In Preaching Articles: "Healthy Church"

Pastor, Are You Chasing Stray Dogs?

By Chris Surber on Jan 27, 2023

"Here is a list of people who have left the church in the last few years. We would like you to call on them to see if you can win a few of them back."

Tags: stray dog, preaching, church, Church, Preaching, members, Church Health  (view more)  (view less)

Why Small Churches Don’t Grow

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 21, 2024

Small church growth stalls for reasons deeper than numbers. These ten barriers reveal why congregations stay stuck and how leaders can pursue renewed health and mission.

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

Tags: Church, Outreach, pastor, Church Growth, Health, Fail, church, Pastoral Leadership, Small Church Growth, Congregational Renewal, Spiritual Vitality, Church Health, Small Church, Church Practices, pastoral leadership, spiritual vitality, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

5 Top Priorities For Increasing Your Church

By Charles Arn on Jan 11, 2025

Whether you’re in a church of 20 or 20,000, these principles will help you to invest the talents God has given to your church.

Scripture: Matthew 25:14-30

Tags: Growth, Discipleship, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Pastor, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

12 Reasons Why Church Membership Matters

By Jonathan Leeman on Mar 1, 2025

Jonathan Leeman: "Membership is the church’s affirmation that you are a citizen of Christ’s kingdom and therefore a card-carrying Jesus Representative before the nations."

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:20

Tags: Preaching, Membership, preaching

4 Ways To Approach Unsaved Church Members

By Brian Croft on Jul 24, 2024

Here are 4 suggestions to consider as you talk to a prospective church member who does not articulate a clear knowledge of the gospel.

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-17

Tags: Discernment, Preaching, preaching

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

3 Simple Questions For Better Church Outreach

By Kevin Harney on Mar 18, 2025

Only when a church grafts evangelistic passion onto every ministry will outreach become more than just another program.

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 11:1-30

Tags: Ministry, Outreach, leadership, Leadership General, Leadership, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Top 10 Tips For Handling Church Critics

By Charles Stone on Aug 9, 2024

Charles Stone encourages pastors to use discernment when receiving criticism with these ten tips.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Paul's Worst Church: Our Best Model?

By Chuck Warnock on Jul 28, 2020

Chuck Warnock suggests six powerful lessons from we can learn from that much-maligned church: Corinth.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-6

Tags: Preaching

The First Step In Bringing Change To Your Church

By John Holm on Jan 24, 2023

Change is difficult under the best of circumstances. Here's how to soften the blow and prepare your people.

Tags: leader, Leader, Guide, difficult, Change  (view more)  (view less)

Move Your Church From Consumers To Disciples

By Bill Couchenour on Mar 22, 2024

"Too often, we have allowed people to settle for giving 2 percent of their income, or attending 4 out of 5 Sundays."

Tags: Commitment, leadership, Body, Attendance, Church Discipline, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Bible Reading Is Down At Your Church

By Peter Mead on Jul 11, 2025

The most recent research presents troubling results. How does your church measure up?

Tags: preaching, bible, Bible, Study, Preaching, Isolation, fragment, e  (view more)  (view less)

50 Forgotten Days The Church Desperately Needs

By Ray Hollenbach on Feb 9, 2023

The days between Easter and Pentecost are usually an afterthought, yet they can become an opportunity to preach the significance of the resurrection.

Tags: Easter, Resurrection, Pentecost, Preaching, Significance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Whisper That Made Me Leave My Church

By Tod Bolsinger on Sep 10, 2021

I would hear that line echoed in my mind long after each conversation was over: "Why didn't seminary prepare me for this?"

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:1-25

Tags: curriculum, Preaching, prepare, Theology, Seminary  (view more)  (view less)

Why The Church? Six Bold Preaching Points

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 28, 2025

The bottom line is this: Church is God’s idea, and we ignore it at our peril.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-15

Tags: Equip, Church's witness, preaching, Forgiveness, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)