In Preaching Articles: "Follow Your Heart"

Joe Mckeever: 3 Vital Reasons To Tell Stories In Your Preaching

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 10, 2025

There are a thousand reasons for dropping the occasional story into your sermon, pastor. Here are the top three.

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-16

Tags: Preaching, storytelling, stories, preaching

Don't Play Games With Scripture: 10 Checkpoints For Your Next Sermon

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 16, 2025

"Here are a few 'preacher games' I've noticed over the years, all of them being dishonorable and unworthy."

Tags: preacher games, preaching, Preaching, unworthy, checkpoints  (view more)  (view less)

6 Messy Truths About Your Church—and 3 Helpful Realities

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 5, 2025

"I was taught never to wrestle with difficult truths in front of the congregation. Give them simple three-point, alliterated answers to life’s problems."

Tags: preaching, bible, Bible, Preaching, messy truth, efficient, confusing  (view more)  (view less)

The Very Best Way To Connect With Your Listeners (And How To Do It)

By Brandon Kelley on Oct 9, 2025

Sure, it's simple: but that doesn't mean it's easy to do.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Does Your Sermon Outline Serve You Or Do You Serve It?

By Joe Hoagland on Jul 29, 2019

Think you don’t need a sermon outline? Discover why using one can sharpen your message, increase clarity, and enhance your connection with the congregation.

Tags: Preaching, preaching tips, sermon prep, Sermon outline, Sermon Prep, preaching, Sermon prep, Preaching Tips, Sermon Outline, Preaching Structure  (view more)  (view less)

Why No One Cares About Your Mission Statement – And Neither Should You

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 7, 2021

Does your church have a mission statement? Could most of the people in your church repeat it? If the answer is ‘no’, I have one word for you. Relax.

Tags: Preaching, Mission Statement, preaching

If Your Church Is Drifting And Stuck, Should You Try To Change It From Within?

By Jonathan Herron on Jan 11, 2022

What do you do if you’re a frustrated support staff member of a visionless church? Do you try to change things from within?

Tags: Church and change, church planting, Church Death, pastoral leadership

Your Struggling Church Can Turn Around Today – But Greatness Takes Time

By Karl Vaters on Aug 22, 2023

If you’re pastoring a church that has or is turning around, here's some great news - and possibly your greatest challenge.

Scripture: Revelation 21:5

Tags: leadership, renewal, patience, Church Health, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Jesus Didn’t Wake Up This Morning Depressed By The Size Of Your Church

By Karl Vaters on Apr 17, 2022

Jesus knows what happened and didn’t happen in church last Sunday.

Tags: Depression, Marriage Faithfulness, Church Attendance, God's perspective, e, church attendance  (view more)  (view less)

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

6 Non Negotiable Traits You Need To Increase Your Leaderships Influence

By Carey Nieuwhof on Sep 28, 2023

As harsh as it sounds, here’s the truth: if a leader doesn’t buy you, they’ll rarely buy your idea.

Tags: Leadership, Humility, leadership, Influence, competence  (view more)  (view less)

One Major Thing You Can Do To Improve Your Worship Service

By Joe Hoagland on Apr 8, 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, Preaching, illustration, Time of Reflection, sermon prep, Sermon Prep  (view more)  (view less)

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

By Randy Alcorn on Sep 29, 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: social media, Rejoice with others, Covetousness, Competition, caution  (view more)  (view less)

How Your Calendar Is Killing You (And What To Do About It)

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 30, 2024

Here’s the sad truth: when your calendar is out of control, so are you. And so is your life.

Tags: pastoral leadership, Busyness, Time Management, productivity, Personal Life, Balanced Life, Workplace Balance, Schedule  (view more)  (view less)

When Your Pain Makes It Hard To Say "It Is Well With My Soul”

By Randy Alcorn on Mar 28, 2024

The pain was great, but God’s grace rose to the occasion. Despite his heartbreak, Spafford could say without pretense, “It is well with my soul.”

Scripture: Psalm 31:7, John 14:27, Isaiah 66:12-14

Tags: coping with loss, Resting in Christ, Pain, pain, Trusting God, Grief, Loss, God's peace, Glorious Future  (view more)  (view less)