In Preaching Articles: "Effective Leadership"

Every Church Staff Team Needs A Little Bit Of Friction

By Brandon Cox on Nov 20, 2023

"Eliminate friction!!" That’s the goal most of us have when it comes to leading a team, or a church, or a company. But what if friction is actually the key to getting things moving in the right direction?

Scripture: Genesis 1:1

Tags: leadership, strategy, conflict, Teamwork, Tension, pastoral leadership, Friction, Team Dynamics, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

R. C. Sproul: Why Good Teaching Is Simple But Never Simplistic

By R. C. Sproul on Jan 3, 2023

Effective teaching does not avoid complexity but translates it. True mastery shows itself in clarity that simplifies without distorting truth.

Scripture: Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 9:9, Luke 24:27, Matthew 13:34-35, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship

C. S. Lewis On Clear Writing (And Better Preaching)

By Ray Hollenbach on Aug 14, 2020

C. S. Lewis’s advice on clear writing offers pastors a timeless guide for preaching that is precise, concrete, and spiritually effective.

Scripture: 1 John 4:4, Nehemiah 8:8, 1 Corinthians 14:8-9, Colossians 4:6, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Clarity

Who Are You Preaching To?

By Peter Mead on Oct 1, 2020

Effective preaching requires knowing your listeners, applying Scripture wisely, and resisting the temptation to use the pulpit for personal “target practice.”

Scripture: Acts 20:20, Hebrews 4:12, James 3:1-2, Matthew 18:15, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Preaching Is More Than Telling The Truth

By Peter Mead on Mar 19, 2024

Effective preaching is not about clever outlines but about proclaiming Christ, explaining Scripture faithfully, and leading hearers toward understanding and transformation.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth, Preaching, memory, Outline, Homiletics, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Most Common Preaching Mistake: No Hook

By Bruce D. Johnson on Aug 26, 2023

Many sermons lose listeners in the first few minutes. Effective preaching begins by connecting the message to the real struggles and questions of the congregation.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8, Matthew 13:34, Colossians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 9:22

Tags: Preaching, mistakes, Homiletics, interest, hook, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Faithful Preaching Keeps Bibles Open

By Peter Mead on May 27, 2025

Effective biblical preaching keeps listeners engaged with the text, helping them follow Scripture during the sermon and return to it throughout the week.

Scripture: Matthew 24:1-22, Nehemiah 8:8, Acts 17:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, Faith, Preaching, average, interest, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

The Ultimate Character Test Any Great Leader Passes

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 14, 2023

Moral failure takes out more leaders than it should. But real success is deeper than just avoiding the ditch.

Tags: leadership, Character, Faithfulness, Home Life, Integrity, Popularity, pastoral leadership, church leadership, First Things First, Leadership Failure, True Success, e, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things Healthy Churches Do Well

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 24, 2025

Healthy churches face problems with wisdom, unity, and Christlike leadership. These ten traits show how congregations grow stronger even through crises.

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Tags: Church Growth, Healthy Church, Pastors, CHURCH LIFE, Church General, Accept, Christian community, church leadership, Biblical wisdom, Church Leadership, Biblical Wisdom, Congregational Health, Christian Community  (view more)  (view less)

5 Right And Wrong Ways To Deal With Criticism

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 21, 2025

Criticism is inevitable in leadership. Here are five wrong responses to avoid and five wise practices that help leaders learn, grow, and steward feedback well.

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 19:20, James 1:19, Ecclesiastes 7:5

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Criticism, Confidence, evaluation, criticism, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The First Step In Bringing Change To Your Church

By John Holm on Jan 24, 2023

Healthy leadership protects what must never change while courageously adjusting what must. Churches fail when they confuse strategy with identity.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1, Matthew 28:19-20, Proverbs 29:18, Ephesians 2:20, Jude 1:3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Guide, strategy, Change, Strategy

Church Members Don't Want A Hero, They Want A Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 12, 2021

Church members aren’t looking for super-pastors, they want basic pastoral competence, honesty and leadership. That’s what they ought to expect.

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Hero, Pastor

10 Ministry Principles I Wish I Knew When I Started

By Brady Boyd on Mar 4, 2025

Fifteen years of pastoral ministry reveal lessons a young minister rarely sees coming, from handling pressure and friendships to trust, rest, and long term faithfulness.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 5:17, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:2-4, Mark 6:31, Galatians 6:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Lesson, Ministry, leadership, Leadership, ministry, Ministry Wisdom  (view more)  (view less)

When The Applause Becomes A Drug

By Brady Boyd on Apr 20, 2020

Pastors face pressures that tempt them toward unhealthy escapes. One subtle danger is the craving for applause. True strength comes only from Christ, not the crowd.

Scripture: Galatians 1:10, John 3:30, 1 Peter 5:2-4, Psalm 73:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Addiction, leadership, Preaching, Cross, Crowd, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Talk About Money In Church

By Jamie Munson on Jul 30, 2020

"If we are avoiding the subject or trying to make it more palatable, we are doing our congregations a huge disservice."

Scripture: John 4:14, Luke 12:34, Matthew 25:14-30, Acts 2:44-47, 2 Corinthians 8:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Money, Preaching, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)