In Preaching Articles: "Listening Vs Hearing"

Connect With Your Listeners: 7 Strategies To Make Your Preaching Relevant

By Peter Mead on Jul 5, 2021

The Bible is relevant. We don't need to "make it relevant," but we do need to demonstrate how it is relevant.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Tags: Preaching

When The Message Ends, Where Are People Focused?

By Peter Mead on Jul 28, 2025

Where are people looking as they leave? If we're not careful, they will walk out with gaze firmly fixed on self.

Tags: Message, Preaching, Self, focus, listener, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Work Smarter, Not Harder

By Lance Witt on Jan 10, 2022

There is a story in the Bible about a very gifted and competent leader who wasn’t working smart.

Scripture: Exodus 18:1-27

Tags: priorities, advice, Leadership Listening, walking wisely

If The Church Is God's Idea, Who Are We To Dismantle It?

By Jeff K. Clarke on Feb 25, 2022

I wonder if we have allowed our contemporary definition, understanding, and experience of the church to be shaped more by the post-modern impulse of individualism and self-centeredness, than by Christ’s and Paul’s emphasis on the gathered community from every race, tribe, and tongue?

Tags: individualism, church community, Listening, unity and diversity

Anxiety Abounds! There Is A Remedy!

By Steve Smith on Apr 11, 2022

These are turbulent times indeed. And our sponge like souls have soaked in a great deal of toxins. The remedy is not as complicated as we might have thought.

Tags: Prayer, unrest, soul care, Listening to God

Are You A Transactional Leader Or A Transformational Leader?

By Charles Stone on Jun 6, 2022

At times we must lead as transactional leaders. However, we should seek to grow our leadership so that we lead more often as transformational leaders.

Tags: vision, leadership, Transformation, Leadership Listening, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

One Vital Preaching Skill That Just Can't Be Faked: Do You Have It?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 15, 2025

Brandon Cox challenges us to ask ourselves the tough questions about a core value.

Tags: Preaching, prepare, listener, orator, preaching skill, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Keys To Making Change Stick In Your Church

By Charles Stone on Jul 13, 2023

Change is inevitable. And unless a church creates healthy change in itself, it will soon become obsolete.

Tags: leadership, Change, church conflict, Leadership Listening, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

6 Things To Do When Someone Insults You

By Josh Reich on Apr 14, 2023

You know the conversation. Someone in your church asks to meet with you, or you set up the meeting because you know they are angry at you, the church or a decision that was made.

Tags: Hurt, church conflict, Dealing with Conflicts, Leadership Listening

7 Steps To Start Becoming A Church People Want To Commit To

By Karl Vaters on Apr 12, 2022

A growing number of people who do go to church don’t want to go, either. If we don’t give them something worth committing to, they’ll be gone soon.

Tags: Learning, inspiration, Leadership Listening, fixing eyes on Jesus, commitment to church  (view more)  (view less)

How To Tell If A New Volunteer Is Truly A Leader (Or Simply A Doer)

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 10, 2024

"I recently surveyed 1400 small and mid-sized church pastors to find out what they struggle with most as their church grows. They overwhelmingly identified developing leaders as their top challenge."

Tags: leadership, Church Growth, Volunteer, church ministry, obstacles to growth, Barriers to Growth, Growing a Church, Leaders vs Doers, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Pastors Never Know Who’s In The Audience

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 18, 2022

When a pastor stands to preach, he never knows who is listening to him. And if his sermon is recorded or broadcast, he has no clue who will be hearing his words. He will do well to make sure he knows what he’s talking about.

Tags: Communication, Teaching, Preaching, preaching tips, pastoral leadership, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching Blunders, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

God Works In Mysterious Ways—through Your Sermon!

By Danny Macmunn on Aug 27, 2021

Sometimes even the messenger is surprised at what the people hear.

Scripture: Mark 15:1-18, 2 Timothy 2:1-15

Tags: Scripture, Preaching, Word of God, mysterious ways, inspired by god, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways To Authenticate Your Preaching

By Jared Moore on Aug 11, 2020

Your hearers often hear you before they hear the Scriptures. If your people know you, they’ll have a better basis for understanding your sermons.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tags: Service, Humility, Preaching, Biblical, Context, authentic  (view more)  (view less)

Epidemic: Another Pastor Burned Out And Quit Last Sunday

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 22, 2021

It never gets easier. No matter how many times you hear about it. And we're hearing about it a lot more lately. In epidemic numbers.

Tags: Pastoral Character, success in ministry, avoiding burnout, praying for pastors