In Preaching Articles: "Focus"

Have You Preached The Five Blessings That Flow From Thanksgiving?

By J. John on Nov 27, 2025

A British pastor reminds us, "Thanksgiving is more than an American holiday; it's a Godly holiday, as well."

Scripture: Matthew 25:26-27, Titus 2:1-10

Tags: Thanksgiving, Preaching, gratitude, focus, five blessings, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Promote Jesus: Not Personality, Professionalism, Or Brand

By Joe Hoagland on Jan 17, 2022

The church can learn a lot from worldly business and marketing trends but many times churches and church leaders end up promoting the wrong thing.

Tags: Jesus, focus on GOD, Pastoral Character, church marketing

How To (Finally) Stop Giving In To The Pressure To Add More Ministries In Your Church

By Carey Nieuwhof on Sep 26, 2023

When you’re a church leader, you feel a lot of pressure.

Tags: focus, Simplicity, Church Body of Christ, ministry philosophy

The Hardest Part Of Ministry: Saying No

By David L. Hansen on Jun 29, 2025

Saying "no" can help focus your ministry, your leadership and your preaching.

Tags: Ministry, Preaching, hard, Angelic work, say no, ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Does Our Culture Make Kids Feel Ashamed Of Their Faith?

By Focus On The Family on Sep 8, 2022

As Christians, we all know how important it is to equip kids with a sense of joy in reading God’s Word and the confidence to freely express their faith in Jesus. But that goal is becoming more difficult in today’s culture.

Tags: Apologetics The Bible, Training children, Children's Faith

Death To Dancing Bears

By Lance Witt on May 30, 2022

“Sometimes as a worship pastor,” he said, “I feel like a dancing bear. It’s my job to get up and perform for the crowd, and as long as the performance is good, everyone is happy. Except me. Something is missing and I don’t know what to do.”

Tags: Ministry, burnout, pastoral leadership, Lost Focus, People Over Programs, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Techno-Danger Part 3

By Lance Witt on Nov 2, 2023

“To do two things at once is to do neither.” Those words were not written by a distracted, multi-tasking millennial. They were written by Publilius Syrus, a Latin writer born in 85BC.

Tags: Technology, leadership, temptation, focus, Distraction, Being Present, Hidden Danger, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching To Promote Life Together

By Chris Surber on May 19, 2025

Preach with a focus to cultivate life together and nurture incarnate community rather than simple gatherings of people.

Tags:

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: pastoral leadership, church announcements, church communication, Church Announcements, Worship Planning, Church Communication, Sunday Service Tips, Pastoral Leadership  (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, Health, authentic, Small Church, community outreach, community, Pastor, Leadership, church, Ministry Church, Authentic, Intergenerational Ministry, Community Outreach  (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

10 Mistakes Churches Make At Christmastime

By Jonathan Howe on Dec 20, 2024

Unfortunately stress can lead churches to plan poorly and make unnecessary mistakes. Here are ten such mistakes to avoid in your church this Christmas.

Tags: Christmas, Advent, Holidays, prepare, focus on GOD, Christmas Gospel, church priorities, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

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, preparation, Homiletics, Time, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)