In Preaching Articles: "Church Priorities"

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)

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)

The Radical Experiment: One Year To A Church Turned Upside Down

By David Platt on Jan 14, 2025

David Platt dares pastors and their congregations to take a leap of faith and test the claims contained in the gospel.

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Tags: Faith, Outreach, Gospel, Missions, Prayer, radical, Evangelism Urgency, Gospel obedience, gospel, Gospel Obedience  (view more)  (view less)

Why Spiritual Transformation Stalls And How Pastors Can Restart It

By Thom Rainer on Mar 5, 2020

Spiritual transformation often stalls in believers and churches. Identifying its root causes helps pastors guide congregations from stagnation to renewed gospel growth.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Tags: Spirit, Church, Growth, Discipleship, Preaching, Transformation, In Christ, preaching, church  (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)

Understanding Halloween: A Biblical Perspective For Believers

By Josh Read on Oct 28, 2025

As the autumn leaves start to crunch underfoot and the air is turning crisp, Halloween pops up on our calendars once again. For so many, it's all about the costumes, candy, and a bit of harmless fun. But for us as believers, it often sparks some thoughtful questions: Is this just a lighthearted holiday, or is there more we should consider in light of our faith? Let's dive into Scripture together and explore a gentle, biblical lens on Halloween that helps us navigate it with grace and joy.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Philippians 2:4, Matthew 22:39, Ephesians 6:12, Deuteronomy 18:10-12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: church leadership, Church Leadership, pastoring, halloween, Halloween, advice, Pastoring  (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)

Why I Said Yes To Pastoral Ministry

By Chuck Warnock on Dec 16, 2022

Pastoral calling can fade under pressure, success, or discouragement. This reflection uncovers why ministers lose sight of their call and how to remember it again.

Tags: Church, Call, pastor, Pastors, Small Church, Church General, Pastoral Calling, Clergy Encouragement, Leadership General, Pastoral Ministry, Spiritual Renewal, Pastor, church, Ministry Burnout  (view more)  (view less)

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)

How To Tell If A New Volunteer Is Truly A Leader (Or Simply A Doer)

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 10, 2024

"I recently surveyed 1400 small and mid-sized church pastors to find out what they struggle with most as their church grows. They overwhelmingly identified developing leaders as their top challenge."

Tags: Leadership, Volunteer, church ministry, obstacles to growth, Barriers to Growth, Growing a Church, Leaders vs Doers, leadership, Church Growth  (view more)  (view less)

Shepherd God’s Flock: Equipping God’s People

By Chris Pascarella on Nov 7, 2022

"According to Scripture, pastors are called to equip the flock to do the work of ministry!"

Scripture: Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: Equipping Disciples, Equipping The Body, church leadership, Called to serve, be the church, Church Body of Christ, pastoral leadership, equipped for service  (view more)  (view less)

Practical Ideas For Servant Evangelism

By Steve Sjogren on Apr 8, 2023

Servant evangelism uses simple acts of kindness to nudge people toward God. These practical, low-cost ideas help churches connect with their communities with high grace.

Scripture: John 4:5-26, John 15:9-17

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Outreach, Servant, Evangelism How To, Evangelism The Lost, evangelism, church  (view more)  (view less)