In Preaching Articles: "Lay Leadership"

Ten Principles For Pastors Leading Plateaued Churches

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 12, 2022

Many churches plateau, but pastors don’t have to. These ten principles guide leaders toward renewal through prayer, humility, small improvements, and practical, Spirit-led steps.

Tags: Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Apathy, Fail, Leadership General, pastoral leadership, shepherding, Pastor, Leadership, Shepherding, church, Pastoral Leadership, Plateaue, Ministry Health  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things Healthy Churches Do Well

By Joe Mckeever on Jan 23, 2025

Healthy churches face problems with wisdom, unity, and Christlike leadership. These ten traits show how congregations grow stronger even through crises.

Scripture: Acts 6:1-7

Tags: Church Growth, Healthy Church, Pastors, CHURCH LIFE, Church General, Accept, Christian community, church leadership, Biblical wisdom, Church Leadership, Biblical Wisdom, Congregational Health, Christian Community  (view more)  (view less)

5 Right And Wrong Ways To Deal With Criticism

By Ron Edmondson on Mar 20, 2025

Criticism is inevitable in leadership. Here are five wrong responses to avoid and five wise practices that help leaders learn, grow, and steward feedback well.

Scripture: Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 19:20, James 1:19, Ecclesiastes 7:5

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Criticism, Confidence, evaluation, criticism, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Church Members Don't Want A Hero, They Want A Pastor

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 11, 2021

Church members aren’t looking for super-pastors, they want basic pastoral competence, honesty and leadership. That’s what they ought to expect.

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Hero, Pastor

Handling A Hurricane Part 2

By Lance Witt on Nov 14, 2023

There will be a day that feels like a normal day, but there is a devastating hurricane about to hit your team. It is the hurricane of a moral failure by one of your team members. But if you have prepared, it won’t be a “freak out” moment, it will be a “let’s execute our hurricane plan” moment.

Scripture: Galatians 6:1

Tags: leadership, preparation, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Leadership Failure, Moral failure, Overcoming Crisis, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

7 Indicators Your Team Is Dysfunctional

By Ron Edmondson on Oct 10, 2022

In my experience, there are commonalities of dysfunction. If you have been on a dysfunctional team you’ve probably seen one or more of the common traits. See if any of these seem familiar.

Tags: leadership, conflict, Teamwork, Dysfunction, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Team Dynamics, Healthy Teams, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Doing Ministry Without Losing Your Soul Part 2

By Lance Witt on May 16, 2024

"In ministry, there are certain tensions that we must live with. Sometimes they seem contradictory, but they are tensions that are actually healthy for us."

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-8, Psalm 27:4, 2 Corinthians 3:18

Tags: leadership, Balance, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Healthy Ministry, Tensions in Ministry, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

4 Easy Steps To Healthy Delegation

By Ron Edmondson on May 20, 2024

How do we let go of responsibility when we are wired so heavily towards not doing so? How do we delegate when the church holds us responsible for getting things done? How do we let go when doing so makes us sometimes feel so out of control?

Tags: Pride, letting go, multiply, pastoral leadership, church leadership, delegating, Effective Leadership, Healthy Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

The Most Significant Thing A Pastor Will Ever Do

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 8, 2024

The most valuable ministry thing you have done just may be the time you stopped to encourage a homeless man and bought him lunch.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

Tags: Faithfulness, priorities, Servanthood, Christian Love, Godly Leaders, pastoral leadership, servant leadership, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

10 Preaching Questions With Matt Chandler

By Colin Adams on Jan 29, 2025

Matt Chandler reflects on preaching, preparation, personal pitfalls, and developing future preachers. His insights offer clear, practical guidance for faithful ministry.

Scripture: Mark 1:39

Tags: preparation, Adam, Guilt Offering, Leadership General, Leadership Development  (view more)  (view less)

The 4 Pillars Of Guest Preaching

By Pete Wilson on Jan 5, 2023

Guest speakers can bless churches or burden them. Here are practical ways to honor the pastor, respect the house, and communicate well without creating chaos.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:40, Hebrews 13:17, Philippians 2:3, 1 Peter 4:10-11, Colossians 3:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communication, Teaching, leadership, Preaching, Leadership, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

How I Learned To Preach–and What I'm Learning Still

By Doug Paul on Jul 14, 2020

Most effective teachers do not start original. They learn through listening, imitation, and practice before discovering a voice that is truly their own.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:1, 2 Timothy 2:2, Proverbs 22:6, Hebrews 13:7

Tags: leadership, Preaching, spiritual formation, Leadership, preaching, Spiritual Formation  (view more)  (view less)

8 Lame Excuses Church Leaders Make

By Carey Nieuwhof on Mar 27, 2023

One of the best practices you can develop as a leader is to identify your excuses and eliminate them. Start thinking and talking a different game.

Tags: leadership, Preaching, church culture, Explanation, Rules, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Seven Relational Skills Of Great Church Leaders

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 11, 2021

Most pastors and church leaders have never received formal training in relational skills. Perhaps these seven observations of outstanding leaders will prove helpful to many of you.

Tags: leadership, Prayer Life, Family Relationships, prayer life, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Why Successful Churches Aren’t Turning The World Upside-Down – But The Outcasts Might

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 30, 2023

Jesus was the most culture-challenging, paradigm-shifting, tradition-breaking, change agent who ever lived.

Tags: leadership, Small Church, church in society, prophetic voice, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)