In Preaching Articles: "Ministry Strategy"

The Top Ten Sources Of Discouragement For Pastors

By Thom Rainer on May 20, 2024

“Is this valley I am going through normal for pastors?”

Tags: Pastoral Ministry, church leadership, criticism, Criticism, Discouragement, church conflict, pastoral leadership, Financial Management, family dynamics  (view more)  (view less)

Gospel-Centered Sermons Actually Work

By Jeff Medders on Nov 16, 2022

"I want to encourage every pastor reading this to keep preaching the gospel. Week in. Week out. Keep exalting, heralding, and lifting up our crucified Savior, risen from the dead, reigning in Heaven, saving all who will look to him and believe."

Scripture: Romans 16:25, Colossians 1:28, 1 Corinthians 2:2

Tags: preaching Christ, power of the gospel, gospel, preaching, Gospel, Preaching, teach, pastoral leadership, Entrust with Gospel, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

Don't Put The Brakes On Summer Groups

By John Gilman Ii on Jun 21, 2024

It’s tempting to waive the white flag, to throw your hands up in surrender, to the summer slump. Many churches simply resign their efforts and re-appropriate them in the fall. First on the chopping block of suspended ministries are groups.

Tags: relationships, Volunteer, creative, Church Small Groups

7 Preacher Landmines

By Peter Mead on Mar 5, 2021

In the path of the preacher there are many landmines – hidden explosives that can do untold damage to your ministry. Whether you’ve been preaching for a couple of years or for half a century, why not take some time to prayerfully work through this list?

Tags: Preaching, pastor, Pastor

Preaching Without A Net: Delivering Sermons Without Notes

By Bruce Salmon on Mar 3, 2025

A pastor describes how a forgotten outline pushed him onto the “high wire” of preaching without notes and how that risk opened new freedom, focus, and trust in God.

Tags: Church, Preaching, worry, manuscript, Homiletics, Pastoral Ministry, Expository Preaching, Sermon Delivery, Worry, preaching, church, expository preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Is Consecutive Expository Preaching Really The Best Method?

By Dr. Iain Murray on Jan 17, 2025

This piece questions the modern assumption that consecutive “expository preaching” is the superior method and argues instead for gifted, Spirit-filled preaching in varied forms.

Scripture: Daniel 6:16

Tags: Exposition, Preaching, BIBLE STUDY, Homiletics, Bible Study, Pastoral Ministry, bible study, preaching, Biblical Interpretation, Sermon Method  (view more)  (view less)

Five Steps To Respond To A Hurtful And Hateful Email

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 7, 2022

“You have no business being the pastor of our church. All you are interested in is getting your own way and changing all the good things we have going. People are saying you should be fired. I agree with them.”

Scripture: Proverbs 15:1

Tags: church ministry, Difficult People, Facing Controversy, criticism, Leadership, Perseverance, leadership, conflict, Criticism, loving people, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Relational Leadership Part 2

By Lance Witt on Nov 8, 2023

Jesus cares just as much about how we treat people along the path to fulfilling our vision as he does if we accomplish the vision.

Tags: vision, leadership, relationships, Transformational, e, Leadership, honoring Christ, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, mission, Others First, Transactional  (view more)  (view less)

Relational Leadership Part 1

By Lance Witt on Nov 6, 2023

What is the key to relational leadership?

Scripture: Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 1:22, Romans 12:10, 1 John 4:21, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14, Ephesians 5:2, Hebrews 10:24, Colossians 3:14, 1 John 3:14, John 13:34-35, Matthew 22:37-39  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: leadership, Transformational, Leading Like Christ, Leadership, relationships, Ministry Work, pastoral leadership, relational leaders, church leadership, Transactional  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching God’s Word Is Timeless (Find The Timeless Truth)

By Joe Hoagland on Jul 25, 2022

The Bible is wholly relevant to the modern person’s life sometimes it just takes some work for us to figure that out. The idea of making a “timeless truth” central to your sermon is important in communicating God’s Word in a postmodern age.

Tags: teaching, Preaching Help, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching, communication, preaching, Scripture, Communication, Teaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Do This And Improve Your Preaching This Sunday

By Peter Walters on Sep 8, 2022

We have a new family in our church with no church background at all. When I prepare to preach I think of them and go the extra mile to make my message as understandable and relatable as possible.

Tags: Sermon Delivery, communication, preaching, Preaching, audience, Teaching God's Word, Pastoral Ministry, effective preaching, Sermon Help, Communication  (view more)  (view less)

How To Tell If A New Volunteer Is Truly A Leader (Or Simply A Doer)

By Carey Nieuwhof on May 10, 2024

"I recently surveyed 1400 small and mid-sized church pastors to find out what they struggle with most as their church grows. They overwhelmingly identified developing leaders as their top challenge."

Tags: Leadership, Volunteer, church ministry, obstacles to growth, Barriers to Growth, Growing a Church, Leaders vs Doers, leadership, Church Growth  (view more)  (view less)

A Road To Somewhere

By Don Ballard on Jul 25, 2024

How can pastors apply Stephen Covey's principle, 'Begin With the End in Mind', to the area of preaching and teaching the Bible?

Scripture: Romans 10:14-15

Tags: preaching, teaching, Sermon prep, Purpose, goals, Preaching Help, Pastoral Ministry, sermon prep, Sermon Prep, Teaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Sermon Feedback: 6 Questions For Better Preaching

By Peter Mead on Jul 20, 2024

Clear, simple sermon-feedback questions help preachers grow. These six practical prompts reveal clarity, engagement, biblical accuracy, and delivery strengths.

Scripture: Acts 8:25

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, experience, Improvement, evaluation, Homiletics, Communication Skills, WORDS THAT KILL, Pastoral Ministry, Communication skills, improvement, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Top 13 Preaching Mistakes

By Bob Hostetler on Jul 24, 2019

A practical guide outlining 13 common preaching mistakes, with tips to avoid them and deliver sermons that are clear, Christ-centered, and spiritually nourishing.

Tags: Preaching, Homiletics, preaching tips, Pastoral Ministry, Expository Preaching, Sermon Preparation, preaching, expository preaching, sermon preparation, Preaching Tips  (view more)  (view less)