In Preaching Articles: "Living Word"

8 Ways To Hook Your Congregation Into Your Message

By SermonCentral .com on May 12, 2020

Your sermon text is central, but it doesn’t always need to come first. Strong hooks help listeners connect their lives to Scripture before exposition begins.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:8, Luke 24:27, Ecclesiastes 12:10

Tags: Bird, Preaching, Anxiety, Field, flowers, preaching, anxiety  (view more)  (view less)

Powerful Preaching Means Transformation, Not Information

By James Scott on Jul 13, 2020

Being informed by Scripture can still leave lives unchanged. Biblical Christianity calls for Christ to be formed within us, producing real transformation, not mere knowledge.

Scripture: Galatians 4:19, Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 1:27, James 1:22-25  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Transformation, preaching, Pastoral Theology

Preaching On Hot Topics? 9 Outstanding Helps

By Lane Sebring on Mar 18, 2023

You want to help your people see how biblical truth intersects with every aspect of their lives. But the more controversial the topic the more important it is to handle it with care.

Scripture: Genesis 2:16-25

Tags: Hot Topics, Preaching, religious objections, thorough, cultural perspective, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Is Your Preaching God-Centered?

By Bernie Van Eyk on Sep 11, 2024

Our preaching is a reflection of our theology. If the Word is theocentric (God-centered), how can our preaching be anything other than theocentric?

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:4

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Pastoring From A Place Of Gratitude

By Lance Witt on May 29, 2024

Does gratitude flavor your life? Are the words that flow from your lips and the thoughts that race through your mind marked by gratitude?

Scripture: Psalm 118:24, Colossians 2:7

Tags: leadership, Thankfulness, gratitude, Grumbling, Ingratitude, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, Evaluate attitude, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

10 Things Every New Believer Should Know

By Brian Mavis on Mar 7, 2025

New believers thrive when they learn God’s love, grace, Scripture, prayer, community, and Christ centered living early. These ten lessons safeguard a healthy start.

Scripture: Matthew 6:33, James 4:10, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:16, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Discipleship, spiritual formation, Spiritual Formation

What Are The Internal Scripts Driving You? Part 2

By Lance Witt on Oct 10, 2023

For many Christians shame isn’t about a sordid past or dark skeletons in our closet. We live with a low-grade nagging feeling that we are never “enough”.

Tags: Shame, beloved, Performance, Identity in Christ

John Piper: Bible-Oriented Preaching Or Entertainment?

By John Piper on Aug 24, 2024

True preaching is bound to Scripture, not personality. A Bible-tethered preacher speaks with God’s authority, while entertainment preaching drifts from the Word.

Scripture: John 17:20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 66:2

Tags: Scripture, Entertainment, john calvin, John Calvin

How John Piper Learned To Preach

By Outreach Inc. on Apr 9, 2025

John Piper reflects on how God shapes preachers not through polish or performance, but through Scripture, suffering, and deep love for God’s Word.

Scripture: Galatians 1:15-16, Romans 10:14-17, 2 Corinthians 4:5-7, Jeremiah 20:9

Tags: obedience, Preaching, obey, Expository Preaching, preaching, expository preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Reasons I Began Using A Sermon Manuscript

By Jeff Medders on Aug 20, 2020

"I used to always enter the pulpit with outline in hand; but no longer. I now preach from a full manuscript — 2,500 words or so."

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Mark 6:1-8

Tags: Preaching, manuscript, Outline

7 Helps Every Wedding Sermon Should Contain

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 30, 2025

"What words of lasting value and incredible help can you utter during the ceremony that will make a difference down the road a year or two or ten?"

Scripture: Psalm 66:1-20

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Bold Preaching: The Surprising Connection Between Amos And Us

By Nathan Aaseng on Jan 14, 2026

This article challenges preachers to reflect on whether they resemble Amos or the court prophets, and urges courage in proclaiming hard truths from God’s Word.

Tags: Preaching, Prophetic Preaching, preaching, Church and Culture, Courage in Ministry, Preaching Challenges  (view more)  (view less)

Pastors: The Ceo Has To Go

By Derek Vreeland on Aug 24, 2023

I feel the impulse to forsake the pastoral vocation of word and sacrament, prayer and disciple-making, in favor of becoming a CEO who gets things done.

Tags: liturgy, Theology, church and business, consumerism

What Does It Mean To Be A Prophetic Church

By Glenn Packiam on Oct 4, 2023

What does it mean to be prophetic? The word is thrown around a lot, but depending on which circles you run in, it means something quite different.

Tags: Church, prophecy, prophetic, Activism, church  (view more)  (view less)

Why The Clarity Of Scripture Deserves More Attention

By Peter Mead on Aug 7, 2021

The church rightly affirms the authority of Scripture but often neglects its clarity. Preaching should strengthen confidence in God’s Word, not undermine it.

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-2:1, Psalm 19:7, Deuteronomy 30:11-14, Nehemiah 8:8, 2 Timothy 3:15-17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Pastoral Ministry, preaching