In Preaching Articles: "Cultural Discernment"

Preaching When The News Intrudes

By Eric Reed on Jan 6, 2025

Pastors must navigate public tragedy with discernment, comforting emotions, anchoring people in Scripture, and knowing when to speak and when to wait for true clarity.

Tags: Church, Preaching, Culture, Difficulties, disaster, media, Biblical wisdom, sermon preparation, Pastoral Leadership, Crisis Preaching, Cultural Discernment, Biblical Wisdom, pastoral leadership, Trials, Sermon Preparation, preaching, church, culture  (view more)  (view less)

Daring Preaching Engages The Culture: Does Yours?

By Joe Mckeever on Aug 26, 2024

Christ sends us into the world but warns us not to be shaped by it. Faithful ministry means engaging culture with wisdom, tension, and gospel-centered discernment.

Scripture: John 17:14-18, Romans 14:4, Acts 17:22-23, 1 Corinthians 9:22, Ephesians 2:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Christian Discipleship

Crafting A Culture Of Honor

By Lance Witt on Oct 22, 2020

In the middle of this election year, the amount of vicious attack and trash talking has reached a new high (or low). I think it is time that we as pastors take the lead in helping our congregations and communities know how to treat one another.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:32, 1 John 4:7-8, John 13:35, Romans 12:10

Tags: honor

4 Ways To Approach Unsaved Church Members

By Brian Croft on Jul 24, 2024

Pastors often meet sincere people who desire church membership but show little grasp of the gospel. This article offers four pastoral principles for wise, patient discernment.

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Tags: Discernment, Local Church Leadership

Preaching Through Cultural Chaos

By Mark Dance on Oct 8, 2025

Mark Dance: “Pastors do not need to be pushy, but neither do we need to be pushovers.”

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Creating A Healthy Team Culture

By Lance Witt on Jun 26, 2023

Culture is one of things that is hard to define but easy to feel. You certainly feel it when you visit a foreign country and you bump up against different customs and ways of doing things, but you also feel it when you enter a business or a church. There is a certain style or personality of an organization that is an expression of culture. I sometimes think of culture as the organization’s “way” of doing what they do. There is a Ritz Carlton “way” of doing customer service. There is a Starbucks “way” of doing business. There is a Crossroads Church “way” of doing ministry.

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Complaining Never Wins The Culture

By Trevin Wax on May 4, 2022

What if the biggest danger ahead for Christians today is something we don’t expect, but should?

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-16, 1 John 5:19, Psalm 78:17-20, Philippians 2:25, Luke 4:18, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 11:33-34  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: gratitude, Culture, Complaining, Grumbling, culture  (view more)  (view less)

Creating A Church Culture Through Sermons

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 17, 2020

Our responsibility is not only to feed the flock a balanced diet from Scripture but also to create a church culture within our congregation.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Looking For A Silver Bullet In A Microwave Culture

By Mike Breen on Jun 23, 2025

It's tempting. It's alluring. And it's the best way to kill your church.

Tags: culture, Culture, preach, silver bullet, microwave  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Have A Reproducing Culture

By Ron Edmondson on May 7, 2021

You can’t recruit leaders – at least not effectively – if you never develop a culture to do so. Reproducing cultures reproduce leaders.

Tags: empower, church culture, ministry vision, church leadership

This Killed Kodak And It's Coming To Your Church

By Karina Kreminski on Apr 11, 2024

It saddens me that some people see the need for change in the church, yet God’s people keep doing the same thing as if minor tweaking will stop the decline of the Western church.

Tags: Transformation, Culture, Missional, church culture, culture  (view more)  (view less)

When To Throw Away Your Sermon Notes

By Ted Smith on Nov 13, 2020

Some preachers think it's more spiritual to preach without notes. Others think it's more spiritual to use notes. What if it's both?

Tags: Discernment, Preaching, neglect, habit, note, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Deal-Breakers: 7 Ways God May Tell A Pastor To Leave A Church

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 18, 2022

Long-term pastorates are almost always good for the church and the pastor. But when these things happen, it's time to go.

Tags: Discernment, Resignation, Knowing God's Will, church ministry

Eugene Peterson On Pastors, Preaching, And Consumer Culture

By Eugene Peterson on Jul 14, 2021

"I grew up in a culture which was very entertainment-centered. Pastors were really good storytellers, and they were attractive people, glamorous."

Tags: Growth, Preaching, Growth in Christ

Advent: How To Resist The Culture And Clutter Of Christmas

By Steve Smith on Dec 12, 2023

When I practice Advent, I get the opportunity to yet again, start my life over. I am invited to step out and away from my old ways and to begin new ways of living better–living in a different rhythm; living in a deeper–more sacred way.

Tags: Advent, Silence, Christmas Advent, spiritual clutter