In Preaching Articles: "Church Life"

Preaching That Raises The Water Level

By Ray Hollenbach on Apr 30, 2025

Faithful preaching often works slowly. One sermon at a time, pastors nourish long-term growth that shapes congregations over the years.

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:13, John 4:14, Acts 20:27, Hebrews 5:12-14, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: church leadership, Church Leadership

11 Signs Your Church Is Going Extinct

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 13, 2025

Unless you’re in a free fall right now, it can be hard to know whether your congregation will thrive, survive or take a dive in the next decade.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:1-11

Tags: Church, Preaching, preaching, church

Eight Things I Like About The Church…and Five I Hate.

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 7, 2023

Show me a Christian who can please God better alone than with other believers and I’ll show you a one-of-a-kind, something never before seen on planet Earth. The Lord thought you and I would be needing each other, so placed us in a church fellowship when He saved us.

Tags: Church, Preaching, preaching, church

We All Need Adversity And Affliction

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 23, 2022

I would not exchange any of my discipline-afflictions for anything. In fact, I have made it a habit to keep asking God to discipline me. This isn’t because I love affliction, but because the hope in God I’ve tasted in the promises of God I’ve trusted in the darkest days are the sweetest things my soul has ever known.

Scripture: Psalm 119:71-72, Hebrews 12:11

Tags: Adversity, sanctification, Hardship of Life, Spiritual Maturity, Christian Maturity, joy in trials, spiritual immaturity, fruit of sorrow  (view more)  (view less)

How Leaders Defeat Discouragement

By Charles Stone on Apr 15, 2021

Somebody once said there are two things in life we can’t avoid, taxes and death. I’d like to add a third, discouragement. Church leader or not, you will face it. It’s an inevitable part of life. Here’s how I’ve learned to defeat discouragement.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:6

Tags: Discouragement, rest in god, Rest, Encouraged

25 Easter Follow-Up Sermon And Worship Ideas

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 10, 2023

One of the best ways to follow up with your Easter guests, as well as to encourage your church members, is by preaching about living out the new life we have in Christ.

Tags: Worship, Preaching, sermon series, after easter, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Thanksgiving: Echoing The Grace Of God

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 3, 2025

The Christian life, from the beginning to end, is a life of extraordinary grace. Saying "thank you" just makes sense.

Tags: Grace, Trust, Preaching, nullify grace, grace, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

If Your Church Is Drifting And Stuck, Should You Try To Change It From Within?

By Jonathan Herron on Jan 12, 2022

What do you do if you’re a frustrated support staff member of a visionless church? Do you try to change things from within?

Tags: church planting, Church Death, pastoral leadership, Church and change

Stop The Revolution. Join The Plodders.

By Kevin Deyoung on Jan 24, 2022

It’s sexy among young people—my generation—to talk about ditching institutional religion and starting a revolution of real Christ-followers living in real community without the confines of church.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:21, Romans 16:8

Tags: Church, Commitment, endurance, Faithfulness, church  (view more)  (view less)

How To Evaluate A Sermon Using The Preach Framework

By Rev. Tejado Hanchell on Oct 3, 2020

Was it truly a great sermon? Use the PREACH rubric to evaluate preaching effectiveness through punctuality, relevance, exegesis, appearance, clarity, and conviction.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Ephesians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:11, Proverbs 25:11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Excellence, church leadership, Church Leadership

Spiritual Disciplines And The Sinkhole Syndrome

By Donald Whitney on Jan 22, 2022

As the pressures of life increase and more deadlines loom, it becomes harder to maintain time for the devotional life. And herein is where the erosion begins.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12, John 17:17, Luke 4:16, Matthew 14:23

Tags: Follow Jesus, Spiritual Maturity, Spiritual Discipline, Spiritual Failures, sermon spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

A Risk Worth Taking

By Leigh Ann Carey Looyenga on Apr 10, 2024

Are you tired? Worn down by the pace of life and ministry? Do you feel like the abundant life may not be for ministry leaders?

Scripture: Genesis 2:1-2, Deuteronomy 5:6

Tags: Sunday, Sabbath, relationships, Rest, intimacy with Christ  (view more)  (view less)

10 Global Churches Larger Than America's Largest

By James O. Davis on Jun 5, 2020

Global Christianity is expanding rapidly. These global pastors and churches reveal how God is fulfilling the Great Commission through unprecedented growth and worldwide partnerships.

Scripture: Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20, Psalm 67:3-4, Revelation 7:9, Isaiah 49:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Leader, Missions, Church Growth, evangelism, church, leader  (view more)  (view less)

Pastor, Are You Chasing Stray Dogs?

By Chris Surber on Jan 27, 2023

"Here is a list of people who have left the church in the last few years. We would like you to call on them to see if you can win a few of them back."

Tags: Church, Preaching, members, Church Health, stray dog, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Pastor: Lead Your Church From The Pulpit!

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 13, 2020

Pastors sometimes make the mistake of separating preaching from leading, but Brandon Cox explains how they go together.

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, preaching