In Preaching Articles: "Expository Ministry"

Dallas Willard: A Cup Running Over

By Dallas Willard on Apr 17, 2020

Men and women in ministry who are not finding satisfaction in Christ are likely to demonstrate that with overexertion and overpreparation for speaking, and with no peace about what they do after they do it.

Tags: Peace, Preaching, Satisfaction, preaching

No More Email: A Productivity Experiment That’s Paying Off

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 16, 2023

How are your email habits affecting your effectiveness?

Tags: church leadership, communication, Stress, effective, productivity, email, Pastoral Ministry, avoiding burnout, stress, Communication  (view more)  (view less)

Can Something This Simple Supercharge Staff Morale?

By Charles Stone on Nov 20, 2023

Several months ago I began something with our staff that has been a huge hit. It’s simple. Any staff can do it, whether in a church or a business application. And it boosts staff morale and excitement when we do it. I encourage you to try it with your staff. It’s called a “Blue Sky Thinking” morning.

Tags: pastoral leadership, servant leadership, church ministry, Staff Meeting, Leadership, leadership, motivation, inspiration, Solitude  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways To Defeat Leadership Discouragement

By Charles Stone on Dec 10, 2023

Discouragement comes with the territory for ministry leaders. Unmet goals, putting out fires, staff issues, displeasing people, and general tiredness all contribute to discouragement. When it weighs us down, how can we dig out? The life of the prophet Elijah gives us hope.

Tags: Pastoral Ministry, Elijah's Depression, Fighting for Joy, Leadership, Perseverance, leadership, Discouragement, Depression, Elijah's faith  (view more)  (view less)

Ten Facebook Promotion Tips For Churches

By Jonathan Howe on Sep 30, 2022

How can using Facebook help you promote your church?

Tags: facebook, Promotion, social media, reaching the lost, church ministry, Digital Strategy, strategy, Church Growth  (view more)  (view less)

7 Indicators Your Team Is Dysfunctional

By Ron Edmondson on Oct 10, 2022

In my experience, there are commonalities of dysfunction. If you have been on a dysfunctional team you’ve probably seen one or more of the common traits. See if any of these seem familiar.

Tags: pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Team Dynamics, Healthy Teams, Leadership, leadership, conflict, Teamwork, Dysfunction  (view more)  (view less)

4 Easy Steps To Healthy Delegation

By Ron Edmondson on May 20, 2024

How do we let go of responsibility when we are wired so heavily towards not doing so? How do we delegate when the church holds us responsible for getting things done? How do we let go when doing so makes us sometimes feel so out of control?

Tags: church leadership, delegating, Effective Leadership, Healthy Ministry, Pride, letting go, multiply, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why "Preach Like The Room Is Full" Is Some Of The Worst Advice

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 15, 2025

"Even if only three people show up to church, preach like the room is full!" That's some of the worst advice I've ever received in ministry.

Tags: terrible advice, preaching, Preaching, opportunity, full room  (view more)  (view less)

10 Preaching Questions With Ray Ortlund Jr.

By Colin Adams on Feb 21, 2025

"Early in my ministry, I needed twenty-plus hours to prepare. By now, the disciplines are more streamlined. I average perhaps ten hours or so," says Ortlund.

Scripture: Romans 10:14

Tags: Preaching, preaching

3 Problems With Being Too Nice As A Leader

By Ron Edmondson on Jun 14, 2020

Are you too nice as a leader? Maybe it's time to put away the "nice hat," at least temporarily, to address the issues and problems impacting your ministry or leadership team.

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership General, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

11 Ways To Make Christmas Your Best Outreach Of The Year

By Carey Nieuwhof on Nov 30, 2019

You may think it’s far too early to start thinking about Christmas, but think again. Whenever I’ve shared these ideas about Christmas, people say “Hey, I wish you’d talked about this earlier.” So we are.

Tags: Christmas, Outreach, Holidays, leadership, invite, pastoral leadership, Christmas Evangelism, church ministry, church leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Overcoming Blind Spots In The Pulpit

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 21, 2020

Every preacher gravitates toward familiar themes. Identifying and addressing pulpit blind spots helps congregations grow into spiritual maturity and biblical balance.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 4:13-15, Acts 20:27, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 1:28  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Church Growth, Pastoral Ministry, sermon planning, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, Biblical Teaching, Sermon Planning  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach To The Heart

By John Bjorge on Nov 16, 2021

Faithful preaching requires more than good exegesis. When sermons speak to the heart with trust, integrity, and lived faith, real gospel transformation follows.

Scripture: Judges 3:15-7:6, Colossians 1:3-6, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Church Health, Pastoral Ministry, spiritual formation, preaching, Gospel transformation, Spiritual Formation, Gospel Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways To Boost Your Preaching Creativity

By Brandon Kelley on Jul 3, 2022

Do you want more people to walk away from the church gathering and actually remember the big idea from your sermon? Of course you do. Who wouldn’t?

Scripture: John 3:36, Matthew 15:21

Tags: Sermon Help, Teaching Prep, preaching, Preaching, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, poor preaching, Effective Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Pulpit Humour: Five Pointers

By Peter Mead on Jul 22, 2022

5 Tips on how to avoid landmines when using humor in the pulpit.

Tags: Humility in Teaching, e, preaching, teaching, Teaching, Preaching, humor, Pastoral Ministry, Communication skills, Pulpit Helps  (view more)  (view less)