In Preaching Articles: "Hard Work"

The Hardest Part Of A Sermon

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 22, 2021

The Lord gives His message to those who seek Him, who wait upon Him, who are willing to do His will.

Scripture: Jeremiah 32:1-15

Tags: Preaching, difficult, hard, preaching

Not A Fan: The Hard Words Sparked A Church-Wide Revival

By Kyle Idleman on Jan 12, 2025

A preacher’s honest reckoning with crowd-pleasing sermons led to a bold call for true discipleship, sparking repentance, revival, and hundreds of unexpected baptisms.

Scripture: Luke 9:23

Tags: Love, Baptism, Jesus, Church, Commitment, Discipleship, Preaching, Disciples, revival, Church Growth, follower, preaching, church, love, Gospel call, Revival, Gospel Call  (view more)  (view less)

Why Was I So Hard On That Church I Visited?

By Karl Vaters on Jul 1, 2022

How might a newcomer view your church? What barriers may they face? What obstacles could be unintentionally in the way of them connecting and finding a place to belong?

Tags: leadership, Visitors, church ministry, Welcoming Others, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Story Preaching Works

By Peter Mead on Apr 10, 2025

Biblical stories were inspired in both content and form. When preachers honor the narrative shape, tension, and pacing, the Word lands with clarity, power, and conviction.

Scripture: John 12:21-34

Tags:

Does Preaching Still Work?

By Kenton C. Anderson on Oct 6, 2020

Kenton Anderson wonders, "Perhaps preachers have lost faith in preaching because they've been offering too much poor preaching."

Tags: Preaching

Is Preaching Your Work Or God's?

By Peter Mead on Jul 28, 2021

Paul wrote and he wrote very strongly, but where was his confidence?

Tags: Paul, Preaching, work, action, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Church Growth And The Work Of God

By Josh Reich on Oct 5, 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)

The Work Life Balance Myth

By Shawn Lovejoy on May 26, 2022

Family and work can’t be balanced. The good news is that it’s not supposed to be.

Scripture: Proverbs 24:27

Tags: family, leadership, priorities, Balanced Life, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Cut Off Your Hand, Tear Out Your Eye

By Ray Ortlund on Aug 2, 2022

Hard words are not harmful words—when they come from Jesus. The real Jesus loves us enough to accept us freely and confront us honestly.

Scripture: Colossians 2:23, Philippians 3:14, Hebrews 13:21, Matthew 5:6, Titus 2:11-12, Hebrews 12:4, 1 Corinthians 9:27, Matthew 5:29-30  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Righteousness, Theology, soul care, Hard Teaching

Does Street Evangelism Really Work?

By Greg Stier on Jan 27, 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 Jul 31, 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

Tags: Preaching

How To Get Your Prayer To Work

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Mar 24, 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 4, 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 15, 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)

How To Avoid Pulpit Plagiarism

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Dec 7, 2020

Simply put: "Milk a lot of cows. But churn your own butter."

Tags: Preaching, work, Plagiarism, original