In Preaching Articles: "Focus On Numbers"

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

By Karl Vaters on Jun 4, 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)

4 Weapons Of Mass Distraction In A Leader’s Life

By Charles Stone on Nov 12, 2023

Ask yourself which of these four weapons of mass distraction divert you the most from leading at your best.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Tags: leadership, focus, distractions, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Effective Leadership, Leading Others Well, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Small Churches Don’t Grow

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 20, 2024

Small church growth stalls for reasons deeper than numbers. These ten barriers reveal why congregations stay stuck and how leaders can pursue renewed health and mission.

Scripture: John 13:35, Psalm 85:6, Luke 11:1-2

Tags: Church, Outreach, pastor, Church Growth, Health, Fail, church, Pastoral Leadership, Small Church Growth, Congregational Renewal, Spiritual Vitality, Church Health, Small Church, Church Practices, pastoral leadership, spiritual vitality, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

10 Reasons Even Committed Church Attenders Are Attending Church Less Often

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 20, 2023

It comes up in a surprising number of conversations these days. And no one’s quite sure how to respond to it. The issue? Even committed church attenders are attending church less often.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3, Matthew 24:9-13

Tags: Technology, Culture, church decline, Church attendence, culture  (view more)  (view less)

Preach Like A Blade, Not An Anvil

By Peter Mead on Sep 15, 2024

Some sermons overwhelm without penetrating. Faithful preaching carries the weight of Scripture but delivers it with the sharp focus of a blade.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, Jeremiah 23:29, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 2:15  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, living word, Sword, Impact, anvil, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Questions I Ask Myself Every Week As I Prepare My Sermon

By Dave Workman on Nov 7, 2025

Dave Workman has delivered thousands of sermons. His guidestars are five focus factors, and four key questions.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

10 Ways To Make Your Announcements Better

By Chuck Lawless on Jan 21, 2026

Tired of clunky church announcements? Learn 10 effective strategies to communicate clearly and keep the focus on worship and the Word.

Tags: Sunday Service Tips, Pastoral Leadership, pastoral leadership, church announcements, church communication, Church Announcements, Worship Planning, Church Communication  (view more)  (view less)

7 Keys To Increasing Your Church's Footprint

By Jim Morgan on Dec 21, 2021

Jesus modeled discipleship and community engagement as an example for His Church to follow. He felt a small number of highly effective disciples would cover much more ground than a slew of casual followers.

Tags: Outreach, Missional, Make Disciples, local church purpose

7 Steps To Start Becoming A Church People Want To Commit To

By Karl Vaters on Apr 11, 2022

A growing number of people who do go to church don’t want to go, either. If we don’t give them something worth committing to, they’ll be gone soon.

Tags: Learning, inspiration, Leadership Listening, fixing eyes on Jesus, commitment to church  (view more)  (view less)

Five Strategic Advantages Of Small Churches

By Brandon O'brien on Feb 13, 2024

Small churches hold strategic strengths: authenticity, focus, people-powered ministry, intergenerational relationships, and margin-focused mission.

Tags: Community, Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Leadership, church, Ministry Church, Authentic, Intergenerational Ministry, Community Outreach, Health, authentic, Small Church, community outreach, community, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching To The Point: Ten Commandments Of Brevity

By Pete Wilson on Jul 11, 2021

Shorter messages demand sharper focus. Learning to preach with brevity can strengthen clarity, engagement, and faithfulness without sacrificing substance.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:2, Proverbs 10:19, Habakkuk 2:2, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Commandments, Preaching, Brevity, storytelling, Time, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Devil Knows How To Discourage You

By SermonCentral .com on May 9, 2022

This is the focus of all Satan’s massive, multifarious strategies: to dis-courage us through dis-belief in God’s promises.

Tags: Satan, Discouragement, give thanks, Discouraged

How Long Should A Sermon Be?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 10, 2020

There is no universal sermon length. What matters most is clarity, focus, and the preacher’s ability to hold attention around one central point.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, Nehemiah 8:8, 1 Corinthians 14:8, Colossians 4:6

Tags: communication, preaching, Communication, Preaching, preparation, Homiletics, Time  (view more)  (view less)

5 Questions Before You Preach

By Joel Mayward on Mar 9, 2026

Strong preaching requires intentional focus. These five questions help preachers keep their sermons centered on Jesus, the gospel, the heart, and practical response.

Scripture: John 16:20-23, Ephesians 5:6-14, 1 Corinthians 2:2, James 1:22, Luke 24:27  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: points, preaching, Speak, Heart, Preaching, Homiletics  (view more)  (view less)

Sharpen Your Sermon With A God-Centered Checklist

By Jared Moore on Sep 18, 2025

If you want to help your people focus on God when they leave church tomorrow, here are 11 things that you cannot do.

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

Tags: preaching, God centered, God Centered, Preaching, Checklist, joke, Sharpen  (view more)  (view less)