In Preaching Articles: "Making Disciples"

When Illustrations Become Sermon-Killers (And What To Do About Them)

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 22, 2019

The smart preacher never tells a story that clobbers his sermon and destroys the point he is trying to make.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

10 Tips For Guest Speaking Every Pastor Should Know

By Brandon Hilgemann on Jul 8, 2019

11 tips to help make you a better guest preacher—one they will actually want to invite back.

Scripture: Matthew 17:24-27

Tags: guest, Preaching, invite, Tip, Feedback  (view more)  (view less)

Authentic Preaching: Bringing Yourself Into The Message

By Craig Groeschel on Feb 14, 2025

Craig Groeschel encourages pastors to make sure they don't miss the key ingredient for authenticity in preaching.

Scripture: Psalm 139:1-24

Tags: Preaching, preparation, identity, authentic, Leadership General, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Crafting A Strong Sermon: 10 Checkpoints

By Outreach Inc. on Aug 30, 2024

It's not "10 easy steps" to preaching, but practical help to make sure your work is sound and true.

Scripture: Proverbs 21:31

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Don't Close Your Sermon Like That!

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 31, 2021

"Like meat, a great sermon makes its own gravy." Our job is to serve the whole meal.

Tags: Close

How Does A Sermon Differ From A Self-Help Video?

By Peter Mead on May 16, 2023

When you finish preaching, where is your listeners' final focus? The answer makes all the difference.

Scripture: Matthew 16:18-19

Tags: Preaching, Self, focus, preaching

I Love Tv Shows, But I Don't Build My Sermons On Them

By Jonathan Malm on Feb 17, 2024

By all means we should connect with our listeners, but how we make that connection is a crucial choice.

Scripture: John 8:14-27

Tags: Preaching, permission, Reference, tv show, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

4 Reasons Why Some Preachers Get Better And Others Don't

By Hershael York on Aug 13, 2025

What makes the difference between someone who grows in preaching versus someone who doesn't?

Tags: calling, preaching, Preaching, passion, stagnant, Improve  (view more)  (view less)

7 Ways To Keep From Killing Your Message

By Carey Nieuwhof on Mar 1, 2023

Every week, gifted communicators kill the messages they bring by making at least seven predictable, fixable mistakes.

Tags: Preaching, Feedback, call to action, preaching

How To Say Good-Bye: Preaching Your Last Sermon

By Chris Surber on Nov 10, 2021

People usually listen closely to your first words--and your last. Make them meaningful.

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

Tags: preparation, Goodbye, last sermon, preaching, Preaching, Purpose  (view more)  (view less)

What Are You Doing To Stay Small And Strategic?

By Peter Mead on Aug 1, 2024

We need to make sure that in our preaching ministry we are not drawn into thinking purely in a “bigger is better” model.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Do You Know The 4 Pillars Of Guest Preaching?

By Pete Wilson on Jan 6, 2023

Pete Wilson: "Don’t make controversial statements the church staff is going to have to clean up later."

Tags: Communication, Teaching, Preaching, Church General, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Talk About Money In Church

By Jamie Munson on Jul 30, 2020

"If we are avoiding the subject or trying to make it more palatable, we are doing our congregations a huge disservice."

Scripture: John 4:14

Tags: Money, Preaching

Thanksgiving: Echoing The Grace Of God

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 3, 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)

Church Growth And The Work Of God

By Josh Reich on Oct 6, 2023

We know that God is the one who makes a church grow, that it isn’t on us. This is both a comfort and a problem.

Tags: communication, Communication, vision, Discipleship, Church Growth  (view more)  (view less)