In Preaching Articles: "Expectations"

Pastors: Why Some Love Them And Some Don’t

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 5, 2022

See how they treated Jesus? Expect the same for yourself, pastor.

Scripture: Matthew 10:40, Romans 5:5, Mark 3:5, Mark 3:1-6, Matthew 10:24-25, Acts 5:41  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Wisdom, pastor, pastor appreciation, attacking the pastor, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

The Light-Hearted Pastor Is An Oxymoron

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 27, 2022

To expect to carry the message without feeling the weight is asking a little much.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 11:28

Tags: pressure, Human Weakness, bearing burdens, Pastoral Ministry

Preacher: Tell Your People What They Are!

By Lane Sebring on May 15, 2025

Great leaders set high expectations and truly believe their church is capable of meeting them.

Scripture: Romans 8:28-31

Tags: Preaching, preaching

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)

Why My Sermon Notes Don't Rhyme, And What I Do Instead

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 9, 2023

For generations, rhymes and alliterations were expected from public speakers. It made them seem credible, authoritative and prepared. Not any more.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-5

Tags: phony, sermon notes, rhyme, insincere, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Sometimes I Feel Like Giving Up, But I Know Better

By Brandon Cox on Apr 27, 2024

Sometimes, I feel that I’m spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere, and that I’m failing to meet the expectations of others.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:12

Tags: Holy Spirit, Discouragement, confidence in God, giving up

When Is A Sermon Good Enough?

By Stephen Gregory on Jul 16, 2024

A pastor wrestles with preparation, expectations, and perfectionism, discovering how God uses imperfect sermons when the preacher is faithful, honest, and attentive to the flock.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3

Tags: Church, Preaching, pastor, spiritual growth, Communication General, Pastoral Ministry, Ministry Leadership, Pastor, Sermon Preparation, preaching, church, sermon preparation, Preaching Challenges, Spiritual Growth  (view more)  (view less)

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

Christmas Is Too Big For One Day: Why We Celebrate Advent

By Dr. Andreas Kostenberger on Dec 6, 2024

Jesus’s birth did not come in a vacuum. His coming was the culmination of centuries, even millennia, of mounting expectation of the coming Messiah and Savior of humankind.

Scripture: Genesis 3:15, 1 Samuel 13:14, Luke 2:10-11

Tags: Advent, Christmas Advent, Waiting on God, Spiritual Preparation

7 Things Preachers Never Say

By Peter Mead on May 7, 2024

Preachers speak, but we don’t talk about everything. If you are a preacher you may read this series and find some encouragement that you are not alone. If you know a preacher you may read this and find some understanding that you did not have before.

Tags: church leadership, Ministry Pressure, Stress, Overwhelmed, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, expectations, stress  (view more)  (view less)

Mapping Fault Lines In America | Micah 3

By Jerry Shirley on Aug 8, 2019

In Micah 3, the prophet maps the spiritual fault lines of a nation under judgment. Find what that means for America today, and what God expects from His people.

Scripture: Micah 3:1-12

Tags: Repentance, repentance, compromise, Complacency, Spiritual Renewal, Compromise, Corruption, America, Hope, corruption  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Preachers Never Say – Pt.2

By Peter Mead on May 8, 2024

This series looks at seven things preachers never say. Last time we thought about the burden of expectation. How about this for another: The negative outcomes of both criticism and apathy.

Tags: church ministry, Negative Response, Backbiting, criticism, Criticism, Apathy, Gossip, slander, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

3 Big Problems With Running A Church Like A Business

By Karl Vaters on Oct 4, 2022

"We’re always decrying the rise of the consumer culture within the church. But how should we expect people to act when pastors act like CEOs marketing Jesus as a product?"

Tags: Lord Of The Church, shallow church, Jesus is Lord, pastoral leadership, church and business, Pastoral Ministry, avoiding burnout, church ministry  (view more)  (view less)

The Gospel Of James: Open Letter To Martin Luther

By SermonCentral .com on May 7, 2022

Many of us today who think of ourselves squarely as your friends take exception to some of your views — some in greater measure than others — and I expect you, of all people, would be least surprised to hear of it and receive it.

Scripture: Galatians 2:14, Ezekiel 36:24-32, Jeremiah 31:33, Ephesians 1:13, Colossians 1:5, 1 Corinthians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 12:21, James 1:18-23, Philippians 1:27, 1 Peter 1:23-25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: The Gospel, Reformation, Book of James, martin luther

Without Accountability, Confession And Friendship, ‘we’re Going To End Up Out Of Ministry’

By Michael Duduit on Jan 28, 2022

My friend Clayton King, who has never served as a senior pastor (and had not expected to), suddenly found himself leading one of the nation’s largest congregations as interim pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina.

Scripture: James 5:16

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Isolation, Leadership General, pastoral leadership