In Preaching Articles: "Good Friday Sermon Resources"

7 Ways To Keep Teenagers Listening To Your Sermons

By Brandon Hilgemann on Feb 7, 2026

Engaging the short attention span of teenagers (and even adults!) isn't easy.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

3 Must-Do’s Of A Strong Sermon Opening

By Lane Sebring on Feb 26, 2026

The first 90 seconds of your sermon are some of the most powerful seconds you have. Don’t waste them.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Why Pastors Should Preach The Gospel In Every Sermon

By Greg Stier on Jul 18, 2023

Believe it or not doing something as simple as giving the Gospel in every sermon can literally transform your church.

Scripture: Matthew 26:26-28, Acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:31-34, Acts 26:17-18, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, 1 Corinthians 14:24-25, 2 Corinthians 5:11, Colossians 4:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communion, challenge, preaching the gospel, gospel invitation

8 Questions To Ask Before You Preach A Sermon

By Josh Reich on Oct 17, 2022

8 questions to ask as you prepare to preach your next sermon.

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Preaching Help, pastoral leadership, preaching the Word, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Spiritual Disciplines And The Sinkhole Syndrome

By Donald Whitney on Jan 22, 2022

As the pressures of life increase and more deadlines loom, it becomes harder to maintain time for the devotional life. And herein is where the erosion begins.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:12, John 17:17, Luke 4:16, Matthew 14:23

Tags: Follow Jesus, Spiritual Maturity, Spiritual Discipline, Spiritual Failures, sermon spiritual  (view more)  (view less)

Vacation Bible School Promotion And Communication, Part One

By Lisa Eifert on May 15, 2024

What strikes simultaneous fear and joy in the hearts of church staff and volunteers this time of year? Yep, you guessed it, Vacation Bible School (VBS). Anyone who has been a part of planning VBS knows the vast amount of time, resources and imagination that go into making these events memorable experiences for kids.

Tags: Communication, Technology, delegation, VBS, communication  (view more)  (view less)

Eugene Peterson On The Dignity Of Local Pastoring

By Eugene Peterson on Jul 14, 2021

"I grew up in a culture that was very entertainment-centered. Pastors were really good storytellers, and they were attractive people, glamorous." –Eugene Peterson

Scripture: John 3:16, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, 2 Corinthians 4:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Growth, Preaching, Growth in Christ, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Should We Try To Please Our Listeners? How Much?

By Peter Mead on Sep 18, 2025

If listeners aren't satisfied, it could be a good sign, or it could be a bad sign. In the same way, happy listeners may mean something is wrong.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, please, listener, Feedback, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

When Passion In The Pulpit Goes Too Far

By Peter Mead on Apr 28, 2020

Preaching with zeal is good, but unguarded passion can turn aggressive, shouty, distracting, or draining. Learn how to keep intensity from undermining your message.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:16, Proverbs 15:1, 2 Timothy 2:24-25, Colossians 4:6, James 1:19  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communication, Discernment, Preaching, passion, Passion of Christ, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

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

Inject Grace Into Your Next Sermon—here Are Four Ways

By Dr. Scott M. Gibson on Oct 25, 2019

It's true: We can preach grace to the point of ignoring the truth. But that's not usually our problem.

Scripture: Micah 7:1-15

Tags: Grace, Truth, Preaching, communicate, tone  (view more)  (view less)

7 Popular Sermon Stories That Aren’t Actually True

By Trevin Wax on Feb 6, 2025

Pastors often repeat memorable illustrations that sound helpful but aren’t historically accurate. Here are seven common sermon legends worth retiring for the sake of truth.

Scripture: Mark 10:25

Tags: Preaching, Integrity, false teaching, urban legend, Illustrations, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 1

By Peter Mead on Aug 13, 2024

Many sermons feel flat because the text is only half-used. These common mistakes show how preachers drift from Scripture and how to return to full, faithful exposition.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Nehemiah 8:8, Luke 24:27, Acts 17:2-3, 2 Timothy 4:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, Preaching, Text, preparation, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Half-Bake Your Sermon: Part 2

By Peter Mead on Aug 14, 2024

Preaching suffers when structure is imposed, cross-references take over, application is neglected, or commentary replaces proclamation. Let the text lead.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Nehemiah 8:8, Jeremiah 23:29, Luke 24:32, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bible, Preaching, Text, preparation, Homiletics, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

Don’t Waste Your Creative Energy In Sermon Prep

By Peter Mead on Jul 21, 2020

Effective preaching requires both discipline and creativity. Knowing when to restrain creativity and when to unleash it can transform sermon preparation and delivery.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:6-8, 2 Timothy 2:15, Ezra 7:10, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, preaching, teaching