In Preaching Articles: "Ministry Challenges"

Your Struggling Church Can Turn Around Today – But Greatness Takes Time

By Karl Vaters on Aug 23, 2023

If you’re pastoring a church that has or is turning around, here's some great news - and possibly your greatest challenge.

Scripture: Revelation 21:5

Tags: leadership, renewal, patience, Church Health, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

What Your Gospel Message Reveals About Your View Of The Gospel

By Ray Hollenbach on Sep 6, 2025

When we preach we plant seeds, but what will grow from the seeds we plant?

Tags: Ministry, Preaching, conflict, redemption, gospel message, ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Things That Are Not A Badge Of Honor In Leadership

By Carey Nieuwhof on Oct 31, 2023

There are some things I wore as badges of honor as a young leader I no longer wear as badges of honor today. What breaks my heart is I see many leaders falling into the same patterns I did.

Tags: Ministry, leadership, pastoral leadership, avoiding burnout, Leadership, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

What You Absolutely Need To Let Your Guest Preacher Know

By Rev. Stuart Strachan Jr. on Sep 18, 2024

What are the most important things you need to let your guest preacher know before you head out of town?

Tags: Ministry, Preaching, practical advice, guest preaching, ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

A Weekly Rhythm For Sermon Prep When You’re Bi-Vocational

By Todd Hiestand on May 18, 2020

A bi-vocational pastor can’t spend thirty hours a week on a sermon. Here’s a realistic weekly rhythm that keeps you rooted in Scripture while living normal life.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15, Colossians 3:16, Luke 24:32, James 1:22, Acts 6:4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Bi Vocational Ministry

The Dumbest Thing I Ever Did As A Pastor

By Charles Stone on Oct 18, 2024

What's the dumbest mistake you've every made as a pastor?

Tags: mistakes, Pastoral Ministry

10 Last Minute Preaching Tips

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 27, 2020

Pastoral wisdom reminds us that preaching is personal, formational, and inseparably tied to humility, truth, and the living Christ. These quotes challenge and sharpen us.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2

Tags: Preaching, spiritual formation, preaching, Spiritual Formation

Being A Pastor: Blessing Or Burden? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Apr 29, 2024

How do you not let the burden of ministry not rob you of the blessing of ministry?

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:1-3, Exodus 28:29, Philippians 1:7

Tags: Humility, Stewardship, Shepherd, Organize, Jesus' church  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Preachers Never Say

By Peter Mead on May 7, 2024

Preachers speak, but we don’t talk about everything. If you are a preacher you may read this series and find some encouragement that you are not alone. If you know a preacher you may read this and find some understanding that you did not have before.

Tags: stress, Stress, Overwhelmed, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, expectations, church leadership, Ministry Pressure  (view more)  (view less)

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

By Michael Catt on Sep 9, 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)

When Pastors Misplace Their Identity: 10 Probing Questions

By Charles Stone on Sep 19, 2022

“No one is more influential in your life than you are, because no one talks to you more than you do.” ––Paul Tripp

Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:1

Tags: Ministry, identity, Identity in Christ, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, Right Priorities, self assement, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Getting Out Of The Sermon Prep Rut

By Matt Brough on Nov 16, 2024

One of the challenges for preachers who have been preaching for some time is that it is much easier to coast, to do less preparation and to simply rely on your experience.

Tags: Preaching Rut, Sermon Prep, preaching, Sermon prep, Preaching, problem, sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

Preacher: Know The "Other Side" Well

By Joe Hoagland on Jul 20, 2023

Pretty much everything you preach on has at least one challenge to it, not even just from culture but also from within Christian theology.

Tags: Communication, Preaching, Culture, Theology, communication, preaching, culture  (view more)  (view less)

Those Frustrating Times With Church Members

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 14, 2023

"Any pastor can tell you about it. Even when you do your best to serve God by ministering to His people, some church members are not going to forgive you. You didn’t do it their way, weren’t there when they called, didn’t jump at their bark." So how do you handle these kinds of situations?

Tags: conflict, pastoral leadership, church membership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, ministry struggles, Difficult People, Love like Christ  (view more)  (view less)

3 Indispensable Preaching Truths

By Tim Spivey on Feb 21, 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)