In Preaching Articles: "Good Works"

Advice For Preaching Funeral Sermons

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Feb 24, 2021

Brief. Gospel-centered. Be sensitive to family. There are other important factors to consider when preaching funerals. But these three pieces of advice are a good place to start.

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-14

Tags: Preaching, Funeral, Christian Funeral

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)

10 Reasons Small Churches Tend To Stay Small

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 21, 2024

After working for years among hundreds of small congregations, Joe McKeever speaks to the subtle growth barriers that tend to go unnoticed or unaddressed in stagnant churches.

Scripture: John 13:35, Psalm 85:6, Luke 11:1-2

Tags: Church, Outreach, pastor, Church Growth, Health, Fail, Small Church, Church Practices, Pastor, church  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach To The Heart

By John Bjorge on Nov 16, 2021

Faithful preaching requires more than good exegesis. When sermons speak to the heart with trust, integrity, and lived faith, real gospel transformation follows.

Scripture: Judges 3:15-7:6, Colossians 1:3-6, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Church Health, Pastoral Ministry, spiritual formation, preaching, Gospel transformation, Spiritual Formation, Gospel Transformation  (view more)  (view less)

Why Authentic Preaching Could Be A Trap

By Maurilio Amorim on May 15, 2020

Maurillo Amorim: "I hope we are not creating a culture that encourages people to be authentic about their sins but excuses them from doing the hard work of making things right."

Tags: Preaching, preaching

4 Attributes Of Powerful Preaching

By Kevin Deyoung on Jan 29, 2025

Kevin DeYoung presents four qualities of what he calls "truly good preaching–-the kind that resonates with people and the kind God tends to employ."

Scripture: Matthew 7:28-29

Tags: Preaching, Authenticity, Clarity, Veracity, Authority, Leadership General, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Passion, Prayer, And Planning Ministry: Building The Nehemiah Way

By Todd Brown on Mar 11, 2022

Working with hundreds of churches over the last 35 years, I have observed three common elements of successful building programs and all three are characteristics displayed by quality leaders.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:13

Tags: Nehemiah, Prayer, strategy, Church Building

8 Reasons Churches Should Partner With Secular Community Groups

By Karl Vaters on May 5, 2022

How can we reach our communities if they have no idea we love them? And how will they know we love them if we don’t work alongside them?

Tags: Service, Humility, Culture, community outreach, culture  (view more)  (view less)

The Power Of Testimony

By Peter Mead on Nov 19, 2022

"Hearing how God has worked in a life can be very powerful. Having someone “give their testimony” can also backfire. Here are a few of the problems that can create the tension."

Tags: Leadership, Our Testimony, Sharing My Testimony, Personal Testimony, christian testimony, church leadership, Power Of Testimony, leadership, Church leaders  (view more)  (view less)

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jul 11, 2024

This week work at paying attention to your soul. Listen to your emotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what is going on beneath the surface of all your “doing”.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1, John 16:32, John 16:32

Tags: Approval, personal holiness, Growth in Christ, pastoral leadership, God's Approval, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care  (view more)  (view less)

Start With A Bang! Crafting A Memorable Sermon Opener

By Tyler Scarlett on Feb 27, 2025

If you lose your congregation at the beginning, you will have to work twice as hard to get them back by the end. Why not give your message the best possible chance to connect with people at the outset?

Scripture: Titus 2:2, Titus 2:1-2, Philippians 4:10-15, Romans 13:11-14

Tags: Communication, Preaching, Introduction, communication, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Has Your Emotional Brain Hijacked Your Leadership?

By Charles Stone on Dec 1, 2023

Great ministry leaders keep their emotions in check. Unfortunately, when we don’t keep them in check, our emotional brain can hijack clear thinking and good leadership.

Scripture: Romans 10:10

Tags: pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Leadership, brain, Emotions, leadership, Brain, memory, Decision making  (view more)  (view less)

5 Reasons Why Some Pastors Don't Preach Grace

By Ron Forseth on Apr 1, 2025

Some pastors fear that preaching grace can lead to pitfalls, a license for sin, or even a lack of sacrificial giving. Here are five frequently raised objections to preaching grace and why they don't work.

Tags: Grace, Preaching, grace, preaching

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

How To Enjoy Christmas As A Pastor

By Lance Witt on Dec 19, 2024

About 3 years ago, it was the very end of December and I was not in a good place. I was frustrated and honestly I was mad at myself. Our schedule had been out of control and I was worn out.

Scripture: Luke 2:17-19, Luke 2:8

Tags: Mary, Christmas, pastoral leadership, Time of Reflection