In Preaching Articles: "Healthy Ministry"

Bigger Is Not Necessarily Better: 3 Reasons I'm Convinced God Most Often Builds His Church Small

By Chris Surber on Jul 1, 2025

God uses big churches for certain Kingdom jobs, and God uses little churches for specific assignments.

Scripture: Matthew 18:20-21

Tags: ministry, Ministry, Community, Kingdom, Small Church, big versus small, community  (view more)  (view less)

Death To Dancing Bears

By Lance Witt on May 31, 2022

“Sometimes as a worship pastor,” he said, “I feel like a dancing bear. It’s my job to get up and perform for the crowd, and as long as the performance is good, everyone is happy. Except me. Something is missing and I don’t know what to do.”

Tags: Ministry, burnout, pastoral leadership, Lost Focus, People Over Programs, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Being A Pastor: Blessing Or Burden? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Apr 29, 2024

How do you not let the burden of ministry not rob you of the blessing of ministry?

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-3, Exodus 28:29, Philippians 1:7

Tags: Humility, Stewardship, Shepherd, Organize, Jesus' church  (view more)  (view less)

10 Suggestions For The Shepherd Of A Stagnant Flock

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 3, 2020

Non-growing churches are not healthy, at least in some significant ways. Joe McKeever gives his input to help revive a church that seems to have "plateaued."

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

Of Course My Preaching Is Balanced--I Think

By Peter Mead on Oct 26, 2024

We tend to view ourselves as impartial and somehow capable of adjudicating "healthy balance" based on our own perspective. But how small our perspective can be at times.

Scripture: Daniel 9:4

Tags: Read, Preaching, Balance, devour, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Leadership Capacity Affects The Growth And Health Of A Church

By Josh Reich on Oct 5, 2023

Now, we all know that God is the one who grows a church, but often that church is healthy and growing because of the character, quality and capacity of the lead pastor and leaders.

Tags: leadership, Discipline, leadership capacity, coaching, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Shepherd God’s Flock: Our Job As Pastors

By Chris Pascarella on Sep 20, 2022

As pastors, we’re called to shepherd the flock (1 Peter 5:2). In fact, God holds us accountable for our shepherding (Hebrews 13:17). But what does it look like to shepherd?

Scripture: Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 5:2

Tags: Eldership, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, shepherding, Shepherding, Shepherd, strategy  (view more)  (view less)

A Category You Won’t Find In The Bible: The Churchless Christian

By Thabiti Anyabwile on Oct 27, 2022

"It is important for Christians to be members of a local church because the New Testament apostles can’t conceive of anything called a Christian that’s not connected to Christ’s body."

Tags: Church, Discipleship, Christian Life, Healthy Church, Called to serve, local church, be the church, Church Body of Christ, Christian community, church  (view more)  (view less)

What A Seminary Degree Will Not Do

By Joe Mckeever on Nov 22, 2023

“I have all this education and training. Why won’t churches call me as pastor?”

Tags: Angry with God, education, Seminary, Christian Education, calling, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, training  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Preachers Never Say – Pt.2

By Peter Mead on May 8, 2024

This series looks at seven things preachers never say. Last time we thought about the burden of expectation. How about this for another: The negative outcomes of both criticism and apathy.

Tags: church ministry, Negative Response, Backbiting, criticism, Criticism, Apathy, Gossip, slander, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Believe In Miracles? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jun 11, 2024

How do you define a "win" in ministry?

Tags: church ministry, Mental Toughness, Leadership, leadership, success, goals, pastoral leadership, success in ministry  (view more)  (view less)

6 Benefits To Not Changing Churches

By Dean Shriver on Jul 10, 2021

Thinking about moving to another church? Before you do, consider the benefits of "not" changing churches.

Scripture: Colossians 3:13-14, Colossians 3:13

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

Find Places To Preach Without Stealing A Pulpit

By Sherman Haywood Cox on May 21, 2021

In many churches, there are simply not enough opportunities to preach for all of the unpaid associates and assistants. What to do?

Tags: opportunity, lead, Ministry, Support, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Brokenness In A Pastor’s Life

By Charles Stone on Jun 29, 2023

As I enter the sixth decade of my life and reflect over the brokenness I’ve faced as a pastor, I’m beginning to see its great value. It still hurts and I’d prefer not to face it. Yet, I’m experiencing the fruit of brokenness: inner peace, joy, and a purpose that supersedes ‘ministry success.’

Scripture: John 12:24

Tags: Healing, Rejection, brokenness, success in ministry

How To Discover Your True North Value

By Charles Stone on Apr 13, 2023

What are the core values that guide you as a leader?

Tags: leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Values, Leadership