In Preaching Articles: "Churches"

Confronting Idols, Making Disciples

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 22, 2023

Chris Wright suggests that the way we do church may actually prop up idolatry in the church. Are there any idols in your church?

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-10

Tags: Idol, Discipleship, Disciples, Confront, chris wright  (view more)  (view less)

The Top 8 Reasons Most Churches Never Break The 200 Attendance Mark

By Carey Nieuwhof on Dec 26, 2023

Why is it that most churches never break the 200 attendance mark?

Tags: Growth Strategy, Church Growth, Barriers, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Barriers to Growth  (view more)  (view less)

Learning From Our 1,000-Visitor Weekend

By Hal Seed on Mar 5, 2025

Hal Seed offers his experience and learnings from a very successful Sunday morning event in his church.

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Preaching, program, Invitation, Visitors, Evangelism How To, Market, evangelism, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Daring To Preach The Same Message Twice

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 17, 2024

Joe McKeever dares you to consider re-preaching a topic--or even a sermon--to your congregation.

Tags: Preaching, Homiletics, Church Practices, preaching

3 Tools Small Group Leaders Need To Succeed

By John Gilman Ii on Aug 8, 2024

Small groups help churches grow because they help strangers become great friends. People stay at churches where they find friends because friendship covers a multitude of sins. Small groups involve us in others’ lives and really invest us in the church. These friendships eventually turn into deep, meaningful connections that can last a lifetime.

Tags: friendship, Small groups, church organization

Pastors: The Ceo Has To Go

By Derek Vreeland on Aug 24, 2023

I feel the impulse to forsake the pastoral vocation of word and sacrament, prayer and disciple-making, in favor of becoming a CEO who gets things done.

Tags: liturgy, Theology, church and business, consumerism

Heads Up, Eyes Open, Everyone Looking Around Weekend Invitations

By Dean Hawk on Aug 3, 2023

I’m curious. When and where did ministers first begin asking people to bow their heads, close their eyes, and secretly raise their hand in a church service if they wanted to accept Jesus? Why do we feel like we need to sneak people into heaven?

Tags: Salvation, gospel invitation, Empowered churches

Passion, Prayer, And Planning Ministry: Building The Nehemiah Way

By Todd Brown on Mar 11, 2022

Working with hundreds of churches over the last 35 years, I have observed three common elements of successful building programs and all three are characteristics displayed by quality leaders.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:13

Tags: Nehemiah, Prayer, strategy, Church Building

The Power Of Concentration For Doing A Little More

By Brandon Cox on Sep 21, 2023

I believe that most of us can do more, need to do less, and that it’s possible to do more and less at the same time.

Tags: priorities, focus, energy, church leadership

How To (Finally) Stop Giving In To The Pressure To Add More Ministries In Your Church

By Carey Nieuwhof on Sep 27, 2023

When you’re a church leader, you feel a lot of pressure.

Tags: focus, Simplicity, Church Body of Christ, ministry philosophy

5 Things You Should Never Say To A Small Church Pastor

By Karl Vaters on Oct 24, 2023

Don’t just get the content right. Consider how it might feel to the hurting pastors who need your help the most.

Tags: Pastoral Ministry, Leadership, leadership, advice, Small Church  (view more)  (view less)

Preach The Past: Discover Powerful Illustrations And Lessons From Church History

By Chris Surber on Oct 1, 2025

A working knowledge of Church history teaches us to be humble. Our footprints aren’t the first tracks on this road.

Scripture: Acts 2:13-40, Acts 25:1-17

Tags:

4 Ways Your Church Can Help People Simplify Christmas

By Karl Vaters on Dec 26, 2018

It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but Christmas is also the busiest.

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Holidays, Giving, teach, simplify, Christmas Joy, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

When The Usher Hates Visitors, It's Time For Transformation At Your Church

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 2, 2023

The wise pastor learns the difference between a tactical challenge and a transformational opportunity.

Tags: preaching, Visitor, Preaching, Transformation, USHER, tactical  (view more)  (view less)

What Do I Do With Church Members Who Hate Me?

By Brian Croft on Nov 24, 2021

At this point, some of you may be thinking these kinds of people are a good reason to leave and start over, but I submit to you they are actually a good reason to stay and endure. Why are these difficult people a good reason to stay and endure?

Tags: Preaching, preaching