In Preaching Articles: "Living By Faith"

10 Tips For Better Preaching Pt.1

By Jim Martin on Apr 13, 2020

Faithful week-in, week-out preaching depends less on clever ideas and more on habits of love, clarity, restraint, identification, and genuine passion. These ten simple practices help preachers serve their congregations with messages that are understood, valued, and taken to heart.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Peter 5:2-3  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Homiletics, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Affair You Are Most Likely To Have As A Leader

By Carey Nieuwhof on Sep 8, 2023

Obviously, some leaders have emotional or sexual affairs with people to whom they are not married. As heartbreaking, future-altering and faith-shattering as those affairs can be, there’s another kind of affair you’re actually far more likely to have.

Tags: leadership, Healthy Church, avoiding burnout, workaholic, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Deliver Me From Distraction

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 28, 2022

Since the fall of man, people have had trouble staying focused, but we live today in an age of unprecedented distraction. Since you’re already reading this on some electronic device, I don’t need to elaborate.

Scripture: Romans 8:28, Romans 12:6, Romans 8:1, Luke 12:48, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 6:13, Romans 8:20-23, Luke 10:41-42, Psalm 27:4, Ephesians 5:16, Ephesians 5:20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Heart, Humility, distractions, idolatry, Distraction  (view more)  (view less)

Lord, Keep Me Desperate

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 15, 2022

From Genesis to Revelation, we find a consistent element present in the lives of persevering saints of God. And it is captured in this brief sentence in Psalm 119:67: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.”

Scripture: Luke 11:13, Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28, 2 Samuel 11:1-27, Jude 1:24, Psalm 119:67, 2 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Samuel 20:3, Psalm 7:1-2, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, 1 Samuel 26:10-11  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Thorns, Prosperity, suffering, affliction, God's mercy  (view more)  (view less)

10 Disciplines Of A Godly Pastor

By Dr. R. Kent Hughes on Jul 9, 2022

Our ultimate trust is always in God's persevering grace, nevertheless, we are called to cultivate godly action in our lives. Here are 10 disciplines shared by a pastor with over 40 years of experience in faithfully serving the Lord and shepherding God's people.

Tags: Perseverance, endurance, leadership, Accountability, pastoral leadership, Discipline, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, The Long View, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Doing Ministry Without Losing Your Soul Part 3

By Lance Witt on May 22, 2024

When pastoring is your job, it adds complexity to simply loving Jesus. To live and lead from a healthy soul, we must learn the art of separating our own personal pursuit of loving Jesus from our “ministry” of leading in the church.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Tags: time with God, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, soul care, avoiding burnout, Putting Christ First, Sincerity with God, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Preach Better With SermonCentral And Accordance

By Rick Mansfield on Jan 23, 2021

SermonCentral and Accordance Bible Software make for a great sermon prep and preaching combination. Sermons and other content from SermonCentral can be imported into Accordance User Tools and User Notes for sermon prep, live preaching, or archived for later reference.

Tags: Accordance

A Simple Formula For Effective Preaching

By Jonathon Woodyard on Jan 1, 2022

So here it is in a single sentence: After you have gone to the Bible and it has yielded sweet and glorious truths, you must take time to think over how to tell others what God has shown you, and how it applies to their lives.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19-21

Tags: Bible, Spirit, Preaching, effective preaching, e, preaching, bible  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Without Cabin Pressure

By Ron Forseth on Aug 10, 2023

Preaching is an opportunity to creatively illustrate the urgency of the gospel and to challenge believers to watch for those people God brings into their lives to tell them about Christ—or at least to invite them to church to hear it where they know their pastor will consistently and clearly share the good news.

Tags: priorities, Evangelism Urgency, preaching Christ, Call to salvation

Listening In A Noisy World

By Steve Smith on Feb 21, 2022

So much talking. So many words. So many meetings. So much information. How can we ever take in what we really need to receive to make sense of our lives, our days and most importantly, one another.

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Leadership Listening, Listening, MINISTRY OF PRESENCE, listening vs hearing

Secrets To Sermons On Giving

By Bob Russell on Jan 8, 2025

Stewardship preaching doesn’t have to repel people. With timing, tone, and practical teaching, pastors can address money biblically and help believers grow in generosity.

Scripture: Mark 10:21

Tags: Faith, Money, Healing, Giving, Stewardship, Power, preaching, Church Leadership, election, Tithing, Labor, Giving General, Christian Giving, church leadership, Preaching, miracles, Funeral, Generosity, Homosexuality, Tithes  (view more)  (view less)

On The Shoulders Of Giants: Sermon Preparation Resources For Pastors

By Matthew Redder on Sep 10, 2025

In this article, we’ll explore how pastors work with others—both living and long gone—to craft sermon content. We’ll reflect on the value of community, the discipline of study, and the humility that comes when we realize that our sermons are enriched by the wisdom of many.

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Commentary, sermon, Pastor, Sermon, preaching, sermonprep, commentary, biblical dictionary, sermoncentral, sermonmaker  (view more)  (view less)

Say Hard Things

By Marshall Segal on Apr 14, 2021

When was the last time someone told you you were wrong? If you can’t remember, you may have reason to be concerned. Sometimes the most loving thing someone can do for us is point out an error or inconsistency in the way we think or live.

Scripture: Matthew 6:16, Romans 12:3, Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 1:6-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 13:7, Galatians 2:11-14, Acts 10:28, Acts 15:11, 2 Chronicles 7:14-19, Matthew 6:18, 1 Peter 1:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Love, Humility, Confrontation, Grace and Truth

Five Things God Never Said

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Jan 1, 2025

Common sayings about God and salvation often distort the gospel. Exposing five popular misconceptions helps believers regain clarity, confidence, and grace in evangelism.

Scripture: Revelation 3:20, John 20:31, Ezekiel 3:18-19, John 6:44, Matthew 10:32-33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Witness, Outreach, Salvation, Gospel, Preaching, preaching, gospel clarity, Gospel Clarity, Misconceptions About God, Assurance Of Salvation, myth, Assurance of Salvation, Bible Influence, Salvation By Faith, evangelism, gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Should I Use Bible Software In My Sermon Prep?

By Jonathan J. Watson on Jul 4, 2023

Is software (and technology in general) a help or a hindrance? Considering I’m typing this on a laptop, and many of you will read it on your smartphones, it’s obvious that technology is an integral part of our lives. But should we use it when preparing sermons? And does it have any additional impact on my life?

Tags: Technology, sermon prep, bible software, Sermon Prep, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)