In Preaching Articles: "Facing Controversy"

When Pastors Get Pigeonholed

By Charles Stone on Jul 31, 2024

Pastors face a common vocational hazard: getting pigeonholed.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:12

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Preaching On Hot Topics? 9 Outstanding Helps

By Lane Sebring on Mar 18, 2023

You want to help your people see how biblical truth intersects with every aspect of their lives. But the more controversial the topic the more important it is to handle it with care.

Scripture: Genesis 2:16-25

Tags: Hot Topics, Preaching, religious objections, thorough, cultural perspective, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Matt Chandler: First And Foremost, I'm A Preacher

By Matt Chandler on Jul 19, 2025

There's no limit to the distractions facing a pastor, but in the end we are called to preach.

Tags: Preaching, Preacher, Matt Chandler, limit, Distraction, preaching, preacher  (view more)  (view less)

How To Plan For A Year Of Preaching

By Ted Torreson on Nov 20, 2021

Ted Torreson offers practical help for you to face the coming year.

Scripture: Song of Songs 6:4-12

Tags: Preaching, one year preaching, preaching

5 Mistakes More Likely To Be Made By Small Churches Than Big Churches

By Karl Vaters on May 26, 2022

Different sizes of churches serve different functions. And they face different challenges.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: strategy, Small Church, Equipping The Body, Traditions of Men

Christmas: Not A Time For Inventing Twists On The Age-Old Story

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 14, 2024

Tell it with gusto and love. Tell the story of the birth of Jesus with all the excitement of someone hearing it for the first time. Tell the story without detouring into theories and guesses and myths and controversies.

Scripture: Luke 2:11

Tags: Christmas, Simplicity, storytelling, Christmas Advent

Six Stages Of A Dying Church

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 22, 2022

It’s not a pleasant topic. But if we don’t talk about dying churches, we will act like there are no problems.

Tags: leadership, Church Attendance, Pastoral Ministry, Dying Church, church ministry, revitalization, Correcting Mistakes, Facing Problems, e, Leadership, church attendance  (view more)  (view less)

12 Simple Ways To Be A Pastor Who Prays Like A Warrior

By Hal Seed on Nov 11, 2022

I believe every pastor ought to be a prayer warrior.

Scripture: Isaiah 56:7, 1 Samuel 3:10

Tags: Prayer, daily prayer, Prayer for Others, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Holy Spirit's Power, Seek God's Face, God hears prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Francis Chan Has Discovered The Secret To Fearless Preaching

By Francis Chan on Feb 7, 2024

He has a lot to say! Listen to this full-length message on the pressures preachers face.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:11-12

Tags: Preaching, Fearless, francis chan, Secret, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach On Death Row (Or Other Unfamiliar Settings)

By Joe Mckeever on Feb 14, 2020

Sooner or later, every minister faces this kind of fearsome opportunity. (Wonderful nightmare? Scary blessing?)

Tags: Preaching

8 Ways To Bust Leadership Discouragement

By Charles Stone on Sep 28, 2022

"Discouragement is a universal experience for ministry leaders and the word actually self-defines itself…dis-courage meaning no courage. Some of the Bible’s greatest characters faced it: Moses, David, Paul, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the apostles. Nehemiah, the great Old Testament leader faced it when he led the Jews to rebuild the wall. Yet, his response offers us hope when we face it."

Scripture: Psalm 77:11, Nehemiah 4:10-21

Tags: Nehemiah, leadership, Discouragement, thought life, pastoral leadership, Blessings, Burdens, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Leader’s Crisis Of Belief

By Ron Edmondson on Sep 11, 2023

Every leader at some point faces a crisis of belief in their leadership – or what he or she is attempting to lead.

Tags: Faith, Trust, leadership, crisis response, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways Great Leaders Handle Tough Circumstances Differently

By Carey Nieuwhof on Dec 8, 2023

If you want to imitate the great leaders when you face challenging situations, do these three things.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:11, Psalm 62:5, Philippians 3:12

Tags: leadership, success, Obstacles, opposition, pastoral leadership, church leadership, Tough Circumstances, Mindset, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Os Guinness: Evil Is Real

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 11, 2023

Os Guinness is willing to face what most people would prefer to ignore, and he encourages us to do the same.

Tags: Evil, Preaching, os guinness, preaching

Brokenness In A Pastor’s Life

By Charles Stone on Jun 29, 2023

As I enter the sixth decade of my life and reflect over the brokenness I’ve faced as a pastor, I’m beginning to see its great value. It still hurts and I’d prefer not to face it. Yet, I’m experiencing the fruit of brokenness: inner peace, joy, and a purpose that supersedes ‘ministry success.’

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Healing, Rejection, brokenness, success in ministry