In Preaching Articles: "Giving Up"

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 2

By Lance Witt on Jul 15, 2024

Some of the qualities that people will applaud in your life are the very things that will wreck your soul.

Tags: Time of Reflection, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care, sanctification, Personal Growth, pastoral care, Examine self  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways To Talk About Money

By Kent Woodyard on Dec 9, 2021

After spending the past three years working for an online and mobile giving provider, I am obviously a believer in the power of technology to increase giving to the Church. Through that time, however, I have also been confronted with the limitations of technology. Important? Certainly. Enough? Definitely not!

Tags: Money, Teaching, Generosity, Giving General, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Current Of Thanksgiving

By Ray Hollenbach on Nov 18, 2024

A simple prayer is taking root in me, teaching me the deep wisdom of gratitude, and changing my life.

Scripture: Psalm 73:28

Tags: Thanksgiving, gratitude, give thanks, Prayer with thanks

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

By Karl Vaters on Apr 18, 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)

One Dozen Liberating Life Lessons That Give Pastors Rest For Their Souls

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 28, 2019

We are loaded down with so many "shoulds," we find ourselves paralyzed by the inability to apply what we know.

Tags: Rest, Soul, Preaching, life lessons

The Lord’s Prayer, A Missional Reading: Give Us Daily Bread

By Dr. Nijay Gupta on Apr 8, 2021

The “missional theology” movement has injected energy and life into the church. Who isn’t inspired when reading Emil Brunner’s famous words, “The church exists by mission as a fire exists by burning”? Missional theology has motivated many Christians and churches to seek out their purpose in God of bearing and embodying the good news of Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:1-20, Exodus 16:1-36, John 6:1-71, Matthew 4:1-25

Tags: Humility, Lord's Prayer, Missional, walk by faith

What Happens If You Fail To Preach On Money

By Mark Brooks on Jun 28, 2021

Clergy often tiptoe around the topic of money as if they were taking a walk through a minefield.

Tags: Tithe, Preaching, Generosity, new testament giving, Money  (view more)  (view less)

Joni Eareckson Tada’s Advice For When You Don’t Wake Up Feeling Happy

By Randy Alcorn on Aug 30, 2022

It’s true that we can’t make ourselves happy in God any more than a seed can make itself grow. But we’re not just seeds. We’re greenhouse farmers who can make sure the seed is planted, watered, and fertilized.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Corinthians 3:6

Tags: Perseverance, happiness, Joy, Hope, Depression, Sorrow, Melancholy, Fighting for Joy, Up lift  (view more)  (view less)

20+ Messed Up Bible Heroes And What We Can Learn From Them

By Ron Forseth on Oct 14, 2019

The Bible is filled with portraits of warped personalities, but there's the edification in preaching about their lives.

Tags: Bible, Preaching, Culture, messy, Dysfunction, e  (view more)  (view less)

Without Accountability, Confession And Friendship, ‘we’re Going To End Up Out Of Ministry’

By Michael Duduit on Jan 28, 2022

My friend Clayton King, who has never served as a senior pastor (and had not expected to), suddenly found himself leading one of the nation’s largest congregations as interim pastor of NewSpring Church in Anderson, South Carolina.

Scripture: James 5:16

Tags: Spiritual Warfare, Isolation, Leadership General, pastoral leadership

If Jesus Gave A Ted Talk Principle 4—free Up Working Memory (Capacity)

By Charles Stone on May 27, 2024

Free up Working Memory is the fourth installment of an 8 part series on how neuroscience can improve your preaching.

Scripture: John 3:1-21

Tags: sermonprep, capacity, memory, sermon, Capacity, Sermon, neuroscience, preaching, Preaching  (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 27, 2023

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

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

Pastoral Transition: Setting Your Church Up For Ministry Success After You're Gone

By Karl Vaters on Oct 20, 2023

Following a long-term, successful pastorate is one of the hardest callings in ministry. Every pastor should do everything we can to make it as easy as possible for the next pastor and the church to do great ministry after we leave.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: Pastoral Transition, Decentralize, Leadership, leadership, servant leadership  (view more)  (view less)

What To Do When Your Preaching Turns Stale

By Peter Mead on Aug 14, 2025

On the dashboard of our ministry life, we need to have a light that flashes when we are preaching flat. What causes it? What should we do?

Tags: give thanks, stale, ministry life, spiritual dryness, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons Why I Give My Listeners Homework (And Why You Should, Too)

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 21, 2025

When we ask something more of our congregation we will quickly discover whether we are preaching for spiritual entertainment or spiritual formation.

Tags: Discipleship