In Preaching Articles: "Church Life"

The Top Ten Sources Of Discouragement For Pastors

By Thom Rainer on May 20, 2024

“Is this valley I am going through normal for pastors?”

Tags: Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, criticism, Criticism, Discouragement, church conflict, pastoral leadership, Financial Management, family dynamics  (view more)  (view less)

The Antidote To Anemic Worship

By Albert Mohler on Nov 28, 2022

The anemia of evangelical worship—all the music and energy aside—is directly attributable to the absence of genuine expository preaching. Such preaching would confront the congregation with nothing less than the living and active Word of God.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8

Tags: preaching, expository, Expository, Worship God, Church worship, Acceptable Worship, corporate worship, church leadership, Music, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching The Messy Way

By Chris Surber on Apr 24, 2025

The greater the distance between you and your listeners, the easier it is to preach at them. Sharing life with them leads you to preaching the messy way.

Scripture: John 6:66-71

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Pit Stops Required- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Sep 12, 2023

Many pastors and ministry leaders soar through life at breakneck speed. They give every outward appearance of being on course, cruising on autopilot.

Scripture: Proverbs 14:18

Tags: Prudence, Time of Reflection, New Year's Reflection, avoiding burnout

Pastoring From A Place Of Gratitude

By Lance Witt on May 29, 2024

Does gratitude flavor your life? Are the words that flow from your lips and the thoughts that race through your mind marked by gratitude?

Scripture: Psalm 118:24, Colossians 2:7

Tags: Leadership, gratitude, Grumbling, Ingratitude, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Evaluate attitude, leadership, Thankfulness  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Remember Why You Became A Pastor?

By Chuck Warnock on Jun 11, 2025

There are times in our life when the clarity fades, discouragement clouds our memory and we wonder, "Why did I ever want to be a pastor?"

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

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Great Preaching Lives In The Tension: Here's How

By Brandon Kelley on Jan 5, 2021

A sermon speaks from the grand narrative of Scripture to the grand narrative of your life. These two stories have identifiable tension points: use them!

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Great Leadership Often Starts With A Broken Heart

By Brandon Cox on Oct 2, 2023

Usually, knowing what breaks your heart is knowing what you should do with your life, and how you should be leading others.

Scripture: Nehemiah 1:4

Tags: broken, Brokenhearted, authentic ministry, Call to ministry

One Hard Truth Of Leadership

By Ron Edmondson on Sep 3, 2022

There is one truth about leadership every leader must understand, but is difficult to receive by some leaders. The probability is good you won’t like this truth either.

Tags: People pleasing, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, good leadership, Leadership, leadership, church conflict, fear of man  (view more)  (view less)

6 Ways The Gospel Should Shape A Pastor’s Leadership

By Brandon Kelley on Nov 17, 2022

A Pastor’s leadership must first and foremost be a response to Christ’s gospel.

Scripture: Acts 4:19, 1 Peter 3:12

Tags: Godly Leaders, Bible Truth, pastoral leadership, Praying, Gospel centered, church leadership, Character, bible truth, Church leaders  (view more)  (view less)

4 Types Of Stress

By Full Strength on Feb 28, 2024

In this article we explore 4 common types of stress experienced by pastors and leaders.

Tags: Leadership, Sermon, ministry, church, leader, anxiety, leadership, Stress, Anxiety, pastor, sermon, Pastor, Ministry, stress, Church, Leader  (view more)  (view less)

Dealing With The Preacher-Eaters

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 21, 2020

Joe McKeever shares practical advice for dealing with the self-appointed church rulers who try to dominate your preaching and your ministry.

Scripture: 3 John 1:9-10

Tags: Ministry, leadership, Prayer, affliction, Confrontation, Church Practices  (view more)  (view less)

10 Suggestions For The Shepherd Of A Stagnant Flock

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 3, 2020

Non-growing churches are not healthy, at least in some significant ways. Joe McKeever gives his input to help revive a church that seems to have "plateaued."

Tags: Preaching, Sheep, Apathy, lead, Church Purpose of, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Doesn't Every Congregation Respond The Same Way?

By Peter Mead on Jun 27, 2025

Peter Mead reveals eight powerful insights into how to gauge a congregation's responsiveness.

Tags: church culture, preaching, guest, Unique, Preaching, Congregational  (view more)  (view less)

Who Says Bigger Is Better? 3 Reasons I'm Convinced God Works Through Small Churches

By Chris Surber on Oct 15, 2021

"Bigger churches can do things smaller cannot do. And little churches do things much larger churches can never do."

Scripture: Acts 11:15-18, Genesis 22:1-15

Tags: family, Preaching, friendship, connection, Small Church, preaching  (view more)  (view less)