In Preaching Articles: "churches"

When A Pastor Is A Growth Barrier - Part One: Dealing With Sin

By Ed Stetzer on Apr 15, 2024

I have worked for a long time to help pastors with growth barriers in their church. They can be anything from worship issues to strategy to theology and more. So many barriers can get in the way of a church growing, but a central one isn’t found in the processes of the church. There may be a number of reasons a ministry grows cold and a church slows down. But often, the heart of the problem is the heart of the pastor.

Tags: CLERGY SIN

You'll Never Bring Lasting Change To Your Church If You Skip These Two Steps

By John Holm on May 15, 2023

Anyone can introduce new ideas. Making them last is something else entirely.

Scripture: Isaiah 50:4-5

Tags:

A Pastor's Dilemma: What To Do When You Can't See The Vision For Your Church

By Karl Vaters on May 13, 2022

Not every pastor is called to cast a grand, singular vision for their congregation.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: vision, pastoral leadership, Great Commandment, Vision Casting

Pastoral Transition: Setting Your Church Up For Ministry Success After You're Gone

By Karl Vaters on Oct 20, 2023

Following a long-term, successful pastorate is one of the hardest callings in ministry. Every pastor should do everything we can to make it as easy as possible for the next pastor and the church to do great ministry after we leave.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: leadership, servant leadership, Pastoral Transition, Decentralize, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Power Of Testimony

By Peter Mead on Nov 19, 2022

"Hearing how God has worked in a life can be very powerful. Having someone “give their testimony” can also backfire. Here are a few of the problems that can create the tension."

Tags: leadership, Church leaders, Our Testimony, Sharing My Testimony, Personal Testimony, christian testimony, church leadership, Power Of Testimony, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Know The 4 Pillars Of Guest Preaching?

By Pete Wilson on Jan 6, 2023

Pete Wilson: "Don’t make controversial statements the church staff is going to have to clean up later."

Tags: Communication, Teaching, Preaching, Church General, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why No One Cares About Your Mission Statement – And Neither Should You

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 8, 2021

Does your church have a mission statement? Could most of the people in your church repeat it? If the answer is ‘no’, I have one word for you. Relax.

Tags: Preaching, Mission Statement, preaching

Why You Should Train Others To Preach

By Chris Surber on Oct 4, 2024

What is your church doing to train future preachers and pastors?

Tags: Preaching, teach, instruct, benefit, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Celebrate Mother's Day With Powerful Sermons And Resources

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 10, 2025

Mother’s Day Sermon Ideas & Free Resources for Churches

Tags: Faith, Love, Church, mom, Mothers Day, mothers, mother's day, Inspire, inspiration, Motherhood, resources, Powerful, churches, sermon prep, sermons, moms, Sermon Prep, Sermon Preparation, church, Sermon prep, Mom's Day, love, mothers day, mom's day, Sermons, Resources, Encouraging Messages, inspire, Worship Materials, Free Resources, Service Planning, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

Kevin Deyoung On What We Can Learn From Church History About False Teachers

By Kevin Deyoung on Jul 13, 2022

What have been some of the normal characteristics and patterns of behavior exhibited by false teachers throughout Church history? Kevin DeYoung shares his insights.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:16-17, 2 Timothy 3:8, John 10:12, John 17:17, 1 Timothy 6:3-4, Acts 20:28-30  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Heresy, False Teachers, Wolves, false teaching, Church History, orthodoxy, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Chief End Of Preaching

By Steven Lawson on Mar 3, 2022

No man’s preaching can rise any higher than his view of God.

Tags: Preaching, God's greatness, Pastoral Character, church leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Three Root Causes Of Stalled Spiritual Transformation

By Thom Rainer on Mar 5, 2020

Why does spiritual growth sometimes stall out in believers? Thom Rainer offers his view and solutions from a study of the Corinthian church.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Tags: Spirit, Church, Growth, Discipleship, Preaching, Transformation, Growth in Christ  (view more)  (view less)

Don’t Try And Improve On God’s Methods

By Ray Ortlund on Apr 23, 2024

True awakening or revival is a glorious season in the life of the church when for His glory alone, God causes the ordinary means of His grace to make an extraordinary impact on many people.

Scripture: Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:27-30, Isaiah 1:15, Luke 19:9-10, John 3:8, Matthew 11:28-30, Acts 2:47  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Grace, Prayer, revival, Church revival, spiritual awakening, grace  (view more)  (view less)

Preachers, Find Your Voice

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 20, 2021

In the days of the church, a major way in which God’s word is revealed to his people is through the regular, ordinary, week-in, week-out ministry of local church pastor-preachers.

Tags: New, Preaching, voice, Pastoral, preach, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Let’s Keep Reaching Consumers. Aka, Lost Sheep.

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 29, 2021

“The American church is so consumeristic!” It’s a common line uttered by the religiously fed-up, and of course, there’s a lot of truth in it. Some churches in America do tend to cater to the consumeristic mentality of our culture. But I think, on the whole, most churches don’t, and that’s actually part of the problem.

Tags: Missions, lost sheep, Unchurched, Spiritual Maturity