In Preaching Articles: "Maximize Usefulness"

3 Ways To Defeat Leadership Discouragement

By Charles Stone on Dec 11, 2023

Discouragement comes with the territory for ministry leaders. Unmet goals, putting out fires, staff issues, displeasing people, and general tiredness all contribute to discouragement. When it weighs us down, how can we dig out? The life of the prophet Elijah gives us hope.

Tags: Perseverance, leadership, Discouragement, Depression, Elijah's faith, Pastoral Ministry, Elijah's Depression, Fighting for Joy, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways To Make Your Preaching More Practical And Relevant

By Rick Ezell on Jan 31, 2025

Use these methods to practically reach people suffering from real hurts, problems, doubts, fears, and anxieties gnawing at their faith.

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34, Romans 10:4

Tags: Preaching, Culture, Self, Relevance, audience, application, preaching, culture  (view more)  (view less)

4 Reasons Not To Give An Altar Call

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Aug 12, 2024

There is a place for a properly given altar call, but we must maintain a correct understanding of how, when, and where to use one.

Tags: Preaching, altar, Invitation, preaching

Sex, Marriage, And Fairy Tales

By Jefferson Bethke on Dec 16, 2023

This creative spoken-word poetry provides a powerful statement about God's purpose for marriage--to make us holy.

Tags: Marriage, Preaching, preaching

Good Friday: 4 Preaching Points To Remember

By Ray Hollenbach on Apr 6, 2020

We want to embrace the resurrection, but Good Friday is an opportunity to remind your people that Jesus calls us to the Cross, too.

Scripture: Matthew 16:21-25

Tags: Good Friday, Preaching, help, Why Jesus Died, Why Jesus Bled, Why People Lie, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How I Preach From An Ipad

By Jeremy Roberts on Oct 19, 2020

Technology meets preparation. Pastor Jeremy Roberts shows how he uses everyone's favorite toy in the service of preaching.

Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-21, Ephesians 5:1

Tags: Light, Preaching, walk, submit, imitator  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Transformative Sermons

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Oct 16, 2020

Sherman Cox reminds us, "We all have heard preachers with all the skills of great orators, but something is missing."

Scripture: John 10:10

Tags: transform, God, Preaching

Six Essential Skills For Transformational Pastors

By Tod Bolsinger on Jun 9, 2021

There's a gap between our aspired values and our actions. Effective pastors/preachers help us "mind the gap."

Tags: transform, Growth, leadership, Preaching, work, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Os Guinness: Evil Is Real

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 11, 2023

Os Guinness is willing to face what most people would prefer to ignore, and he encourages us to do the same.

Tags: Evil, Preaching, os guinness, preaching

20 Questions Every Preacher Should Ask The Day Before Preaching

By Bob Hostetler on Jan 20, 2020

Bob Hostetler has a penetrating set of questions as part of his sermon prep. Perhaps they could help us all.

Tags: question, Preaching, routine, Checklist, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Randy Alcorn: What It Means To Be A Father

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 13, 2020

"When we consider our Father's sacrifice for us, any sacrifices we can make for our children are small."

Scripture: 1 Kings 2:1-10, 1 Timothy 2:2

Tags: Sacrifice, Dad, Father's Day, Fatherhood, randy alcorn  (view more)  (view less)

Preach The Way The Bible Preaches--Tell Stories!

By Ray Hollenbach on Nov 12, 2024

Those of us who feed God's flock must become God's storytellers. Here's the journey we must take.

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-9, Exodus 17:8-16

Tags: Parable, Preaching, narrative, storytelling, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

10 Ways Preachers Fatigue Their Regular Listeners

By Peter Mead on Jan 29, 2020

They're in front of us every week. Maybe we can craft our preaching with sensitivity to the listeners in mind.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, John 15:1-8, Isaiah 55:1-5

Tags: Preaching

What Happens When We Quit Trusting The Lord?

By Joe Mckeever on Aug 17, 2019

Joe McKeever tells us about the day he sat in on a Sunday school class and made a startling discovery.

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:1-10

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Give Your Sermon Added Power

By Brian Croft on Sep 27, 2019

Brian Croft reminds us the very first ingredient in every powerful sermon. Does your sermon have it?

Tags: Preaching, preaching