In Preaching Articles: "Grow"

5 Right And Wrong Ways To Deal With Criticism

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 21, 2025

Criticism is inevitable in leadership. Here are five wrong responses to avoid and five wise practices that help leaders learn, grow, and steward feedback well.

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 19:20, James 1:19, Ecclesiastes 7:5

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Criticism, Confidence, evaluation, criticism, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

6 Benefits To Not Changing Churches

By Dean Shriver on Jul 10, 2021

Staying with one congregation models commitment, grows maturity, deepens preaching, builds trust, reveals generational fruit, and prepares pastors for final accountability.

Scripture: Colossians 3:13-14, Colossians 3:13, John 10:11-13, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 13:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ministry, Church, mistakes, affliction, Leave, ministry, church  (view more)  (view less)

When Church Members Insist On Their Rights.

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 24, 2022

“Consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself lest you also grow weary and lose heart,” (Hebrews 12:3).

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-44, Matthew 26:53, Hebrews 12:3, 1 Corinthians 6:7, Psalm 103:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility, conflict, Pastoral Ministry, Example of Christ

How To Preach A Sermon Again Without Preaching It The Same

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 17, 2024

Repeated sermons should grow richer with time. With prayerful revision, fresh insight, and renewed engagement, a pastor can preach familiar material with greater depth.

Tags: Preaching, Homiletics, Church Practices, Pastoral Ministry, Biblical Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How I Write A Sermon

By Bruce Frank on Aug 17, 2020

Bruce Frank, lead pastor of of Biltmore Baptist Church, one of the top 50 fastest-growing churches in America, shares his sermon prep process.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Heart, Study, repent, circumcise, Sword, Reject  (view more)  (view less)

5 Questions A Pastor Should Ask Every Year

By Josh Reich on Jan 26, 2021

As leaders, we can sometimes stand in the way of change. Instead, let's take a hard look at our lives and ask these five questions to grow as leaders.

Tags: Preaching

When A Pastor Is A Growth Barrier - Part One: Dealing With Sin

By Ed Stetzer on Apr 15, 2024

I have worked for a long time to help pastors with growth barriers in their church. They can be anything from worship issues to strategy to theology and more. So many barriers can get in the way of a church growing, but a central one isn’t found in the processes of the church. There may be a number of reasons a ministry grows cold and a church slows down. But often, the heart of the problem is the heart of the pastor.

Tags: CLERGY SIN

Secrets To Sermons On Giving

By Bob Russell on Jan 8, 2025

Stewardship preaching doesn’t have to repel people. With timing, tone, and practical teaching, pastors can address money biblically and help believers grow in generosity.

Scripture: Mark 10:21

Tags: Faith, Money, Healing, Giving, Stewardship, Power, Preaching, miracles, Funeral, Generosity, Homosexuality, Tithes, election, Tithing, Labor, Giving General, Christian Giving, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching When Times Are Tight

By David R. Stokes on Mar 30, 2020

When finances shake confidence and fear grows, preaching must lift weary hearts toward Heaven, reminding them of the unshakable kingdom God has prepared.

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Spiritual Renewal

The Patented Preacher

By Warren Wiersbe on Apr 21, 2020

Preaching thrives when pastors embrace who God made them to be. God prepares the messenger as much as the message, and faithful preaching grows from that truth.

Scripture: John 12:35-50, Genesis 22:1-14, Acts 4:20, Acts 22:15, 2 Corinthians 4:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, family, Adversity, Live

Are You A Transactional Leader Or A Transformational Leader?

By Charles Stone on Jun 6, 2022

At times we must lead as transactional leaders. However, we should seek to grow our leadership so that we lead more often as transformational leaders.

Tags: vision, leadership, Transformation, Leadership Listening, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Reading Your Bible Relationally

By Lance Witt on Jun 18, 2022

Growing in knowledge is important, but knowledge without relationship is dangerous. That was one of the big issues Jesus had with the Pharisees. They had biblical knowledge but their heart was far from God.

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12

Tags: Scripture, Personal Growth, Quiet time, pastoral leadership

10 Suggestions For The Shepherd Of A Stagnant Flock

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 3, 2020

Most churches plateau or decline, but pastors don’t have to. These ten truths challenge leaders to grow personally and guide struggling congregations toward renewed health.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6, Acts 2:47, James 1:5, Philippians 1:9, Zechariah 4:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Sheep, Apathy, lead, Church Purpose of, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Steps To Start Becoming A Church People Want To Commit To

By Karl Vaters on Apr 12, 2022

A growing number of people who do go to church don’t want to go, either. If we don’t give them something worth committing to, they’ll be gone soon.

Tags: Learning, inspiration, Leadership Listening, fixing eyes on Jesus, commitment to church  (view more)  (view less)

Only One Perfect Pastor

By Taelor Gray on May 1, 2021

Growing up in church, I used to think of pastors as heroic, super-powered leaders who were almost like enhanced human beings. For me, they were moral superiors operating beyond the scope of failure and “common” struggle.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:1-27, Galatians 2:11-14, Acts 20:17-38, 2 Corinthians 12:9

Tags: pastor, humanity, Imperfection, Pastoral Character, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)