In Preaching Articles: "Church Small Groups"

Smaller Churches Can Do Discipleship—without Wearing Out The Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 11, 2021

After a few hit-and-miss attempts, our church has discovered a simple five-step process that can work for any small church.

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, Process, Small Church, Limitations, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Successful Churches Aren’t Turning The World Upside-Down – But The Outcasts Might

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 30, 2023

Jesus was the most culture-challenging, paradigm-shifting, tradition-breaking, change agent who ever lived.

Tags: leadership, Small Church, church in society, prophetic voice, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

How To Make Sermon Preparation A Community Effort

By Todd Hiestand on Nov 19, 2020

Preaching is often treated as a solitary task, but collaborative sermon preparation can sharpen content, improve delivery, and strengthen church community.

Scripture: Proverbs 27:17, 2 Timothy 2:15, Acts 17:11, Ephesians 4:11-12, Hebrews 10:24  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Community, family, Preaching, Group, encouragement, community, preaching, Encouragement  (view more)  (view less)

The Top 3 Reasons Church Growth Ideas Usually Fail In Smaller Churches

By Karl Vaters on Aug 30, 2022

We're often told that small churches are failing at church growth. But sometimes church growth ideas are failing in smaller churches.

Tags: Church Growth, Context, pastoral leadership, Church Attendance, church ministry, rural church, Growth Strategy, Urban Church, context, church attendance  (view more)  (view less)

Why Millennials Won't Build The Kinds Of Churches Their Parents Built

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 7, 2023

We can't treat Millennials as a homogeneous group. We have to minister to them as individuals, instead.

Tags: Restoration, Culture, future generations, millennials, culture  (view more)  (view less)

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

By Chris Surber on Oct 14, 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)

Adapt Or Fail: 6 Steps Any Church Can Take

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 28, 2025

Small churches have the ability to adapt more quickly than our larger counterparts. Like steering a speedboat instead of an ocean liner.

Scripture: Exodus 23:20-33

Tags: Preaching, preaching

One Small Change Will Energize Tomorrow's Sermon

By Erik Raymond on Mar 3, 2023

So often, it's the little stuff that makes the biggest impact.

Tags: Fresh, Preaching, Impact, bland, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Ten Principles For Pastors Leading Plateaued Churches

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 12, 2022

Many churches plateau, but pastors don’t have to. These ten principles guide leaders toward renewal through prayer, humility, small improvements, and practical, Spirit-led steps.

Tags: Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Apathy, Fail, Leadership General, pastoral leadership, shepherding, Pastor, Leadership, Shepherding, church, Pastoral Leadership, Plateaue, Ministry Health  (view more)  (view less)

7 Keys To Increasing Your Church's Footprint

By Jim Morgan on Dec 21, 2021

Jesus modeled discipleship and community engagement as an example for His Church to follow. He felt a small number of highly effective disciples would cover much more ground than a slew of casual followers.

Tags: Outreach, Missional, Make Disciples, local church purpose

When Your Theological Circle Gets Too Small

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 30, 2023

Doctrinal conviction is essential, but shrinking our circle too far can breed suspicion and unnecessary division within the body of Christ.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:3, Romans 14:4, Jude 1:3, Hebrews 5:14, Proverbs 18:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: brother, sister, Christ, family, Support  (view more)  (view less)

Do We Preach A Grace That's Too Small?

By Ray Hollenbach on Nov 29, 2024

We've lined up the chairs in neat little rows and called it grace. We never noticed: it has broken free.

Scripture: Numbers 4:1-4

Tags: Grace, Preaching, King, Tyrant, too small, grace, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

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

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 9, 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, Church Growth, Volunteer, church ministry, obstacles to growth, Barriers to Growth, Growing a Church, Leaders vs Doers, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why I Said Yes To Pastoral Ministry

By Chuck Warnock on Dec 15, 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, Leadership General, Pastoral Ministry, Spiritual Renewal, Pastor, church, Ministry Burnout, Pastoral Calling, Clergy Encouragement  (view more)  (view less)

Slaves In Your Church’s Backyard

By David Batstone on Dec 13, 2022

Modern slavery hides in plain sight. These stories reveal how trafficking thrives worldwide and even locally, calling Christians to seek justice with persistent, sacrificial love.

Tags: Compassion, Culture, Slavery, Justice, traffic, injustice, Human Trafficking, abolition, culture, Modern Slavery, Abolition  (view more)  (view less)