In Preaching Articles: "Letting Go"

Deal-Breakers: 7 Ways God May Tell A Pastor To Leave A Church

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 18, 2022

Long-term pastorates are almost always good for the church and the pastor. But when these things happen, it's time to go.

Tags: Discernment, Resignation, Knowing God's Will, church ministry

What To Do When Someone Close To You Is Hurting

By Josh Reich on Jun 20, 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)

Everything We Think We Know About Marriage And Divorce Is Wrong

By Shaunti Feldhahn on Oct 23, 2019

"Imagine the difference for pastors to know that they can stand on stage and tell their congregations with confidence that going to church matters for your marriage."

Tags: Happy, Research, shaunti feldhahn, Marriage, Divorce  (view more)  (view less)

4 Important Reasons To Give Yourself A Week Off

By Josh Reich on Nov 4, 2025

Yes: go ahead and take a Sunday off every once in a while. But Josh Reich says be smart about it.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Framing Thanksgiving

By Mark Looyenga on Nov 14, 2024

Again and again in Scripture, biblical characters experience contentment amidst struggle or difficulty in ways that go beyond just circumstance.

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28, Ruth 1:16-17, Psalm 63:1-8, Philippians 4:11, James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6, Matthew 26:53, Matthew 27:14, Romans 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Thanksgiving, Contentment, gratitude, Perspective, perspective  (view more)  (view less)

5 Questions A Pastor Should Ask Every Year

By Josh Reich on Jan 26, 2021

As leaders, we can sometimes stand in the way of change. Instead, let's take a hard look at our lives and ask these five questions to grow as leaders.

Tags: Preaching

You Become What You Eat

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 23, 2022

Hope is to our soul what energy is to our body. Just like our bodies must have energy to keep going, our souls must have hope to keep going. So when our soul needs hope, what do we do? We feast on the promises of God.

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12, Jeremiah 29:11, John 6:35, Revelation 19:13, 2 Corinthians 1:20, John 1:1, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 4:12, Romans 15:13, Psalm 34:8, Deuteronomy 8:3, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 1:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Perseverance, Hope, Promises of God, soul care

5 Preaching Gems For Maundy Thursday

By Ray Hollenbach on Oct 2, 2025

The Last Supper: More than history, more than a painting, it's the living example of how to go through stressful times.

Tags: preaching, Jesus, Easter, Preaching, Easter Maundy Thursday, the last supper  (view more)  (view less)

Weaving Gospel Fluency Into Every Sunday Message

By Jeff Vanderstelt on Nov 21, 2022

If we are going to grow people up into Christlikeness in every way, we need to learn how to speak the truths of Jesus Christ into everything.

Scripture: Luke 24:44-45

Tags: preaching Christ, guard the truth, Gospel centered, Teach His Word, church leadership, teaching, Teaching, pastoral leadership, defending the gospel  (view more)  (view less)

10 Pointers For Preaching On A Touchy Issue

By Peter Mead on Apr 12, 2021

Sometimes we have to preach something that is potentially controversial or that may not go down too well. Here are ten pointers to help when that is necessary.

Scripture: Acts 17:22-32

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Prayer, Self knowledge, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

When A Private Apology Is Not Enough

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 15, 2022

"Nothing is so lovely and so welcome and so healing in a church as for a member to go before the congregation and admit to his/her destructive behavior and ask for forgiveness."

Tags: Humility, Reconciliation, repentance, restitution, Confession of Sin, church ministry, Apology, Making things right, Admitting Guilt, Repentance  (view more)  (view less)

10 Reasons Small Churches Tend To Stay Small

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 21, 2024

After working for years among hundreds of small congregations, Joe McKeever speaks to the subtle growth barriers that tend to go unnoticed or unaddressed in stagnant churches.

Scripture: John 13:35, Psalm 85:6, Luke 11:1-2

Tags: Church, Outreach, pastor, Church Growth, Health, Fail, Small Church, Church Practices, Pastor, church  (view more)  (view less)

Has Mission Become Our Idol?

By Skye Jethani on Jul 29, 2024

Skye Jethani: "While a vision for serving God is needed, and the desperate condition of our world cannot be ignored, there is a higher calling that is going unanswered in many Christian communities."

Scripture: Psalm 62:1-6

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Fire, Pastor, evangelism, preaching, Evangelism, Missions  (view more)  (view less)

Disciples Or Converts?

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 22, 2024

We should take notice of what Jesus did not say in the Great Commission. He did not say, “Go therefore and make converts of as many people as possible.”

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-18

Tags: Preaching, preaching

What Pastors Are Trying To Do

By Joe Mckeever on Aug 16, 2022

The church member stares and wonders what’s going on and why you’re making so much noise until the day he/she meets Jesus.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:6, 1 Timothy 5:17

Tags: Follow Jesus, preaching Christ, Faithfulness, Transformation