In Preaching Articles: "Cost Of Discipleship"

How To Stop People From Playing On Their Phones In Church

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 19, 2025

Cell phones in church don't bother me because I've discovered an ancient secret that keeps people from getting bored in church.

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, Entertainment, Boredom, better church, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Jesus: Friend To Sinners, No Friend To Sin

By Ray Hollenbach on Jan 14, 2026

Jesus befriended sinners without ignoring sin. Christians can hold truth and grace together without compromising either.

Tags: Grace, Jesus, Sin, Discipleship, Preaching, grace, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Has The Church Lost Its Passion?

By Jim Morgan on Mar 17, 2021

Passion is what we can’t keep inside. It spills over and can’t be contained. We love our kids – we can’t help but talk about them. We love our favorite sports teams – we talk about them first thing Monday morning at the water cooler. Christians love God more than anything else – He should constantly be on the tips of our tongues. Our passion for the Lord should be evident to all those around us. “Private Christian” should be an oxymoron – our faith should pour out through every fiber of our being.

Tags: Discipleship, passion, social justice, Sharing Your Faith

Don't Fear Bruised Toes

By Chris Surber on Dec 24, 2021

He is a poor preacher who gives no offense to his listeners.

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, poor preaching, measuring success, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Growing A Church

By Barry O. Johnson on Aug 18, 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)

Is Your Preaching Too Deep Or Too Shallow?

By Craig Groeschel on Feb 4, 2025

Preaching must be simple and relevant, but never at the cost of spiritual depth. True transformation comes from Scripture-driven messages that avoid both extremes.

Scripture: Hebrews 5:13

Tags: Death, Teaching, Preaching, deep, Expository, preaching, teaching, expository, Balanced  (view more)  (view less)

Practical Ideas For Servant Evangelism

By Steve Sjogren on Apr 7, 2023

Servant evangelism uses simple acts of kindness to nudge people toward God. These practical, low-cost ideas help churches connect with their communities with high grace.

Scripture: John 4:5-26, John 15:9-17

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Outreach, Servant, Evangelism How To, Evangelism The Lost, evangelism, church  (view more)  (view less)

4 Reasons Why You Should Share The Pulpit

By Kevin Larson on Aug 15, 2024

Sharing the pulpit strengthens the church, protects the pastor, and equips future leaders. Fear and pride keep pastors from doing it, but the cost is too high to ignore.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:12, 1 Timothy 5:17, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, pulpit, Equip, training, Pastoral Ministry, preaching, Pulpit  (view more)  (view less)

Dangerous Assumptions That Will Kill Your Message

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Jun 21, 2021

Assuming the wrong things can cost us our audience. There are five dangerous assumptions in preaching. The damage they do may vary, but the fact that they are costly does not.

Scripture: 1 John 4:1-7

Tags:

The Secret To Memorable Preaching

By Larry Osborne on May 9, 2023

Linking small groups to weekend sermons increases attentiveness, note-taking, and application, turning preaching into lasting transformation rather than forgettable moments.

Scripture: Acts 2:42, James 1:22, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 10:24-25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, Small groups, Great, preaching, Small Groups  (view more)  (view less)

When (And Why) To Shake Off The Dust And Move On

By Ben Sternke on Aug 14, 2020

We can too easily normalize fruitlessness in the name of faithfulness. There's a big difference.

Tags: Discipleship, Missions, Church Growth, church planting, Evangelism The Lost  (view more)  (view less)

What Are The Internal Scripts Driving You? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Oct 8, 2023

Some of the hard work of our sanctification is dealing with some of the broken places in our lives beneath the surface…beneath the waterline.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1

Tags: Discipleship, soul care, healing emotions, deliverance from sin

10 Easier Ways To Preach About Money

By Margaret Marcuson on Jan 15, 2024

Talking about money is hard for pastors, but it shapes discipleship. These ten reminders help leaders teach stewardship with clarity, courage, and less anxiety.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:5-14, Matthew 6:24-33, Proverbs 3:9, Luke 12:15

Tags: Money, Stewardship, Preaching, Generosity, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Jesus Never Used A Classroom

By Bob Hamp on Jul 24, 2020

Jesus did not come primarily to educate or motivate but to liberate. His life and ministry reveal a discipleship model rooted in freedom, action, and restoration.

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19, John 8:32-36, Mark 1:38-39, Matthew 4:19, Romans 8:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Learning, Living, follower, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Not A Fan: The Hard Words Sparked A Church-Wide Revival

By Kyle Idleman on Jan 12, 2025

A preacher’s honest reckoning with crowd-pleasing sermons led to a bold call for true discipleship, sparking repentance, revival, and hundreds of unexpected baptisms.

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Love, Baptism, Jesus, Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Preaching, Disciples, revival, Church Growth, follower, preaching, church, love, Gospel call, Revival, Gospel Call  (view more)  (view less)