In Preaching Articles: "Devotional Life"

Live To Make God Look Good

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 1, 2022

The great tragedy of the universe is that while human beings were made to glorify God because of who they are and what they see, we have all fallen short of this purpose.

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-3, Romans 3:23, Romans 1:23, Isaiah 40:4, Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 48:9-11, Isaiah 60:2, Isaiah 49:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: glory of God, meaning of life, glorify Christ, what is the purpose of life, Eternal Purpose, Self glory, Sin  (view more)  (view less)

Eight Reflections On 40 Years Of Marriage

By Thom Rainer on Nov 24, 2022

I want to share with you readers eight of the most powerful lessons I have learned in 40 years of marriage.

Tags: Marriage Faithfulness, Lessons in life, marriage and family, blessing children, Marriage, Thankfulness, Personal Life, Marriage Commitment  (view more)  (view less)

Why Pastors Shouldn't Read Anonymous Notes

By David Whiting on Dec 23, 2021

Pastors and church leaders often receive anonymous comments, mysteriously appearing in the church office,the offering plate, or the “comments” section of the Sunday communication card.A few years ago, I stopped reading them. They don’t even get passed onto me. Asa church leader, I recommend that you do the same thing.

Tags: leadership, Boundaries, ignore, influences in life, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Journey In The Dark

By Peter Mead on Jan 13, 2022

God delights to transform lives. There are many ways to depict this journey of transformation, but let’s focus on one example from the Old Testament.

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3, Psalm 130:1-8

Tags: Psalms, Transformation, transformed life, Christian Maturity

Shut Down The Bus Tours: What Older Members Should Really Be Doing

By Carey Nieuwhof on Aug 8, 2023

What if this one generation actually just sacrificed for the sake of another? What if they gave up their preferences in music, style and taste so that others could come to know Christ?

Tags: God's family, Life Mission, mission, Intergenerational

When I Don't Feel Successful

By Rev J.r. Vassar on Mar 20, 2022

From small mistakes to colossal meltdowns, we are all too familiar with the pain and shame of failure.

Scripture: Galatians 2:16, Philippians 3:8

Tags: failure, idolatry, Success In Life, success in ministry

Can I Preach It If I Haven't Mastered It?

By Ron Edmondson on Apr 4, 2025

Should pastors preach on topics where they have no life experience or areas they haven't yet mastered?

Tags: Teaching, Trust, Preaching, preaching, teaching, Life Experience  (view more)  (view less)

14 Ways To Help Unborn Babies And Their Mothers

By Randy Alcorn on Mar 8, 2020

A practical guide offering 14 concrete ways Christians can champion the pro-life cause through service, advocacy, education, generosity, and prayer.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 139:1-24

Tags: Church, Preaching, Abortion, mothers, Sanctity of Life, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

12 Things I’d Tell My 25-Year-Old Self (About Life And Leadership)

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 18, 2024

There are so many things I would do the same, but there are more than a few things I’d do differently.

Tags: leader, passion, godly character, productivity, Godly Leaders, pastoral leadership, church leadership, Leader, Security  (view more)  (view less)

Get It Right Before You Start: Safeguard Your Sermon Series

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 29, 2020

Avoid these ten critical mistakes that could prevent an effective evangelistic sermon series at your church.

Tags: Repentance, preaching, Truth, Preaching, repentance, eternal life, New Way  (view more)  (view less)

What To Do When Your Preaching Turns Stale

By Peter Mead on Aug 13, 2025

On the dashboard of our ministry life, we need to have a light that flashes when we are preaching flat. What causes it? What should we do?

Tags: give thanks, stale, ministry life, spiritual dryness, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Most Necessary Thing

By Thomas C. Brown on Jul 10, 2022

Greater is the value of personal intimacy with God than busyness for him. Service must follow surrender and solitude.

Scripture: Luke 10:42, John 17:3, Philippians 3:8-10

Tags: Leadership, God's Word, pastoral leadership, Intimacy With God, Pastoral Ministry, soul care, Guarding Your Soul, Scripture, leadership, devotion, priorities  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things Healthy Churches Do Well

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 23, 2025

Whether we are a critic or a lover of the church — or for some of us, both — it's important to remain balanced.

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Tags: Church Growth, Healthy Church, Pastors, CHURCH LIFE, Church General, Accept  (view more)  (view less)

8 Ways To Bust Leadership Discouragement

By Charles Stone on Sep 27, 2022

"Discouragement is a universal experience for ministry leaders and the word actually self-defines itself…dis-courage meaning no courage. Some of the Bible’s greatest characters faced it: Moses, David, Paul, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the apostles. Nehemiah, the great Old Testament leader faced it when he led the Jews to rebuild the wall. Yet, his response offers us hope when we face it."

Scripture: Psalm 77:11, Nehemiah 4:10-21

Tags: Blessings, Burdens, Leadership, Nehemiah, leadership, Discouragement, thought life, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

4 Tips For Understanding Any Passage Of The Bible

By Brandon Smith on Nov 30, 2022

Whatever you do, just read the Bible.

Tags: Reading God's Word, Christian community, personal holiness, Personal Devotions, bible study, Study, Prayer, BIBLE STUDY, godly character, Bible Study  (view more)  (view less)