In Preaching Articles: "Know Your Audience"

A Preacher's Prayer

By Bob Hostetler on Feb 2, 2024

If you're not in the habit of praying before you preach, here's a good place to start.

Tags: Preaching, Prayer, habit, preaching

How 450 Sermons Revealed Four Preaching Truths

By Ed Stetzer on Sep 1, 2021

LifeWay Research discovered four common factors in good preaching. Are they part of yours?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12

Tags: ed stetzer, Truth, Preaching, the word

Why I Don't Ever Want To Preach A Good Sermon

By J.s. Park on Feb 9, 2024

Sometimes your good work can actually hinder people from hearing the gospel.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:5-7, Genesis 6:1-14

Tags: Preaching, public, good work, good sermon, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What To Do With Feedback From Sunday's Sermon—10 Lifelines

By Peter Mead on Aug 19, 2025

Not all feedback is created equal. How you handle it can shape your preaching.

Scripture: Job 31:1-10, Acts 3:10-17

Tags: Preaching, Reality, Lifeline, Feedback, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Is Preaching Scary? 10 Reasons It Just Might Be

By Chuck Lawless on Dec 7, 2019

Ten important reasons to never let yourself become cavalier about your preaching.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 20:30-42

Tags: Preaching

9 Stupid Things I Did As A Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 11, 2020

Does your misery love company? Come sit next to Thom Rainer a while.

Tags: Preaching, worry, pastor, neglect, Criticism, Prayer Life, Pastor, prayer life, criticism, Worry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Pastor, The Next Time You Attend A Conference, Do This!

By Brandon Kelley on Nov 8, 2022

"You can make the next time you attend a conference worth your while."

Tags: planning, Leadership, Plan, leadership, effective, productivity, pastoral leadership, overcoming problems  (view more)  (view less)

30 Palm Sunday, Good Friday And Holy Week Worship Ideas

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 9, 2020

Holy Week is filled with opportunities for your church to gather around God's Word in worship.

Tags: Worship, Good Friday, Preaching, Palm Sunday, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

6 Reasons Pastors And Leaders Need Adequate Sleep

By Charles Stone on Jun 20, 2023

For many years scientists and philosophers have pondered why we need sleep besides to not be sleepy. Of course we all intuitively know how important sleep is to our bodies, relationships, and walk with God. But as neuroscientists are learning more about the brain, they are discovering many positive brain benefits from sleep. This list below includes some of those benefits.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:12

Tags: sleep, Walk with God, decison making, paying attention

Small Does Not Equal Broken: 5 Steps To Greatness In A Small Church

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 19, 2021

Where are all the great small churches? Would you know one if you saw one? They exist. There’s no doubt about that. There are great small churches in every country, serving every ethnic group and in virtually every language. They worship in every imaginable liturgical style and they meet in every type of building – including no building at all.

Tags: Perseverance, Determination, Church size, Expectation, big versus small  (view more)  (view less)

The Curse Of Competition

By Lance Witt on Mar 26, 2021

Here is what I know to be true about competitiveness in my own life. It usually has to do with Outward Validation vs. Inward Validation. If I am honest, a spirit of competition and comparison has to do with me and my need to feel significant and successful. My own insecurity drives me to posture and protect. It drives me to compare and compete.

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The Overwhelming Majority Of Pastors Don’t Have One

By Lance Witt on Jul 26, 2023

The truth is those of us in ministry often don’t do the friendship thing very well. One survey among pastors found that 70 percent do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor. Henri Nouwen wrote, “Most Christian leadership is exercised by people who do not know how to develop healthy, intimate relationships.” What an indictment.

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5 Pastoral Emergencies That Aren’t Emergencies

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 18, 2024

"If you’ve been in ministry for any length of time, you know the challenge of trying to move the mission forward and handle the pastoral needs of a congregation at the same time. One of the most perplexing problems pastors and church leaders face is how to handle ‘pastoral emergencies’—the crises that come up in the lives of people that they look to you to help solve."

Tags: resolving conflict, Time Management, crisis response, conflict management, pastoral leadership, questions, Pastoral Ministry, avoiding burnout  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ministry Killers Every Pastor’s Wife Faces

By Charles Stone on Aug 21, 2025

Eight in ten pastors’ wives say they feel unappreciated or unaccepted by their husband’s congregations. Charles Stone and his wife give insight into how to protect your spouse and your marriage during the sometimes difficult calling of pastoral ministry.

Tags: Ministry, stress, Marriage, wife, family, Stress, Pastoral Care, Ministry Health, Pastors Wife, Marriage Support, Church Body of Christ, Marriage General, church leadership, ministry, marriage support, Church Leadership, relationships, priorities, home, Difficulties, pastoral care, Spouse  (view more)  (view less)

The Gospel Of James: Open Letter To Martin Luther

By SermonCentral .com on May 7, 2022

Many of us today who think of ourselves squarely as your friends take exception to some of your views — some in greater measure than others — and I expect you, of all people, would be least surprised to hear of it and receive it.

Scripture: Galatians 2:14, Ezekiel 36:24-32, Jeremiah 31:33, Ephesians 1:13, Colossians 1:5, 1 Corinthians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 12:21, James 1:18-23, Philippians 1:27, 1 Peter 1:23-25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: The Gospel, Reformation, Book of James, martin luther