In Preaching Articles: "Messy Truth"

6 Messy Truths About Your Church—and 3 Helpful Realities

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 5, 2025

"I was taught never to wrestle with difficult truths in front of the congregation. Give them simple three-point, alliterated answers to life’s problems."

Tags: Preaching, messy truth, efficient, confusing, preaching, bible, Bible  (view more)  (view less)

Fortress For Truth: Martin Luther

By Steven Lawson on Oct 23, 2022

"Luther came to realize that salvation was a gift for the guilty, not a reward for the righteous. Man is not saved by his good works but by trusting the finished work of Christ. Thus, justification by faith alone became the central tenet of the Reformation."

Tags: justification, Reformation, bible truth, Bible Truth, defending the gospel, martin luther, Teaching God's Word, defend the faith, faithful preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching God's Dangerous Truth

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jun 16, 2020

Preaching must resist political birthright-stealers and proclaim the dangerous truth that God has come. Advent calls us to vision, courage, and bold proclamation.

Scripture: Luke 2:10, Matthew 13:17, Matthew 10:7, Revelation 10:10-11, Micah 4:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, preaching, pastoral courage, Pastoral Courage

The Dirty Truth About Honoraria

By John Stackhouse on Jul 15, 2021

Many churches unintentionally undervalue guest speakers by offering token honoraria. Scripture calls believers to honor those who labor in the Word with tangible support.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, Galatians 6:6, Luke 10:7, Numbers 18:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: preaching, Speaker, Speak, Preaching, teach, speaker, honoraria  (view more)  (view less)

3 Indispensable Preaching Truths

By Tim Spivey on Feb 20, 2026

Experience teaches pastors that preaching involves far more than crafting a sermon. Faithful preaching shapes hearts, theology, and the direction of the church.

Scripture: Matthew 13:3-9, Hebrews 4:12, John 6:68, 2 Timothy 4:2, James 1:21  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: preaching, sermon preparation, Ministry, Truth, Preaching, effective, Sermon Preparation, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

The Dirty Truth About Honoraria

By John Stackhouse on Oct 31, 2025

Count up all of those hours: Is that what we really think our preachers are worth?

Scripture: Mark 16:1-20, Colossians 2:1-10

Tags: Preaching, honoraria, Worth, spiritual health, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

One Hard Truth Of Leadership

By Ron Edmondson on Sep 2, 2022

There is one truth about leadership every leader must understand, but is difficult to receive by some leaders. The probability is good you won’t like this truth either.

Tags: leadership, church conflict, fear of man, People pleasing, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, good leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching Is More Than Telling The Truth

By Peter Mead on Mar 18, 2024

Effective preaching is not about clever outlines but about proclaiming Christ, explaining Scripture faithfully, and leading hearers toward understanding and transformation.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Nehemiah 8:8, James 1:22  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Truth, Preaching, memory, Outline, Homiletics, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Shocking Truth About Growing In Jesus

By Ray Hollenbach on Nov 9, 2025

Would you like to be a radical, against-the-gain follower of Jesus? Suggest this radical solution.

Scripture: Acts 11:19-26

Tags: Preaching, preaching

God’s Revealed Truth Is Something We Discover, Not Invent

By Randy Alcorn on Jun 28, 2024

“Truth is truth even if no one believes it; a lie is a lie even if everyone believes it.”

Scripture: John 10:27

Tags: Lies, Jesus the truth, Know the Truth, Biblical truth, study bible, Abide in Christ, guard the truth, Applying Truth  (view more)  (view less)

Is Your Church Telling The Truth About Evangelism?

By Greg Stier on Jan 14, 2025

Many churches claim evangelism is their priority, but few practice it. This article exposes the disconnect and outlines five steps to make evangelism a true, lived mission.

Scripture: Acts 4:31

Tags: Evangelism, Church, Gospel, Honesty, great commission, Church General, Church Leadership, Evangelism Training, Great Commission, Mission Statements, Evangelism How To, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, evangelism, gospel, church  (view more)  (view less)

Get To The Point: Preaching Truth In An Age Of Tolerance

By Michael Catt on Sep 8, 2024

In a culture that prizes vagueness, faithful preaching must speak clearly. Biblical preaching challenges, confronts, and comforts with truth rooted in God’s Word.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:7, Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 4:2, Acts 20:27, James 3:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: church leadership, preaching, culture, Church Leadership, Truth, Preaching, Culture  (view more)  (view less)

Balancing Grace And Truth In Christian Life And Ministry

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 15, 2021

Christians often emphasize either grace or truth, but Jesus embodied both. Healthy ministry, evangelism, and discipleship require holding grace and truth together.

Scripture: 2 Kings 2:8-9, Isaiah 40:1-15, Luke 18:1-8, John 1:14-17, Luke 12:5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: gospel, preaching, Grace, Gospel, Truth, Preaching, Balance, grace  (view more)  (view less)

How To Speak To A Hardened Heart With Truth And Grace

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Jun 10, 2021

Preaching to a hardened heart is one of the hardest tasks in ministry. Scripture shows that prayer, humility, and faithful exposition are the most powerful tools God uses to soften hearts.

Scripture: John 16:8, 2 Timothy 2:24-25, Hebrews 4:12, John 17:20, 1 Corinthians 3:7  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, difficult, audience, spiritual growth, preaching, Spiritual Growth  (view more)  (view less)

Preach The Tone Of The Text To Bring The Truth Of The Text

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Jan 9, 2026

A key way to guard from selling-out the truth during in the pulpit is to preach the tone of the text.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-3

Tags: Biblical Preaching, Expository Sermons, Homiletics, preaching tips, Pastoral Ministry, biblical preaching, Preaching Tips  (view more)  (view less)