In Preaching Articles: "Good Work"

Church Growth And The Work Of God

By Josh Reich on Oct 6, 2023

We know that God is the one who makes a church grow, that it isn’t on us. This is both a comfort and a problem.

Tags: Communication, vision, Discipleship, Church Growth, communication  (view more)  (view less)

A Good Sermon Feels Like A Good Story: 7 Minutes With Fred Craddock

By Fred Craddock on Jan 16, 2026

Fred Craddock literally wrote the book on preaching. He reminds us, "Movement is more important than structure."

Tags: Preaching, structure, Movement, Fred Craddock, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

When Is A Sermon Good Enough?

By Stephen Gregory on Jul 16, 2024

A pastor wrestles with preparation, expectations, and perfectionism, discovering how God uses imperfect sermons when the preacher is faithful, honest, and attentive to the flock.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3

Tags: Church, Preaching, pastor, spiritual growth, Communication General, Pastoral Ministry, Ministry Leadership, Pastor, Sermon Preparation, preaching, church, sermon preparation, Preaching Challenges, Spiritual Growth  (view more)  (view less)

What Makes A Sermon Good?

By Duane K Kelderman on Aug 2, 2024

Great sermons are clear, biblical, and transformative. They communicate well, faithfully proclaim Scripture, and lead listeners toward deeper obedience and faith.

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-10, 1 Chronicles 1:1

Tags: Worship

Good Sermons Start With Listening

By Mary Hinkle Shore on Jan 17, 2024

Faithful sermons are born not from noise or haste, but from careful listening to Scripture, people, and language itself.

Scripture: John 12:20-33, James 1:19, Luke 24:27, Nehemiah 8:8, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Listen, BIBLICAL TEACHING, preaching, Biblical Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Is There Good News In Your Sermon?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Aug 12, 2020

When preachers struggle to find a sermon celebration, the issue is often focus. Centering on God’s gospel activity reveals good news worth celebrating.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10, Mark 6:1-13, Romans 8:1-11, Ephesians 2:4-10, 2 Corinthians 3:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Good News, Homiletics, preaching

Never Waste A Good Sermon!

By Brandon Cox on Nov 9, 2023

Do you ever get that post-sermon, anti-climactic feeling that all of your research, all of your writing, all of your preparation just got burned up in a single half-hour shot?

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, podcast, video, Effective Teaching, Maximize Usefulness, Sermon Uses, ebook, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Does Street Evangelism Really Work?

By Greg Stier on Jan 28, 2025

Street evangelism can spark genuine conversions yet fail at discipleship. This piece calls for a relational and relentless approach that multiplies disciples, not just decisions.

Tags: Salvation, making disciples, Making Disciples, Gospel Conversations

Would A Ten-Minute Sermon Work?

By Ed Cyzewski on Aug 1, 2020

One parishioner said, "If a sermon were a practical, 10-minute exposition of scripture, I’d be happy." Would you be happy, Pastor?

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34, Acts 2:42, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Hebrews 10:24-25, John 6:35  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communion, Preaching, preaching

Why Preachers Must Work At Their Preaching

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Aug 2, 2021

Some believe that if a preacher is truly called, preparation and training are unnecessary. In reality, faithful preaching requires both divine calling and diligent effort.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Timothy 4:13-16, Ecclesiastes 12:9-10, Isaiah 55:11, 1 Corinthians 15:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, the word, pious, notion, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Get Your Prayer To Work

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Mar 25, 2022

When we work, we work. But when we pray, God works!

Scripture: Matthew 6:10, Psalm 119:105, Mark 11:24, Hebrews 11:6, 1 John 5:14-15, Colossians 3:17, John 14:13, Matthew 6:5-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, God's Glory, Jesus Name, confidence in prayer

God’s Work In Your Depression

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 5, 2022

“Is this depression? I have almost no motivation for anything. I have been praying and I will keep praying for God to be my strength but how do you fight when you don’t feel like fighting?"

Scripture: Isaiah 43:2-3, Psalm 139:11-12

Tags: Emotions, Healing, endurance, Depression, Struggles, soul care, Fighting for Joy, Help for the Hurting  (view more)  (view less)

Gospel-Centered Sermons Actually Work

By Jeff Medders on Nov 16, 2022

"I want to encourage every pastor reading this to keep preaching the gospel. Week in. Week out. Keep exalting, heralding, and lifting up our crucified Savior, risen from the dead, reigning in Heaven, saving all who will look to him and believe."

Scripture: Romans 16:25, Colossians 1:28, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Tags: Gospel, Preaching, teach, pastoral leadership, Entrust with Gospel, Pastoral Ministry, preaching Christ, power of the gospel, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Good & Bad Cases Of Church Discipline

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 11, 2025

A real church incident exposes why believers distrust discipline. Yet Scripture shows discipline is meant to heal, not harm, calling us to restore one another with Christ’s presence.

Tags: pastoral care, Pastoral Care

15 Good-Sense Preaching Tips

By Gracia Grindal on Jan 19, 2024

Faithful preaching requires humility, clarity, restraint, and gospel focus. These fifteen practical dos and don’ts offer wisdom for preaching that serves hearers well.

Scripture: John 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Timothy 4:2, Romans 10:14-17, Galatians 1:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, gospel proclamation, preaching, Gospel Proclamation