In Preaching Articles: "focus on GOD"

You Become What You Eat

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 23, 2022

Hope is to our soul what energy is to our body. Just like our bodies must have energy to keep going, our souls must have hope to keep going. So when our soul needs hope, what do we do? We feast on the promises of God.

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12, Jeremiah 29:11, John 6:35, Revelation 19:13, 2 Corinthians 1:20, John 1:1, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 4:12, Romans 15:13, Psalm 34:8, Deuteronomy 8:3, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 1:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Perseverance, Hope, Promises of God, soul care

Seven Commitments Of Renewal Every Church Leader Should Make For A New Year

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 30, 2022

I see the New Year as a time for recommitment and re-focus. And though it is simply the changing of the page of a calendar, it is still a good time to be reminded about those areas that are most important in our lives.

Tags: Outreach, New Year, simplify, daily prayer

Will The Real Jesus Stand Up? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Dec 28, 2023

"It may be that the great sin of the church in our generation is the trivializing of God. The Jesus Christ, in whom the fullness of deity dwells, is not to be boxed in, airbrushed, made over, tamed, explained or explained away. I am deeply convinced that the way you live will be a direct consequence of how you see God."

Scripture: Hebrews 12:28-29, Colossians 1:15-17, Jeremiah 23:23

Tags: Jesus is Lord, Deity of Christ, christian testimony, authority of Christ, Identity of Christ, False View of God, God of the Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Sorry, Pastors – The Growth Of The Church Is Not Up To Us

By Karl Vaters on Jun 5, 2024

"Preaching the Word, training disciples and ministering to the community may or may not increase the number of people who sit in front of me from Sunday to Sunday. But it will produce a healthy church."

Tags: Church Growth, Surrender, Healthy Church, God's Church, God in control, pastoral leadership, call to discipleship, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Leave Your Secret Sin Behind Today

By Jon Bloom on Dec 6, 2022

God can turn a day of reckoning into a day of amnesty. But he’s calling today. Come out of the dungeon.

Scripture: Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 23:19, Hebrews 3:13, Jeremiah 17:9

Tags: Character, Judgment, repentance, God's Grace, God's mercy, Confession of Sin, hardened heart, personal holiness, judgment, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Pastors, We Don’t Expect A Ted Talk—we Need A God-And-You Talk

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 28, 2021

When we come to your church, we don't expect a $7,500 sermon. Given current offering stats, most people aren't even expecting a $75 one.

Scripture: John 3:1-25, Matthew 6:25-34

Tags: Preaching, Heartfelt, Expectation, TED talk, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Do Not Forsake True Solitude, Pastor

By Joe Hoagland on Aug 11, 2022

I am talking about purposely removing yourself from the busyness to focus on prayer for your congregation, reflection on your spiritual life and those around you, and meditation on the huge weight that is the pastoral ministry.

Scripture: Joshua 1:8

Tags: Prayer Life, Solitude, Silence, Leadership General, prayer life  (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)

Three Pillars Of A Strong, Dynamic Ministry

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 10, 2023

Brandon Cox: "When it comes to leading a strong ministry and building a healthy church, it takes more than solid theology or smart strategy."

Tags: Ministry, strategy, strength, Power of God, Pillar, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

6 Reasons Pastors And Leaders Need Adequate Sleep

By Charles Stone on Jun 20, 2023

For many years scientists and philosophers have pondered why we need sleep besides to not be sleepy. Of course we all intuitively know how important sleep is to our bodies, relationships, and walk with God. But as neuroscientists are learning more about the brain, they are discovering many positive brain benefits from sleep. This list below includes some of those benefits.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:12

Tags: sleep, Walk with God, decison making, paying attention

The First Step To Sparking Innovation In A Stuck Church

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 30, 2021

Church leaders need to spark the creativity of innovative believers by figuring out how to say yes to their passion.

Tags: Teamwork, Lay Leadership, ideas, work for God's glory

The Three Most Common Sentences Of Dying Churches

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 31, 2022

If churches could speak, what would their words be on their deathbeds?

Tags: God's Power, pastoral care, stagnant, Dying Church

Leading In Times Of Uncertainty

By Lance Witt on Aug 31, 2023

Frustration and anger are pervasive throughout our culture. Underlying the anger and emotion is a deep fear. These are uncertain times and people feel it.

Tags: lead, Communication General, faith in uncertainty, Intimacy With God

Fully Known, Fully Loved

By Peter Mead on Feb 24, 2022

If we are not careful we can paint our own self-at-the-centre approach in the colors of Christianity and assume all is well.

Scripture: Romans 5:8, Luke 19:10

Tags: known by God, Fully Known, Fully loved, narcissism

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