In Preaching Articles: "Guarding your heart"

3 Things Our Culture Is Doing To Bible Reading And Discipleship

By Mary C. Wiley on Jun 24, 2024

"We live in a microwave meals, listen-to-podcasts-in-double-time world. We want more with less; work smarter not harder. However, the move forward or get left behind mentality of today is not a good transferrable principle for discipleship. Mostly because discipleship is all about people, and people can’t be boiled down to a series of tasks. People are messy and their needs aren’t linear."

Tags: Discipleship, spiritual growth, church community, TEACH THE BIBLE, call to discipleship, training disciples, guard the truth, Study the Bible  (view more)  (view less)

God’s Revealed Truth Is Something We Discover, Not Invent

By Randy Alcorn on Jun 29, 2024

“Truth is truth even if no one believes it; a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.”

Scripture: John 10:27

Tags: Lies, Jesus the truth, Know the Truth, Biblical truth, study bible, Abide in Christ, guard the truth, Applying Truth  (view more)  (view less)

What Every Leader Needs: Silence And Solitude

By Charles Stone on May 18, 2022

This discipline is really more of a state of heart than a place.

Tags: Solitude, Silence, Disciplines Silence, Intimacy With God

How To Share Your Faith

By Josh Reich on Jul 16, 2022

Inviting someone to church or sharing your faith about Jesus can be awkward. It is nerve wracking, scary and often times not what many followers of Jesus want to do. Yet, the reality is if you are a follower of Jesus, you are to be a witness of Jesus. (Acts 1:8) That is a key and crucial piece of your new identity in Christ. It is not optional.

Scripture: Acts 1:8

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Witnessing, Inviting People, Christian Witness, Sharing My Testimony, Sharing Your Faith, Gospel Presentation, evangelism  (view more)  (view less)

Why Preparing Sermons Takes Me So Long

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 31, 2020

Proper preparation is not for the faint of heart. It takes prayer, study, and practice.

Scripture: Exodus 14:8-14

Tags: Teaching, Study, Preaching, preparation, e  (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, Preaching, repent, BIBLE STUDY, preparation, circumcise, Sword, Reject, shaken the dust, Bible Study  (view more)  (view less)

Weaving Gospel Fluency Into Every Sunday Message

By Jeff Vanderstelt on Nov 21, 2022

If we are going to grow people up into Christlikeness in every way, we need to learn how to speak the truths of Jesus Christ into everything.

Scripture: Luke 24:44-45

Tags: Teaching, pastoral leadership, defending the gospel, preaching Christ, guard the truth, Gospel centered, Teach His Word, church leadership, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Pointers For Older preachers

By Peter Mead on Nov 9, 2019

To stay effective in the preaching ministry, we need the humble, hearing heart of novice.

Tags: Humble, Preaching, champion, Feedback, teachable spirit  (view more)  (view less)

Does Your Preaching Impress Your Old Professor Or Your People?

By Gavin Adams on Oct 11, 2021

A deep, layered and rich sermon might impress some people, but it does it work?

Scripture: Acts 13:15-20

Tags: Preaching, focus, Complicated, point, marinate, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Three Questions Every Small Group Ministry Must Answer

By James Emery White on Sep 22, 2022

"Regardless of the type of small group ministry you may have, there are three foundational questions that must be settled for maximum effectiveness and clear focus––yet seldom are. And they are foundational questions because they speak to the heart of your philosophy of ministry."

Tags: strategy, BIBLE STUDY, Small groups, Bible Study, Church Small Groups, Fellowship Group, Small Group Ministry, bible study  (view more)  (view less)

Why Your Congregation Is Your Second Text

By Mike Glenn on Oct 27, 2020

Pastor Mike Glenn suggests every sermon requires us to exegete our audience as well as the Biblical text. Here's why.

Tags: Preaching, Congregation, role, second text

Change Your Sermon By Changing Your Spices

By Erik Raymond on May 19, 2023

Are you constantly mining the same sources for your sermon illustrations?

Scripture: Psalm 38:1-10, Colossians 4:1-5

Tags: Read, Preaching, Devotional, Spices, Classic, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Preach The (Memorized) Word

By David Vroege on Aug 31, 2024

When we hide his word in our hearts, it makes a powerful difference personally and professionally.

Scripture: Psalm 119:11, Psalm 119:11

Tags: Study, Preaching, teach, BIBLE STUDY, memorize, Bible Study, bible study, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The One Thing Nearly Everyone Forgets When It Comes To Hermeneutics

By Peter Mead on Nov 5, 2024

One key dimension tends to be overlooked when we talk about hermeneutics: the interpreter's heart.

Scripture: Psalm 10:1-17

Tags: Revelation, Preaching, advice, hermeneutics, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Church Discipline, Short Skirts, And Angry Deacons

By Ray Hollenbach on Mar 11, 2025

Loving someone enough to help them find freedom from their fears and appetites is the heart of church discipline.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:1

Tags: Discipleship, Preaching, Church General, preaching