In Preaching Articles: "Clergy Encouragement"

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, Leadership General, Pastoral Ministry, Spiritual Renewal, Pastor, church, Ministry Burnout, Pastoral Calling, Clergy Encouragement  (view more)  (view less)

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

How Leaders Encourage Cooperation On A Team

By Ron Edmondson on Aug 20, 2022

Do you want people to get along, support one another, and join forces to achieve the vision? Of course you do. All leaders want their teams to cooperate.

Scripture: Psalm 133:1

Tags: unity, Teamwork, Cooperation, Divisions, collaboration, church leadership, Team Dynamics, Team Tension  (view more)  (view less)

When The Pastor Feels Unappreciated

By Chris Surber on Apr 26, 2025

Pastors who feel unseen must anchor their identity in Christ, practice wise self-care, and teach their churches about mutual care without sounding self-serving.

Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30, 1 Timothy 5:17, Acts 16:33, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 13:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: encouragement, Encouragement

Death By Ministry

By Eugene Cho on Jan 23, 2025

Pastoral ministry is rewarding yet deeply taxing. These insights and statistics reveal its strain, spiritual battles, and the urgent need to care for our pastors well.

Tags: Ministry, leadership, pastor, Servanthood, Church Body of Christ, Pastor, Leadership, ministry challenges, ministry, pastor encouragement, Pastoral Health, Ministry Challenges, Pastor Encouragement, Clergy Wellness  (view more)  (view less)

Pride Comes Before A Bad Sermon

By Tim Raymond on Feb 23, 2026

By all means, do your best in the preparation and delivery of your messages, but leave the results entirely up to God.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18, James 5:17, 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, Galatians 6:2

Tags: Preaching, encouragement, Pride, preaching, Encouragement  (view more)  (view less)

Encouragement To Men To Study The Bible And Theology, And Find Great Happiness

By Randy Alcorn on Dec 6, 2023

Many Christian men would agree that they’re experts in business, hunting, fishing, football, or cars. Sadly, however, even those who attend Bible-teaching churches may know very little about the Bible and theology. Why?

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: happiness, Sports, priorities, Manhood, Theology, distractions, spiritual growth, men's ministry  (view more)  (view less)

How To Make Sermon Preparation A Community Effort

By Todd Hiestand on Nov 20, 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)

Real Love Encourages Others To Do The Right, Most God-Glorifying Thing

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 8, 2022

Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love, not to withhold the truth in love. Real love doesn’t quit or give up; it will offer help and point to Jesus Christ as the only true source of healing and forgiveness.

Scripture: John 1:14, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Abortion, friendship, Real Love, speak truth in love

The Church Must Preach Christ

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 8, 2022

Widely diverse philosophies of preaching vie for acceptance among contemporary clergy.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:23-25, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Romans 1:16

Tags: Preaching, Preach Christ, gospel proclamation, preaching

What Happens If You Fail To Preach On Money

By Mark Brooks on Jun 28, 2021

Clergy often tiptoe around the topic of money as if they were taking a walk through a minefield.

Tags: Money, Tithe, Preaching, Generosity, new testament giving  (view more)  (view less)

How Leaders Defeat Discouragement

By Charles Stone on Apr 15, 2021

Somebody once said there are two things in life we can’t avoid, taxes and death. I’d like to add a third, discouragement. Church leader or not, you will face it. It’s an inevitable part of life. Here’s how I’ve learned to defeat discouragement.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:6

Tags: Discouragement, rest in god, Rest, Encouraged

Lay Aside The Weight Of Discouragement

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 26, 2022

Discouragement is not as powerful as it feels. We can defeat it if we confront it.

Scripture: Romans 1:5, 1 Peter 4:11, Psalm 42:5, Numbers 13:27-28, Numbers 13:31, 1 Samuel 17:49, Acts 4:31, 1 Timothy 6:12, Hebrews 12:12-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: encouragement, Discouragement, Depression, Empowerment, strengthening faith  (view more)  (view less)

How Can The Pew Help The Pulpit?

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Mar 7, 2024

Good preaching is a partnership between pastor and congregation, pulpit and pew, the one who preaches and the one who listens.

Scripture: John 13:31-35

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Congregation, Encourage, Partnership, Pastor, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Words Create Worlds… Part 1

By Lance Witt on Aug 17, 2023

As a leader, your words carry more weight and they have more staying power. Your words get amplified and magnified.

Scripture: Proverbs 18:21, Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 12:25, Matthew 3:17, Proverbs 18:20, Proverbs 25:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Influence, kind words, Blessing Others, Encouraging Others