In Preaching Articles: "Encouraging Messages"

Listen To Your Message Before You Preach It

By Mark Mohler on Apr 17, 2020

Sermons are not made for paper; they are made for people. We should listen before we preach.

Tags: Communication, Preaching, preparation, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

When The Message Ends, Where Are People Focused?

By Peter Mead on Jul 28, 2025

Where are people looking as they leave? If we're not careful, they will walk out with gaze firmly fixed on self.

Tags: Message, Preaching, Self, focus, listener, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

15 Sermon Starters For Your Easter Message

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 2, 2021

Let these great thoughts prime the pump for your Easter sermon. Start with great words and develop them uniquely for your congregation.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, John 10:1-18, John 20:1-30, Acts 2:1

Tags: Easter, Message, Preaching, Jesus Christ, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Can You Separate The Man From The Message?

By Carl Trueman on Mar 6, 2024

Years ago I caused trouble when I started my message by declaring that it really did not matter if the pastor was an adulterer or not.

Tags: adultery, Pastor, preaching, Separation, Preaching, pastor  (view more)  (view less)

Weaving Gospel Fluency Into Every Sunday Message

By Jeff Vanderstelt on Nov 21, 2022

If we are going to grow people up into Christlikeness in every way, we need to learn how to speak the truths of Jesus Christ into everything.

Scripture: Luke 24:44-45

Tags: preaching Christ, guard the truth, Gospel centered, Teach His Word, church leadership, teaching, Teaching, pastoral leadership, defending the gospel  (view more)  (view less)

How Leaders Defeat Discouragement

By Charles Stone on Apr 15, 2021

Somebody once said there are two things in life we can’t avoid, taxes and death. I’d like to add a third, discouragement. Church leader or not, you will face it. It’s an inevitable part of life. Here’s how I’ve learned to defeat discouragement.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:6

Tags: Discouragement, rest in god, Rest, Encouraged

8 Ways To Hook Your Congregation Into Your Message

By SermonCentral .com on May 12, 2020

Whether you’re looking back at Plato or Jesus, virtually every culture has had great communicators who realized the power of attention-grabbing hooks.

Tags: flowers, preaching, anxiety, Bird, Preaching, Anxiety, Field  (view more)  (view less)

Present The Unchanging Message, But Use Ever-Changing Methods

By Todd Wagner on Feb 13, 2024

God's "piano" has 66 keys, but it can be used to play all types of music.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:22-25

Tags: Message, Gospel, Unchanging, Method, God's Image, gospel  (view more)  (view less)

7 Ways To Keep From Killing Your Message

By Carey Nieuwhof on Mar 1, 2023

Every week, gifted communicators kill the messages they bring by making at least seven predictable, fixable mistakes.

Tags: Preaching, Feedback, call to action, preaching

8 Powerful Ways To Hook The Congregation Into Your Message

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 8, 2020

Effective speakers realize the power of attention-grabbing hooks. What's in your toolbox?

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-5

Tags: hook, effective speakers, preaching, Preaching, Attention  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching Needs Community: Here's Why

By Todd Hiestand on Nov 20, 2020

"One of the most individual things done in churches these days is preaching." (And that's not a good thing.)

Tags: Community, family, Preaching, Group, encouragement, community  (view more)  (view less)

Lay Aside The Weight Of Discouragement

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 26, 2022

Discouragement is not as powerful as it feels. We can defeat it if we confront it.

Scripture: Romans 1:5, 1 Peter 4:11, Psalm 42:5, Numbers 13:27-28, Numbers 13:31, 1 Samuel 17:49, Acts 4:31, 1 Timothy 6:12, Hebrews 12:12-14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: encouragement, Discouragement, Depression, Empowerment, strengthening faith  (view more)  (view less)

Shake Up Your Christmas Messages: 7 New Approaches

By Peter Mead on Dec 5, 2020

You might be getting excited, or dreading another Christmas and the need to generate more messages when the obvious options feel well worn. Here are some other angles to consider.

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-11

Tags: Theme, Preaching, obvious, prophecies, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Have We Been Preaching The Wrong Message From Revelation?

By Ed Cyzewski on Aug 9, 2025

This misunderstood book offers us a message of hope that the darkness of today will one day relent when God's all-powerful light will restore creation.

Tags: Meaning, Context, preaching, context, Revelation, Preaching, wrong  (view more)  (view less)

Last-Minute Messages: How To Craft A Short Devotional With No Notice

By Rob O'lynn on Sep 7, 2021

"Hey, Pastor, could you say a few words..." Use this strategy to deliver short, meaningful talks with little or no prep time.

Scripture: Luke 19:1-19

Tags: picture, passage, point, Preaching