In Preaching Articles: "Joe Mckeever"

When Illustrations Become Sermon-Killers (And What To Do About Them)

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 5, 2025

The smart preacher never tells a story that clobbers his sermon and destroys the point he is trying to make.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

4 Secret Fears We Have About Preaching On Tithing

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 15, 2025

Pastor, even if people get it wrong, don’t let that stop you from doing it right.

Scripture: Matthew 6:20, Malachi 3:8, Jude 1:1-25

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Reluctant Leadership Is Better Than Nothing

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 18, 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

What Not To Say When Someone Dies

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 3, 2024

There is a danger turning faith into fairy tale for our own comfort. At the same time it may help us to approach someone with biblical truths after we understand their line of thinking.

Tags: Death, Comfort, Preaching, Funeral, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Eight Things I Like About The Church…and Five I Hate.

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 7, 2023

Show me a Christian who can please God better alone than with other believers and I’ll show you a one-of-a-kind, something never before seen on planet Earth. The Lord thought you and I would be needing each other, so placed us in a church fellowship when He saved us.

Tags: Church, Preaching, preaching, church

Why I Participated In The Work Of The Local Association

By Joe Mckeever on Feb 23, 2021

Consider these five reasons to be involved in the local association. I promise you that Christ will be honored, your church will be strengthened, other ministers will be encouraged, and most surprising of all, you will find yourself to be more fulfilled in serving your Lord.

Tags: Church, Preaching

The Effective Pastor: Never Skimp On The Sermon

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 6, 2021

They call you Preacher because nothing you do is as important or as critical to the work of the church as your preaching.

Tags: Preaching, Pastoring, sermon, Sermon, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

15 Things Young Preachers Need To Know About Seniors

By Joe Mckeever on Apr 23, 2021

“They will still bear fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and very green…” (Psalm 92:14). All generalizations are false. Including this one. Every rule has its exceptions. Including this one. Even so, I’m going to make some general statements about seniors.

Tags: Change, valuing one another, care for elderly, Generations

Leading From Fear: So Many Churches Do It

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 23, 2021

It’s so easy for a preacher to exhibit fear and not faith when standing before the church and calling the congregation to faithfulness and righteousness.

Scripture: Mark 4:40, Luke 14:7-14

Tags: Faith, leadership, Faith and Fear, church leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Everyone's Least Favorite Preacher- The Cocky Kind

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 19, 2023

You’re sitting in his church listening to him preach. He’s not five minutes into the message before you realize Mr. Hotshot is appearing before you in the flesh. His words and mannerisms give him away.

Scripture: Isaiah 57:15, Micah 6:8, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 5:3, Isaiah 6:5, Matthew 18:3, 1 Peter 5:6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility, Pride, Preacher, self importance, preacher  (view more)  (view less)

The Light-Hearted Pastor Is An Oxymoron

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 27, 2022

To expect to carry the message without feeling the weight is asking a little much.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, 1 Corinthians 2:3, 2 Corinthians 11:28

Tags: pressure, Human Weakness, bearing burdens, Pastoral Ministry

One Question You Must Never Ask In Ministry

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 7, 2023

Disciples of Jesus Christ must never try to calculate the cost/benefit of some act of ministry.

Scripture: Colossians 3:23-24, Luke 18:8, Ecclesiastes 11:6

Tags: Faithfulness, Leadership General, questions, measuring success

Christmas: Not A Time For Inventing Twists On The Age-Old Story

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 14, 2024

Tell it with gusto and love. Tell the story of the birth of Jesus with all the excitement of someone hearing it for the first time. Tell the story without detouring into theories and guesses and myths and controversies.

Scripture: Luke 2:11

Tags: Christmas, Simplicity, storytelling, Christmas Advent

Pastors: Why Some Love Them And Some Don’t

By Joe Mckeever on Mar 5, 2022

See how they treated Jesus? Expect the same for yourself, pastor.

Scripture: Matthew 10:40, Romans 5:5, Mark 3:5, Mark 3:1-6, Matthew 10:24-25, Acts 5:41  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Wisdom, pastor, pastor appreciation, attacking the pastor, Pastor  (view more)  (view less)

When The Church Exists For Itself

By Joe Mckeever on May 11, 2022

Churches do programs and ministries which no one will ever partake of except themselves.

Scripture: Acts 13:1, Acts 11:19-20, Acts 8:1, Mark 5:19, Romans 10:14, Luke 14:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Persecution, church culture, evangelism  (view more)  (view less)