In Preaching Articles: "Ministry Life"

Keep Learning To Lead: Five Practical Lessons

By Gavin Ortlund on Apr 29, 2022

Leadership is hard. I rank it up there with pain, parenting, and preaching as one of those things in life that we never fully master, but only hope to keep learning over a lifetime.

Scripture: John 13:15-16, John 16:12

Tags: Teamwork, Leadership General, servant leadership, Jesus' leadership

The Power Of Testimony

By Peter Mead on Nov 19, 2022

"Hearing how God has worked in a life can be very powerful. Having someone “give their testimony” can also backfire. Here are a few of the problems that can create the tension."

Tags: Leadership, Our Testimony, Sharing My Testimony, Personal Testimony, christian testimony, church leadership, Power Of Testimony, leadership, Church leaders  (view more)  (view less)

25 Easter Follow-Up Sermon And Worship Ideas

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 10, 2023

One of the best ways to follow up with your Easter guests, as well as to encourage your church members, is by preaching about living out the new life we have in Christ.

Tags: after easter, preaching, Worship, Preaching, sermon series  (view more)  (view less)

10 Preaching Questions With Ray Ortlund Jr.

By Colin Adams on Feb 22, 2025

"Early in my ministry, I needed twenty-plus hours to prepare. By now, the disciplines are more streamlined. I average perhaps ten hours or so," says Ortlund.

Scripture: Romans 10:14

Tags: Preaching, preaching

3 Problems With Being Too Nice As A Leader

By Ron Edmondson on Jun 15, 2020

Are you too nice as a leader? Maybe it's time to put away the "nice hat," at least temporarily, to address the issues and problems impacting your ministry or leadership team.

Tags: leadership, Preaching, Leadership General, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

11 Ways To Make Christmas Your Best Outreach Of The Year

By Carey Nieuwhof on Dec 1, 2019

You may think it’s far too early to start thinking about Christmas, but think again. Whenever I’ve shared these ideas about Christmas, people say “Hey, I wish you’d talked about this earlier.” So we are.

Tags: Christmas, Outreach, Holidays, leadership, invite, pastoral leadership, Christmas Evangelism, church ministry, church leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways To Boost Your Preaching Creativity

By Brandon Kelley on Jul 4, 2022

Do you want more people to walk away from the church gathering and actually remember the big idea from your sermon? Of course you do. Who wouldn’t?

Scripture: John 3:36, Matthew 15:21

Tags: Sermon Help, Teaching Prep, preaching, Preaching, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, poor preaching, Effective Teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Pulpit Humour: Five Pointers

By Peter Mead on Jul 23, 2022

5 Tips on how to avoid landmines when using humor in the pulpit.

Tags: Humility in Teaching, e, preaching, teaching, Teaching, Preaching, humor, Pastoral Ministry, Communication skills, Pulpit Helps  (view more)  (view less)

5 Mistakes Most Preachers Make

By Carey Nieuwhof on Aug 2, 2022

"So maybe you’re a preacher, or you listen to preachers (or stopped listening to preachers). Almost everyone has a perspective on what makes or doesn’t make for a great sermon."

Tags: preaching, teaching, Simplicity, effective, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, preaching Christ, Effective Teaching, Teaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Much Does A Pastor Share With His Wife In Regard To Confidential Matters?

By Brian Croft on Nov 10, 2022

Pastors, we must lead our wives well to capture a fruitful balance.

Tags: leadership, Pastors, lead, Godly Wisdom, pastoral leadership, church ministry, pastor's wife, good leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

8 Signs You May Be An Anxious Leader

By Charles Stone on Jun 27, 2024

These seven signs might indicate that your leadership is being negatively affected by how you handle your anxiety.

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Leadership, anxiety, Stress, Anxiety, pastoral leadership, worry and anxiety, Scripture Memory, Ministry Leadership, stress, leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Double-Edged Sword Of Ambition

By Lance Witt on Jul 10, 2024

Ambition is a blessing and a curse. When it is God-directed and Spirit-managed, it can bear tremendous fruit. But when it is hijacked by self and ego, it can leave a wake of destruction in its path.

Tags: entering God's rest, ministry vision, Faithfulness, motivation, Ambition, Rest in Christ, pastoral leadership, personal holiness  (view more)  (view less)

Preachers, Find Your Voice

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 20, 2021

In the days of the church, a major way in which God’s word is revealed to his people is through the regular, ordinary, week-in, week-out ministry of local church pastor-preachers.

Tags: voice, Pastoral, preach, preaching, New, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Is Jesus An Impossible Mentor?

By Ray Hollenbach on Sep 30, 2020

Do you preach Jesus as a role model? It's impossible to be like Jesus, isn't it? He was God-come-to-earth and his life sets the bar impossibly high for any of us.

Scripture: Matthew 16:24

Tags: Preaching, Submission, Accountability, honour, Mentor, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways To Stay Motivated While Preaching

By Lance Witt on Sep 19, 2019

Every pastor knows what it is to preach a sermon when your heart isn't in it and your life isn't living it. Here are three ways to stay motivated and preaching from a healthy heart.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23

Tags: Eternity, Heart, sermon prep, preaching the gospel, Sermon Prep, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)