In Preaching Articles: "I Still Believe"

Preaching Without Notes: Four Must-Have Skills

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 12, 2021

Sherman Cox: "Sermons with or without notes should eliminate irrelevant asides. By irrelevant, I mean that they are not connected to your sermon’s main point."

Tags: Preaching, preparation, note

Do You Remember Why You Became A Pastor?

By Chuck Warnock on Jun 10, 2025

There are times in our life when the clarity fades, discouragement clouds our memory and we wonder, "Why did I ever want to be a pastor?"

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27

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Four Dangerous Ways To Preach About Hell

By Dr. R. Larry Moyer on Aug 22, 2021

The farmer said, "Preach about the meek and lowly Jesus." The pastor answered, "That’s where I got my information about hell."

Tags: Hell, Preaching, Context, dangerous, preaching, context  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching That Transforms Lives—it Can Be Done—8 Ways To Start

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 7, 2023

"It's an issue that leaders and followers alike must wrestle through: How do I live out the spiritual transformation that has occurred in me?"

Scripture: James 1:1-15, Judges 11:1-20

Tags: Preaching, renewal, Transformation, Surrender, diligence, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

6 Messy Truths About Your Church—and 3 Helpful Realities

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 5, 2025

"I was taught never to wrestle with difficult truths in front of the congregation. Give them simple three-point, alliterated answers to life’s problems."

Tags: messy truth, efficient, confusing, preaching, bible, Bible, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Fresh Ways To Preach The Christmas Story

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 17, 2023

Hal Seed: "Reading these Christmas stories moves me to worship and bow before him. Then I am ready to consider how to preach it."

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7, Philippians 2:6-11, John 1:1-5

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Pastors: The Ceo Has To Go

By Derek Vreeland on Aug 23, 2023

I feel the impulse to forsake the pastoral vocation of word and sacrament, prayer and disciple-making, in favor of becoming a CEO who gets things done.

Tags: liturgy, Theology, church and business, consumerism

How The Church Can Experience Revival Today

By Brandon Cox on Mar 27, 2022

Most Christians I know want the church to experience revival. We just don’t all agree on what revival looks like.

Tags: revival, Church revival, God hears prayer

One Major Thing You Can Do To Improve Your Worship Service

By Joe Hoagland on Apr 8, 2022

What if I told you there is one main thing you can improve to make people want to come back time and time again.

Tags: Preaching, illustration, Time of Reflection, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Can Something This Simple Supercharge Staff Morale?

By Charles Stone on Nov 20, 2023

Several months ago I began something with our staff that has been a huge hit. It’s simple. Any staff can do it, whether in a church or a business application. And it boosts staff morale and excitement when we do it. I encourage you to try it with your staff. It’s called a “Blue Sky Thinking” morning.

Tags: leadership, motivation, inspiration, Solitude, pastoral leadership, servant leadership, church ministry, Staff Meeting, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways To Overcome Nerves Before You Preach

By Lane Sebring on Nov 17, 2019

She took my hand, which was freezing cold, leaned over and whispered, "Are you nervous? Your hand is freezing." I nodded, "Yep."

Scripture: Mark 14:1-25, Mark 14:1-31, Psalm 51:10-13, Ezekiel 36:26-33, Ezekiel 36:24-26  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: passion, energy, nerves, preaching, Preaching, Overcome  (view more)  (view less)

9 Preaching Tips That Will Change Lives

By Rick Warren on Jan 15, 2025

I'll say it over and over: The purpose of preaching is obedience. That is why you should always preach for response, aiming for people to act on what is said.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:13, Proverbs 6:18-20

Tags: preaching, Pain, Change, repentance, Alcohol, who is jesus, Repentance, grace, Eternity, Grace, obedience, Rumor, Preaching, Sex, pain  (view more)  (view less)

The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Two Popular Preaching Styles

By Brady Boyd on Apr 24, 2020

Brady Boyd: "I think both approaches have merit for the local church and it’s the job of the pastor to listen to what God is saying and obey."

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Biblical Interpretation

The Whisper That Made Me Leave My Church

By Tod Bolsinger on Sep 9, 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)

How To Stop People From Playing On Their Phones In Church

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 19, 2025

Cell phones in church don't bother me because I've discovered an ancient secret that keeps people from getting bored in church.

Tags: Preaching, Entertainment, Boredom, better church, preaching, Discipleship  (view more)  (view less)