In Preaching Articles: "Ministry Practice"

Why Was I So Hard On That Church I Visited?

By Karl Vaters on Jul 2, 2022

How might a newcomer view your church? What barriers may they face? What obstacles could be unintentionally in the way of them connecting and finding a place to belong?

Tags: Leadership, leadership, Visitors, church ministry, Welcoming Others  (view more)  (view less)

How To Plan A Preaching Calendar

By Josh Reich on Apr 15, 2025

There's too much at stake to wing it week to week. Here are four practical suggestions to help structure your months ahead.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

If You're Going To Do Church That Way, Do It Well

By Karl Vaters on Nov 30, 2023

Churches don’t become great by adding more programs. They get better at the ones they already have.

Tags: liturgy, Denomination, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, church leadership, People Over Programs, Form and Substance, Do What's right, e  (view more)  (view less)

The Power Of Vivid Description

By Peter Mead on Jul 22, 2024

Peter Mead: "I’m convinced that one of the key ingredients for effective preaching is effective and vivid description. Practice it. Learn it."

Scripture: Proverbs 22:6

Tags: Power, Preaching, illustration, descriptions, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How To Increase The Shelf Life Of Your Sermons

By SermonCentral .com on Jun 18, 2020

Your sermons can reach others beyond your church and become useful resources for years to come by using a few of these practical tips.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Preaching For Deep Change: Are You Sharing Information Or Changing Lives?

By Ed Stetzer on Jun 24, 2025

Does your preaching give people everything they need to embrace change? Ed Stetzer offers practical suggestions for moving people forward.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:6-9

Tags: preaching, Preaching, Transformation, Forward, deep change  (view more)  (view less)

8 Lame Excuses Church Leaders Make

By Carey Nieuwhof on Mar 28, 2023

One of the best practices you can develop as a leader is to identify your excuses and eliminate them. Start thinking and talking a different game.

Tags: leadership, Preaching, church culture, Explanation, Rules, Leadership, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Exhortation Alone Doesn’t Change Lives In Preaching

By Bob Hostetler on Jul 22, 2021

Many sermons emphasize exhortation, but lasting transformation requires more. Effective preaching connects with listeners, inspires the heart, and provides practical application.

Tags: Preaching, identification, inspiration, application, exhortation, preaching, Application  (view more)  (view less)

10 Secrets Many Senior Pastors Keep

By Ron Edmondson on Aug 15, 2024

Are you honest enough to agree with any of these secrets pastors keep in the ministry?

Scripture: James 5:17

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Shepherd God’s Flock: Equipping God’s People

By Chris Pascarella on Nov 7, 2022

"According to Scripture, pastors are called to equip the flock to do the work of ministry!"

Scripture: Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-12

Tags: Equipping Disciples, Equipping The Body, church leadership, Called to serve, be the church, Church Body of Christ, pastoral leadership, equipped for service  (view more)  (view less)

Six Stages Of A Dying Church

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 22, 2022

It’s not a pleasant topic. But if we don’t talk about dying churches, we will act like there are no problems.

Tags: e, Leadership, church attendance, Pastoral Ministry, Dying Church, church ministry, revitalization, Correcting Mistakes, Facing Problems, leadership, Church Attendance  (view more)  (view less)

We Followed The Steps- Where's The Church Growth

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 21, 2022

There are no guaranteed steps to church growth. Because the church is people. And people don’t come with guarantees.

Tags: Church Growth, pastoral leadership, success in ministry, sexual faithfulness

Epidemic: Another Pastor Burned Out And Quit Last Sunday

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 22, 2021

It never gets easier. No matter how many times you hear about it. And we're hearing about it a lot more lately. In epidemic numbers.

Tags: Pastoral Character, success in ministry, avoiding burnout, praying for pastors

3 Shifts Growing Churches Make To Welcome The Lost

By Brandon Kelley on Aug 11, 2023

Most churches genuinely want to welcome and reach those who are far from God. Sometimes the reason they don’t is because they get in their own way.

Tags: Genuine Faith, Evangelism The Lost, authentic ministry, relating to the lost

Listening In A Noisy World

By Steve Smith on Feb 21, 2022

So much talking. So many words. So many meetings. So much information. How can we ever take in what we really need to receive to make sense of our lives, our days and most importantly, one another.

Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Tags: Leadership Listening, Listening, MINISTRY OF PRESENCE, listening vs hearing