In Preaching Articles: "Make Sense"

Only In A Small Church: Sometimes You Gotta Kill Cockroaches

By Karl Vaters on May 18, 2022

Principles that make sense in a big church don't always work in a smaller one.

Tags: leadership, Perspective, Church family, Small Church, perspective, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Thanksgiving: Echoing The Grace Of God

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 2, 2025

The Christian life, from the beginning to end, is a life of extraordinary grace. Saying "thank you" just makes sense.

Tags: Grace, Trust, Preaching, nullify grace, grace, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

15 Good-Sense Preaching Tips

By Gracia Grindal on Jan 18, 2024

Faithful preaching requires humility, clarity, restraint, and gospel focus. These fifteen practical dos and don’ts offer wisdom for preaching that serves hearers well.

Scripture: John 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Timothy 4:2, Romans 10:14-17, Galatians 1:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, gospel proclamation, preaching, Gospel Proclamation

Does Your Preaching Reach All The Senses?

By Bob Hostetler on Aug 4, 2021

Break free from the prison of the auditory. You can reach all five senses.

Scripture: Luke 12:1-3

Tags: Preaching, teach, Five Senses, auditory

10 Ways To Overcome A Sense Of Christmas Loss

By Ron Edmondson on Dec 8, 2025

Several years ago, to prepare for a Christmas message, I consulted with two professional Christian counselors in our church.

Tags: Christmas, Grief, Worship General

Listening In A Noisy World

By Steve Smith on Feb 20, 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

Does Street Evangelism Really Work?

By Greg Stier on Jan 27, 2025

Street evangelism can spark genuine conversions yet fail at discipleship. This piece calls for a relational and relentless approach that multiplies disciples, not just decisions.

Tags: Salvation, making disciples, Making Disciples, Gospel Conversations

No One Follows Their Heart

By Jon Bloom on Oct 7, 2022

"No one actually follows their heart. I know that sounds odd, given the prevalence of our cultural creed to "follow your heart." But if we think carefully about what the "heart" really is and how it functions, we will see that this creed doesn’t make sense, and why it ends up confusing and misleading people."

Scripture: Matthew 13:44, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:21, Ephesians 1:18, Hebrews 12:2, Matthew 22:37-39, Psalm 97:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sin, Deceitful, Walking by Faith, fixing eyes on Jesus, Follow Your Heart  (view more)  (view less)

Does Our Culture Make Kids Feel Ashamed Of Their Faith?

By Focus On The Family on Sep 8, 2022

As Christians, we all know how important it is to equip kids with a sense of joy in reading God’s Word and the confidence to freely express their faith in Jesus. But that goal is becoming more difficult in today’s culture.

Tags: Apologetics The Bible, Training children, Children's Faith

6 Reasons Pastors And Leaders Need Adequate Sleep

By Charles Stone on Jun 19, 2023

For many years scientists and philosophers have pondered why we need sleep besides to not be sleepy. Of course we all intuitively know how important sleep is to our bodies, relationships, and walk with God. But as neuroscientists are learning more about the brain, they are discovering many positive brain benefits from sleep. This list below includes some of those benefits.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:12

Tags: sleep, Walk with God, decison making, paying attention

7 Keys To Increasing Your Church's Footprint

By Jim Morgan on Dec 21, 2021

Jesus modeled discipleship and community engagement as an example for His Church to follow. He felt a small number of highly effective disciples would cover much more ground than a slew of casual followers.

Tags: Outreach, Missional, Make Disciples, local church purpose

You Can Make A Difference As We Make A Difference Together

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 8, 2021

Two thousand years ago, Jesus gathered some ordinary misfits into a little community called the church. He trained them as his disciples, died for their sins, rose again and breathed life into them by sending his Holy Spirit.

Tags: Outreach, Preaching, Difference, preaching

What Makes A Preacher

By Ben Mandrell on Jul 22, 2024

What makes a faithful preacher? Ben Mandrell offers a helpful list of six examples to encourage preachers to stay true to their calling.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5

Tags: Preaching, training, preaching

Preaching That Makes Disciples: Three Texts You Must Preach

By Ray Hollenbach on Sep 13, 2022

For anyone who longs to preach about something more than a fire-insurance relationship with Jesus, these three passages will help you make disciples.

Scripture: Galatians 3:1-15

Tags: Preaching, yoke, Make Disciples, conformed, his image, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What Makes A Sermon Good?

By Duane K Kelderman on Aug 1, 2024

Great sermons are clear, biblical, and transformative. They communicate well, faithfully proclaim Scripture, and lead listeners toward deeper obedience and faith.

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-10, 1 Chronicles 1:1

Tags: Worship