In Preaching Articles: "Connect The Dot"

Turn Christmas Visitors Into January Members

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 25, 2023

Here's how to bring them back before Easter!

Tags: Christmas, invite, members, Connect, Visitors, connect  (view more)  (view less)

When Church Members Leave: How Pastors Carry The Quiet Wound

By Greg Surratt on Apr 29, 2020

Pastors feel deep pain when people leave their church. Understanding why it happens and how to respond wisely can turn hurt into growth, humility, and renewed strength.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25-35, John 6:66-67, Proverbs 19:11, Romans 12:18, 2 Timothy 4:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Church, Church Growth, Connect, Assimilation, Church Practices, connect, church  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Connect With Older Congregations

By Lane Sebring on Apr 22, 2023

Seasoned saints have heard a lot of preaching: can you still reach them in fresh ways?

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Doctrinal Sermons Must Connect To Human Experience

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Aug 16, 2021

A sermon is more than a lecture about biblical facts. True preaching invites people into an encounter with God that calls for a real response.

Scripture: Romans 10:1-10, Acts 2:37, James 1:22, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth, Preaching, experience, doctrinal, human, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Preach The Surprising Connection Between Christmas And Repentance

By David J. Lose on Dec 22, 2025

Instead of demanding repentance, what if you invited people into it?

Scripture: John 3:1-3, Matthew 3:1-2

Tags: Advent, Preaching, repentance, Inviting People, Repentance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Traits Of Speakers Who Connect With Their Audience

By Lane Sebring on Jul 11, 2023

Recently my church hosted a leadership conference to encourage and equip our lay leaders and staff. One of the speakers at the event, Nikki, impacted me with her engaging presentation.

Tags: Preaching, humor, Honesty, Communication Speech, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Building Preacher-Listener Connection – Part 1

By Peter Mead on Apr 22, 2024

People can usually sense if you are not being genuine.

Tags: relationships, Confess Sin, God's Word, Genuine Faith

Onramps To Connect Listeners To Your Sermons And Scripture

By Ed Stetzer on Feb 23, 2022

This article is the last of six in a series on preaching in light of cultural shifts and biblical illiteracy.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Culture, sermon prep, sermon, Sermon Prep, Sermon, preaching, teaching, culture, culture shifts, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Aim For The Ear

By Hershael York on May 24, 2025

Preaching is fundamentally an oral event, not a written one. Effective preachers understand that delivery, connection, and presence are essential to communicating the Word.

Scripture: Acts 2:37, 2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Nehemiah 8:8

Tags: Heart, Preaching, mistakes, Head, connection, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Doctrine Is Not Enough: Does Your Preaching Connect With People?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Feb 21, 2023

Doctrinal sermons are fine, but do they connect to human experience?

Tags: people, Preaching, Doctrine, connection, homiletical, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Six Details To Include In Your Church Staff Bios

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 14, 2022

When we talk with first-time guests about church websites, many of them share their surprise that the website fails to include bios or any information other than a name for the church staff.

Tags: Healthy Church, Connect, Clarity, church ministry, Church Website, Digital Strategy, Executive Pastor, Church Bio, connect  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons Pastors Don't Connect With Millennials

By Tyler Braun on Sep 10, 2020

Millennial faith is declining, but blame is not the answer. Real change begins with relationships, honesty about doubt, and personal engagement.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Matthew 11:3, Mark 3:14, John 13:35, Jude 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Youth, Preaching, Relevant, church culture, preaching, Church Culture  (view more)  (view less)

Bold Preaching: The Surprising Connection Between Amos And Us

By Nathan Aaseng on Jan 14, 2026

This article challenges preachers to reflect on whether they resemble Amos or the court prophets, and urges courage in proclaiming hard truths from God’s Word.

Tags: Preaching, Prophetic Preaching, preaching, Church and Culture, Courage in Ministry, Preaching Challenges  (view more)  (view less)

11 Steps To Connect Your Volunteers To Your Vision

By John Gilman Ii on Feb 19, 2021

How can a group of people who are committed to seeing something great happen and are willing to put in the time and energy it takes, only to see their vision fail?

Tags:

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

By Chris Surber on Oct 15, 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)