In Preaching Articles: "Church Life"

7 Steps To Start Becoming A Church People Want To Commit To

By Karl Vaters on Apr 12, 2022

A growing number of people who do go to church don’t want to go, either. If we don’t give them something worth committing to, they’ll be gone soon.

Tags: Learning, inspiration, Leadership Listening, fixing eyes on Jesus, commitment to church  (view more)  (view less)

8 Reasons Churches Should Partner With Secular Community Groups

By Karl Vaters on May 5, 2022

How can we reach our communities if they have no idea we love them? And how will they know we love them if we don’t work alongside them?

Tags: Service, Humility, Culture, community outreach, culture  (view more)  (view less)

Urgent Church: Nine Changes We Must Make Or Die

By SermonCentral .com on May 14, 2022

Many of our congregations must change. They must change or they will die.

Tags: Prayer, Change, Dying Church, gospel, Gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Do We Need A broader Definition Of Church Growth?

By Karl Vaters on Oct 13, 2023

Any definition of church growth that doesn’t allow for, even celebrate, churches that contribute in non-numerical ways is incomplete.

Tags: Church Growth, priorities, pastoral leadership, First Things First, Right Values  (view more)  (view less)

Every Church Staff Team Needs A Little Bit Of Friction

By Brandon Cox on Nov 20, 2023

"Eliminate friction!!" That’s the goal most of us have when it comes to leading a team, or a church, or a company. But what if friction is actually the key to getting things moving in the right direction?

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: leadership, strategy, Leadership, conflict, Teamwork, Tension, pastoral leadership, Friction, Team Dynamics  (view more)  (view less)

If You're Going To Do Church That Way, Do It Well

By Karl Vaters on Nov 30, 2023

Churches don’t become great by adding more programs. They get better at the ones they already have.

Tags: liturgy, Denomination, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, church leadership, People Over Programs, Form and Substance, Do What's right, e  (view more)  (view less)

What If We Made Disciples And Left Church Growth To God?

By Karl Vaters on Sep 6, 2022

If we prioritized health, not as a means to growth, but as an end in itself, would we be in a greater position to represent Jesus to the world?

Tags: great commission, pastoral leadership, church ministry, Growth Strategy, Equip the Saints, Discipleship, Church Growth, Make Disciples  (view more)  (view less)

What Does It Really Mean To "Go Deeper”?

By Alan Danielson on May 2, 2020

Alan Danielson offers his take on one of the most overrated comments in the church today.

Scripture: Colossians 2:6-7, Colossians 2:7

Tags: Preaching, spiritual growth, Leadership, preaching, church, Thought, Church, leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Don't Get Caught In The Practical Preaching Trap

By Chris Surber on Nov 4, 2024

Life isn't a series of problems to be solved. It is a journey to be lived out.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Tags: preaching, Preaching, Practical, trap, glorify god, corporate worship  (view more)  (view less)

God’s Great Evangelistic Plan

By Peter Mead on Sep 27, 2022

"God’s plan to reach people with the gospel is not primarily evangelists or apologists, although both are vitally important. God’s plan to reach people with the gospel is the church."

Tags: church, great commission, Church Purpose of, Evangelism How To, gospel proclamation, Enjoy God, evangelism, Evangelism, Church, Testimony  (view more)  (view less)

Francis Chan: We Need To Think Biblically

By Francis Chan on Mar 10, 2025

Francis Chan says that his life is not radical compared to the lives in the Book of Acts.

Tags: Commitment, Preaching, action, radical, weird, Bible Influence, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why I Value Practical Preaching

By Bob Hostetler on Jan 13, 2023

"Exhortation without identification, inspiration or application is unlikely to produce life change in the listener."

Tags: Preaching, identification, inspiration, application, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How One Preacher Responds To The Faith Vs. Science Debate: Everyone Lives By Faith

By Joe Mckeever on Nov 2, 2024

The simple fact is everyone on the planet lives by faith. LIFE is a faith thing. For everyone.

Scripture: Habakkuk 2:4-6

Tags: preaching, Preaching, Debate, living by faith, faith vs science  (view more)  (view less)

Why I Hate The Word Balance

By Lance Witt on May 30, 2023

A life of balance has always seemed like a “pipe dream”, something that just wasn’t realistic or attainable. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever had a moment of balance in my entire life. I can’t think of a single moment when every area of my life and ministry were “spinning” smoothly.

Scripture: Mark 10:46

Tags: Pastors, rhythm, emotional health

Five Essential Reasons For Christians To Gather In Public Worship

By Brian Croft on Nov 2, 2023

Does church attendance really matter? Here are five important reasons why it is essential that every Christian gather with other Christians in the same local church weekly to hear the preaching of God’s Word.

Scripture: Romans 10:17, Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 13:17

Tags: Covenant Community, community, church attendance, Discipleship, Church Attendance, church membership, Christian community, Growing in Faith, Connected, Community  (view more)  (view less)