mar 10, 2022

Working with hundreds of churches over the last 35 years, I have observed three common elements of successful building programs and all three are characteristics displayed by quality leaders.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:13

Tags: Nehemiah, Prayer, strategy, Church Building

The Power Of Concentration For Doing A Little More

By Brandon Cox on Sep 20, 2023

I believe that most of us can do more, need to do less, and that it’s possible to do more and less at the same time.

Tags: priorities, focus, energy, church leadership

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