In Preaching Articles: "First Things First"

7 Things Pastors Wish Church Members Knew About Their Children

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 10, 2024

Should Pastors' children behave differently than regular kids? Thom Rainer speaks from the heart in this powerful post.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

6 Things Church Leaders Need To Know About Small Churches

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 15, 2022

Ninety percent of the churches on earth are under 200 people. Eighty percent are under 100. There may be no segment of the church that is more normative. But they may also be the most misunderstood.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:25

Tags: christian unity, Church Unity, Megachurch, Small Church

5 Things You Should Never Say To A Small Church Pastor

By Karl Vaters on Oct 24, 2023

Don’t just get the content right. Consider how it might feel to the hurting pastors who need your help the most.

Tags: leadership, advice, Small Church, Pastoral Ministry, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

9 Things We Can All Learn From Billy Graham's Preaching

By Dennis Phelps on Jul 3, 2021

Someone asked Billy Graham how long it took to prepare a sermon. He answered, "A lifetime."

Tags: Preaching, prepare, Billy Graham

10 Things You Shouldn't Say To A Pastor Right After The Sermon

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 9, 2019

These ten post-sermon comments are the ones that produced the most visceral reactions in pastors.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism

Check Your Sermon Today For Three Things You Must Have Tomorrow

By Lane Sebring on Dec 16, 2019

Even great content needs careful structure and presentation. Here's a three-point checklist that will improve any message.

Scripture: James 4:1-5, Colossians 4:5-6

Tags:

Eight Things I Like About The Church…and Five I Hate.

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 7, 2023

Show me a Christian who can please God better alone than with other believers and I’ll show you a one-of-a-kind, something never before seen on planet Earth. The Lord thought you and I would be needing each other, so placed us in a church fellowship when He saved us.

Tags: Church, Preaching, preaching, church

One Major Thing You Can Do To Improve Your Worship Service

By Joe Hoagland on Apr 9, 2022

What if I told you there is one main thing you can improve to make people want to come back time and time again.

Tags: Preaching, illustration, Time of Reflection, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Real Love Encourages Others To Do The Right, Most God-Glorifying Thing

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 8, 2022

Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak the truth in love, not to withhold the truth in love. Real love doesn’t quit or give up; it will offer help and point to Jesus Christ as the only true source of healing and forgiveness.

Scripture: John 1:14, Ephesians 4:15

Tags: Abortion, friendship, Real Love, speak truth in love

3 Things To Remember When You’re Browsing Through Social Media

By Randy Alcorn on Sep 30, 2022

"Just as we should be intentional about what we post, we should also be intentional about how we process what others are posting."

Tags: Covetousness, Competition, caution, social media, Rejoice with others  (view more)  (view less)

Three Things Every Pastor's Son Needs To Hear From His Father

By Johnny Levy on Apr 20, 2023

3 things your son needs to hear from you.

Tags: shepherding, Shepherding

Three Things Every Pastor's Son Needs To Hear From His Father

By Johnny Levy on Oct 16, 2020

Pastor-dad, you're son's heart is longing to hear three things from you that will ground him, empower him, and make him soar.

Scripture: Genesis 1:27, John 10:15

Tags: shepherding, Shepherding

Has The Church Lost Its Passion?

By Jim Morgan on Mar 18, 2021

Passion is what we can’t keep inside. It spills over and can’t be contained. We love our kids – we can’t help but talk about them. We love our favorite sports teams – we talk about them first thing Monday morning at the water cooler. Christians love God more than anything else – He should constantly be on the tips of our tongues. Our passion for the Lord should be evident to all those around us. “Private Christian” should be an oxymoron – our faith should pour out through every fiber of our being.

Tags: Discipleship, passion, social justice, Sharing Your Faith

10 Things You Can Do To Make Your Pastor’s Sermons Better

By Jared Moore on Nov 19, 2020

Most people would be surprised there's anything they could do to help. Why don't you tell them?

Scripture: James 1:21-22

Tags: Preaching, pastor, teach, Learning, Improve, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things You Need To Know About Your Wife (But May Not)

By Ron Edmondson on Dec 17, 2019

Sometimes we do the wrong thing before we even knew we did the wrong thing.

Tags: Marriage, Spouse