In Preaching Articles: "Ministry"

Lessons From The Broken Road

By Jon Cyrus on Aug 12, 2022

The voice was calm but the words came like an avalanche, throwing me into a state of shock and despair. My oldest daughter was dead.

Tags: Service, Love, Addiction, Grief, MINISTRY OF PRESENCE  (view more)  (view less)

When Church Members Insist On Their Rights.

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 24, 2022

“Consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself lest you also grow weary and lose heart,” (Hebrews 12:3).

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-44, Matthew 26:53, Hebrews 12:3, 1 Corinthians 6:7, Psalm 103:14  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility, conflict, Pastoral Ministry, Example of Christ

10 Preaching Questions With Ray Ortlund Jr.

By Colin Adams on Feb 22, 2025

Ray Ortlund reflects on preaching’s centrality, the weight of the pulpit, and the spiritual realities that shape a faithful, believable, Christ-exalting ministry.

Scripture: Romans 10:14

Tags: Homiletics

Piper: 8 Guidelines For Tough Leadership Decisions

By John Piper on Mar 28, 2025

Major ministry decisions require prayer, Scripture, deep thinking, and careful writing if leaders are to act wisely and in unity for the sake of the mission.

Scripture: Psalm 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8, James 1:5, Proverbs 16:3, Acts 6:1-6  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Biblical Leadership

10 Sacred Cows That Need To Be Tipped

By Jared Moore on Sep 7, 2024

From entertainment-driven sermons to numbers-obsessed ministry, this article challenges common church practices that subtly undermine biblical faithfulness.

Scripture: John 21:20-22, Matthew 28:18-20, John 4:23-24, 1 Corinthians 1:21, Galatians 1:10  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Faithfulness, Method, church leadership, preaching, Church Leadership, Preaching Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

What You’ll Never Hear About Preaching In Seminary

By Mark A. Howell on Sep 24, 2024

Ten pastoral reminders on suffering, study, pride, family, and faithfulness to help ministers endure and honor Christ in long-term ministry.

Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-17, 1 Timothy 4:6-8, Psalm 19:7, Hebrews 4:13, 1 Timothy 3:4-5  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, Spiritual Discipline, preaching

Before You Quit: A Word To Weary Pastors

By Leslie Holmes on Sep 26, 2024

Astounding: 50 percent of pastors serving American congregations are so discouraged in ministry that they would quit if they could afford to do so.

Scripture: Matthew 5:11-12, 1 Kings 18:17, Romans 11:2-5, Psalm 24:3-5, 2 Corinthians 12:9  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Perseverance, Preaching, quit, preaching

Why Pastors Should Prepare Sermons Two Weeks In Advance

By Bob Hostetler on Sep 5, 2025

Preparing sermons weeks in advance can strengthen ministry, increase creativity, and reduce last-minute stress for pastors and church teams.

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22, 2 Timothy 4:2, Proverbs 21:5, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Colossians 3:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Preaching, advance, preaching, Preaching Church

How To Land Speaking Engagements

By Ben Arment on Feb 5, 2026

Ben Arment suggests eight practical steps that could expand your ministry beyond the pulpit. Why not give them a try?

Tags: Preaching, preaching

A Life Well Lived

By Lance Witt on Sep 19, 2023

No matter what has happened in the past or what your ministry situation is today, you can have a rich, meaningful life.

Scripture: Matthew 25:21

Tags: vision, gratitude, Legacy, Godly Legacy

4 Weapons Of Mass Distraction In A Leader’s Life

By Charles Stone on Nov 13, 2023

Ask yourself which of these four weapons of mass distraction divert you the most from leading at your best.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Tags: leadership, focus, distractions, pastoral leadership, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Effective Leadership, Leading Others Well, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

4 Spiritual Disciplines Pastors Often Neglect

By Charles Stone on Nov 16, 2023

What spiritual disciplines might you be neglecting?

Tags: leadership, Submission, confession, Solitude, Christian Disciplines, pastoral leadership, Spiritual Discipline, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Handling A Hurricane… Part 1

By Lance Witt on Nov 10, 2023

It is going to happen. Take it to the bank. You can count on it. Someone on your team or in your organization will have a disastrous moral failure. So how do your prepare?

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:12

Tags: leadership, conflict management, Pastoral Ministry, disasters, church ministry, Leadership Failure, Moral failure, Church Crisis, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Word Nobody Likes… Part 2

By Lance Witt on Dec 5, 2023

One of the reasons the word accountability gets a bad rap is because of the way some people have carried out accountability. Holding people accountable is not using your position as a club to embarrass, humiliate, mistreat, belittle or shame people. Our accountability of people should make those on our team better not bitter.

Scripture: Daniel 6:1

Tags: Humility, leadership, relationships, Accountability, Performance, Feedback, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, Empowering Others, Effective Leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Pastor And Prophet

By Lance Witt on May 11, 2024

"When it comes to our preaching, we live in the constant tension between pastor and prophet. On one hand, as pastors we want to encourage and care for the sheep. So, in our preaching we want to be uplifting and hopeful. On the other hand, as prophets we must sometimes say the hard things that the sheep don’t want to hear."

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:30-31, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Galatians 1:10

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Pride, People pleasing, pastoral leadership, selfish ambition, Pastoral Ministry, Pulpit Ministry, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)