In Preaching Articles: "Church Practices"

When Pastors Misplace Their Identity: 10 Probing Questions

By Charles Stone on Sep 19, 2022

“No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.” ––Paul Tripp

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:1

Tags: Ministry, identity, Identity in Christ, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, Right Priorities, self assement, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

3 Things Our Culture Is Doing To Bible Reading And Discipleship

By Mary C. Wiley on Jun 24, 2024

"We live in a microwave meals, listen-to-podcasts-in-double-time world. We want more with less; work smarter not harder. However, the move forward or get left behind mentality of today is not a good transferrable principle for discipleship. Mostly because discipleship is all about people, and people can’t be boiled down to a series of tasks. People are messy and their needs aren’t linear."

Tags: TEACH THE BIBLE, call to discipleship, training disciples, guard the truth, Study the Bible, Discipleship, spiritual growth, church community  (view more)  (view less)

5 Marks Of A Mature Leader

By Brandon Cox on Jul 3, 2024

Your body’s physical maturity typically peaks in early adulthood, but your spiritual maturity will keep growing even into eternity.

Tags: church leadership, Leadership Traits, Humble, godly character, Godly Leaders, Leadership Listening, Encourage Others, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Don’t Try To Be Successful, Try To Do Good Work

By Karl Vaters on Jul 4, 2024

A minister with a well-nourished soul may or may not have a big church, but they’ll always have a healthy ministry.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-11, 1 Corinthians 4:2

Tags: leadership, Faithfulness, Good Works, pastoral leadership, success in ministry, church leadership, measuring success, serving faithfully, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

How Much Is Enough? The Only Safe Rule For Giving

By Kent Woodyard on Jan 5, 2024

Working in business development for a church giving platform, I am asked often if there is a Biblical precedent for churches using digital technology to accept tithes and offerings. Any scriptural evidence that text-2-give is acceptable to the Lord? I’ll save you a concordance search: there isn’t.

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Tags: Money, Giving

10 Ways To Plan An Amazing Sermon Series

By Herbert Cooper on Oct 9, 2020

Herbert Cooper, senior pastor of People's Church in Oklahoma City, shares strategic insights into making a sermon series work.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:14-20

Tags: Faith, Preaching, sight, walk, substance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Four Ways To Cut Through Communication Clutter

By Tim Peters on May 1, 2025

When you receive too many messages, you receive no messages. How many messages is your church sending?

Tags: Communication, Message, clutter, Market, communication  (view more)  (view less)

Ten Strategic Insights Into Shaping Your Next Sermon Series

By Herbert Cooper on Jan 28, 2023

Herbert Cooper, senior pastor of People's Church in Oklahoma City, shares strategic insights into making a sermon series work.

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Everything We Think We Know About Marriage And Divorce Is Wrong

By Shaunti Feldhahn on Oct 23, 2019

"Imagine the difference for pastors to know that they can stand on stage and tell their congregations with confidence that going to church matters for your marriage."

Tags: Happy, Research, shaunti feldhahn, Marriage, Divorce  (view more)  (view less)

Five Steps To Respond To A Hurtful And Hateful Email

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 7, 2022

“You have no business being the pastor of our church. All you are interested in is getting your own way and changing all the good things we have going. People are saying you should be fired. I agree with them.”

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1

Tags: church ministry, Difficult People, Facing Controversy, criticism, Leadership, Perseverance, leadership, conflict, Criticism, loving people, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Relational Leadership Part 1

By Lance Witt on Nov 6, 2023

What is the key to relational leadership?

Scripture: Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 1:22, Romans 12:10, 1 John 4:21, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 10:24, Colossians 3:14, 1 John 3:14, John 13:34-35, Matthew 22:37-39  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, relationships, Ministry Work, Leadership, pastoral leadership, relational leaders, church leadership, Transactional, Transformational, Leading Like Christ  (view more)  (view less)

John Piper: God Doesn't Take Risks

By John Piper on Mar 20, 2025

"It is hard to exaggerate how important it is for the mission of the church...to have a fully biblical vision of the greatness and the sovereignty and the glory of God."

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:31, 1 Corinthians 15:31

Tags: Preaching, Risk, preaching

6 Do-Or-Die Roles For Every Senior Leader

By Michael D. Warden on Jun 4, 2020

Do you know where to draw the line between your role as a top-level leader and everyone else's role in the church?

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership General, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Chasing The Dream, Preaching Greatness, And Knowing Your Audience

By James Scott on Apr 28, 2023

"One of the greatest weaknesses we see from leadership in the church is not understanding the audience the leader is speaking to," says James Scott.

Tags: Love, Preaching, peaceful, preaching

In Times Of Conflict—preach Joy!

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 16, 2025

Regardless of your church's climate, one thing remains true: The preacher's task is to preach with joy, whether the conditions are desirable or undesirable.

Tags: Joy, Preaching, conflict, communication, preaching, Holy Spirit, Communication  (view more)  (view less)