In Preaching Articles: "Church Systems"

Top 7 Ways To Close The Back Door Of Your Church

By Rob Overton on Mar 19, 2020

Many churches mistake numerical growth for spiritual health. Strengthening relationships, service pathways, and intentional follow-up systems is essential for closing the back door.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 20:28, John 10:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Galatians 6:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: pastoral care, Church Health, Assimilation, Pastoral Care, Church Systems, Member Retention  (view more)  (view less)

There's Something Wrong With The Pastoral System

By Ray Hollenbach on May 8, 2020

Gordon MacDonald: "I think we probably need to totally re-define what pastors do in leading our contemporary 21st century church."

Tags: training, leadership, Preaching

Thinking Bigger: How One Outreach Weekend Reshaped A Church’s Vision

By Hal Seed on Mar 5, 2025

A reformed mob boss drew 1,000 guests, 50 salvations, and momentum that reshaped outreach, volunteers, systems, and future vision for church-wide evangelism.

Tags: Church, Preaching, program, Church Growth, Invitation, Visitors, Market, Ministry Leadership, preaching, church, Guest Speakers  (view more)  (view less)

Punch Up Your Prep: 3 Keys

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Sep 25, 2019

You need your own system for sermon prep. But whatever system you choose should include these three elements.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:1-15, Judges 5:3-12

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Slaves In Your Church’s Backyard

By David Batstone on Dec 14, 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)

Theology Can Blind You To God

By Marshall Segal on Apr 1, 2022

How do we know when our systems for understanding God have become sick with sin and paradoxically subtle justifications for opposing him?

Scripture: Philippians 1:12-13, John 3:30, Mark 3:22, Mark 2:16, Mark 1:22, Mark 7:3-6, Mark 10:33-34, Mark 11:18, Mark 12:24, Mark 12:34, Mark 14:1, Mark 11:28-33, Mark 15:1-11, Mark 12:38-40, Acts 3:13-15, 1 Timothy 1:15, 1 Corinthians 8:1-3, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Leviticus 19:18, John 14:6, Mark 8:31  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Greed, Pride, hypocrisy, Pharisees

Growing A Church

By Barry O. Johnson on Aug 19, 2024

Should church growth be our focus?

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:12, Matthew 28:20

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, Church Growth, glorifying God, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Finding God In The Ambiguity

By Jonathan Martin on May 17, 2021

God is bigger than our tiny little systems of certainty. He is revealed to us in Jesus of Nazareth, who is real enough to touch us in our own ambiguity.

Tags: Jesus, God, Jesus Christ, Certain, ambiguity  (view more)  (view less)

The Growing Church Series: 10 Characteristics Of Churches That Grow

By Brandon Kelley on Feb 5, 2022

Instead of sitting and worrying about the state of the Church in America, let’s begin asking the question, what are growing churches doing differently?

Tags: Church Growth, intentional, proactive, Dying Church

The Best Way To Promote Church Growth? Support Small Churches

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 27, 2021

I want as many people as possible, all over the world, to know Jesus. The good news of the gospel can’t be confined within the walls of my church, the distinctives of my denomination, the borders of my country, or the customs of my culture.

Tags: Support, Preaching, Church Growth, Small Church

The Benefit Of A Church Crisis

By Josh Reich on Feb 16, 2021

Nobody likes a crisis. No one likes bad news or being disappointed or being uncomfortable. We like when things work, when things are easy, when things go our way. Yet if you are a leader, at some point you will walk through a crisis with your church.

Scripture: Acts 12:1-10

Tags: Preaching, crisis

Who Is Lord Of The Church?

By John Macarthur on Jun 16, 2022

The church today is badly in need of reformation again. And Christ’s lordship over His church is still the central truth we must recover, which requires the unleashing of His Word among His people again. We cannot merely float along with the latest evangelical trends and expect things to get better.

Scripture: Acts 10:42

Tags: Church, Body of Christ, Christ the head, Lord Of The Church, church  (view more)  (view less)

The 4 Most Overlooked Realities Of A Healthy Church Turnaround

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 13, 2022

Many pastors say “I want this church to turn around”, when what we really mean is “I want this church to get bigger.” Those are two different goals.

Tags: Church, church

11 Ways To Be The Church For People Who Don't Go To Church

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 20, 2019

People need to know us before they can trust us. And they need to trust us before they’ll go to church with us.

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Apologetics, Discipleship, Preaching, christian living, evangelism, preaching, Christian Living  (view more)  (view less)

9 Dynamic Ways To Widen Your Church’s Front Door

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 10, 2019

As you develop your outreach strategy, consider including a plan for equipping your church members to be recommenders and inviters

Tags: Preaching, preaching