In Preaching Articles: "Empowered Churches"

4 Weapons Of Mass Distraction In A Leader’s Life

By Charles Stone on Nov 13, 2023

Ask yourself which of these four weapons of mass distraction divert you the most from leading at your best.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Tags: leadership, focus, distractions, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Effective Leadership, Leading Others Well, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

4 Spiritual Disciplines Pastors Often Neglect

By Charles Stone on Nov 16, 2023

What spiritual disciplines might you be neglecting?

Tags: leadership, Submission, confession, Solitude, Christian Disciplines, pastoral leadership, Spiritual Discipline, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Handling A Hurricane Part 3

By Lance Witt on May 6, 2024

In a storm, it is helpful to have a plan, but it is even more important to have clear, decisive leadership in the midst of everything being blown apart.

Tags: Perseverance, leadership, resolving conflict, pastoral leadership, overcoming sin, church ministry, Leadership Failure, Relational Dynamics, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

When Pastors Misplace Their Identity: 10 Probing Questions

By Charles Stone on Sep 19, 2022

“No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.” ––Paul Tripp

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:1

Tags: Ministry, identity, Identity in Christ, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, Right Priorities, self assement, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

3 Things Our Culture Is Doing To Bible Reading And Discipleship

By Mary C. Wiley on Jun 24, 2024

"We live in a microwave meals, listen-to-podcasts-in-double-time world. We want more with less; work smarter not harder. However, the move forward or get left behind mentality of today is not a good transferrable principle for discipleship. Mostly because discipleship is all about people, and people can’t be boiled down to a series of tasks. People are messy and their needs aren’t linear."

Tags: Discipleship, spiritual growth, church community, TEACH THE BIBLE, call to discipleship, training disciples, guard the truth, Study the Bible  (view more)  (view less)

5 Marks Of A Mature Leader

By Brandon Cox on Jul 3, 2024

Your body’s physical maturity typically peaks in early adulthood, but your spiritual maturity will keep growing even into eternity.

Tags: Humble, godly character, Godly Leaders, Leadership Listening, Encourage Others, pastoral leadership, church leadership, Leadership Traits  (view more)  (view less)

Don’t Try To Be Successful, Try To Do Good Work

By Karl Vaters on Jul 4, 2024

A minister with a well-nourished soul may or may not have a big church, but they’ll always have a healthy ministry.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-11, 1 Corinthians 4:2

Tags: leadership, Faithfulness, Good Works, pastoral leadership, success in ministry, church leadership, measuring success, serving faithfully, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Memorial Day Is Not A Slam-Dunk For Preachers: Here's Why

By Kevin Deyoung on May 14, 2020

Kevin DeYoung: "Many churches could stand to think more carefully about their theology of God and country."

Tags: Preaching, preaching

How To Deal With A Preacher-Eater

By Joe Mckeever on Feb 22, 2023

Practical advice for dealing with the self-appointed church rulers who try to dominate your preaching and your ministry.

Tags: Preaching, Ruler, practical advice, sons of diotrephes, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Overcome A Sense Of Christmas Loss

By Ron Edmondson on Dec 9, 2025

Several years ago, to prepare for a Christmas message, I consulted with two professional Christian counselors in our church.

Tags: Christmas, Grief, Worship General

Search And Rescue

By Lance Witt on Oct 23, 2023

Outside the walls of your church, there is a spiritual harvest waiting to be reaped. Like Jesus, we must be broken for the broken.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Tags: Evangelism, Reconciliation, pastoral leadership, Reaching out, To be disabled, evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching And Evangelism: 20 Sermon And Worship Resources

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 6, 2024

Encourage your church to live out the Great Commission every day with 20 powerful preaching and evangelism resources.

Tags: Evangelism, Worship, Preaching, evangelism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Much Is Enough? The Only Safe Rule For Giving

By Kent Woodyard on Jan 5, 2024

Working in business development for a church giving platform, I am asked often if there is a Biblical precedent for churches using digital technology to accept tithes and offerings. Any scriptural evidence that text-2-give is acceptable to the Lord? I’ll save you a concordance search: there isn’t.

Scripture: Mark 12:41-44, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Tags: Money, Giving

10 Ways To Plan An Amazing Sermon Series

By Herbert Cooper on Oct 9, 2020

Herbert Cooper, senior pastor of People's Church in Oklahoma City, shares strategic insights into making a sermon series work.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:14-20

Tags: Faith, Preaching, sight, walk, substance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Four Ways To Cut Through Communication Clutter

By Tim Peters on May 1, 2025

When you receive too many messages, you receive no messages. How many messages is your church sending?

Tags: Communication, Message, clutter, Market, communication  (view more)  (view less)