In Preaching Articles: "Hurt"

Letter To A (Real Life) Hurting Pastor

By Chris Surber on Apr 25, 2025

Author Chris Surber suggests six avenues to handle the hurt and disappointment so common in pastoral ministry.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Five Steps To Respond To A Hurtful And Hateful Email

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 6, 2022

“You have no business being the pastor of our church. All you are interested in is getting your own way and changing all the good things we have going. People are saying you should be fired. I agree with them.”

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1

Tags: Perseverance, leadership, conflict, Criticism, loving people, pastoral leadership, church ministry, Difficult People, Facing Controversy, criticism, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

How Your Preaching Can Hurt Your Church

By Erik Raymond on Apr 24, 2025

Like so many blessings from God, we can elevate them to become a distraction or even an idol.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1

Tags: Preaching, preaching

What To Do When Someone Close To You Is Hurting

By Josh Reich on Jun 19, 2022

Let’s face it, when someone hurts us, we can brush it off and often move on. We can be tough, ignore it, deal with it or get even (although that rarely helps), but something changes when it is our spouse, kids, a close friend or a family member who is hurt. We feel powerless in that moment.

Tags: pastoral leadership, bearing burdens, shepherding, counseling, Shepherding  (view more)  (view less)

4 Popular Preaching Myths

By Brian Orme on Jan 26, 2024

What you think about your preaching while preparing your message might be just as important as the words you say when you deliver it.

Tags: Hurt, Preaching, myth, hinder, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

11 Times When Preaching Hurts More Than It Helps

By Joseph Mattera on Feb 7, 2024

Preaching is vital to God's purposes--that's why we must get it right.

Scripture: Matthew 13:1-15

Tags: Hurt, Preaching, Purpose, help, Vital, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Reluctant Leadership Is Better Than Nothing

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 17, 2021

You ask the question and–this is critical–you remain standing. You are not just expressing a point of view, you are asking for answers. And you are doing so in such a sweet manner, no one can accuse you of trying to stir up anything.

Scripture: Romans 9:1-20

Tags: responsibility, Preaching, hurting people, servant leadership

How To Stay Healthy While Pastoring An Unhealthy Church

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 30, 2021

Hurting churches hurt people. Including pastors who try to help them. Here are 9 principles to help you stay strong.

Tags: Sabbath, Boundaries, pastoral leadership, Broken Church

Words Create Worlds… Part 2

By Lance Witt on Aug 17, 2023

It’s not just what you say, but how you say it.

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1, Philippians 4:5, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 27:5-6, Proverbs 10:17, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:28, Proverbs 15:28, Proverbs 19:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: words, Influence, Words do hurt, pastoral leadership

6 Things To Do When Someone Insults You

By Josh Reich on Apr 13, 2023

You know the conversation. Someone in your church asks to meet with you, or you set up the meeting because you know they are angry at you, the church or a decision that was made.

Tags: Hurt, church conflict, Dealing with Conflicts, Leadership Listening

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)

5 Things You Should Never Say To A Small Church Pastor

By Karl Vaters on Oct 23, 2023

Don’t just get the content right. Consider how it might feel to the hurting pastors who need your help the most.

Tags: leadership, advice, Small Church, Pastoral Ministry, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

3 Problems With Being Too Nice As A Leader

By Ron Edmondson on Jun 14, 2020

Leaders who avoid hard conversations hurt themselves, their teams, and underperforming staff. Here are three reasons excessive niceness undermines effective leadership.

Scripture: Proverbs 27:5-6, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:15, Proverbs 9:8-9, Colossians 3:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership, preaching, Organizational Health  (view more)  (view less)

When Church Members Leave: How Pastors Carry The Quiet Wound

By Greg Surratt on Apr 28, 2020

Pastors feel deep pain when people leave their church. Understanding why it happens and how to respond wisely can turn hurt into growth, humility, and renewed strength.

Scripture: Hebrews 10:25-35, John 6:66-67, Proverbs 19:11, Romans 12:18, 2 Timothy 4:16-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Church, Church Growth, Connect, Assimilation, Church Practices, connect, church  (view more)  (view less)

Are You A "Do Something" Church?

By Miles Mcpherson on Jul 19, 2020

Many churches talk about impact but fail to act. Discover how counting real needs, walking toward the hurting, asking meaningful questions, and loving tangibly can transform a community.

Scripture: Mark 10:49-51, Luke 17:17-19, Luke 15:4, Luke 5:10-11, John 21:15-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Service, Servanthood