In Preaching Articles: "Mysterious Ways"

Framing Thanksgiving

By Mark Looyenga on Nov 14, 2024

Again and again in Scripture, biblical characters experience contentment amidst struggle or difficulty in ways that go beyond just circumstance.

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28, Ruth 1:16-17, Psalm 63:1-8, Philippians 4:11, James 1:2, 1 Peter 1:6, Matthew 26:53, Matthew 27:14, Romans 12:1  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Thanksgiving, Contentment, gratitude, Perspective, perspective  (view more)  (view less)

Why Do The Psalms Cry Out To God For Vengeance?

By Walter Brueggemann on Apr 7, 2023

The Bible doesn't look the other way when it comes to raw human emotion. How should we preach these Psalms?

Tags: Psalms, Preaching, Trial, vengeance, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

John Piper's Journey From Pulpit To Poetry

By SermonCentral .com on May 24, 2023

"I was so moved that the desire to say it again another way kept urging me on. So I wrote this."

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:14, Proverbs 31:10-31

Tags: Faith, Love, Jesus, Healing, Preaching, e, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

You Preach, I'll Doodle

By Thom Turner on Nov 4, 2020

People have different learning styles. But does that mean you have to change the way you preach to reach them all?

Tags: Learning, Psychology, Effectiveness, Versatile

Preaching: God's Gift To Our Personal Growth

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 2, 2019

God has inspired His word in such a way that it shapes us, molds us and forms us as we hear it taught and expounded.

Tags: Gift, Preaching, Personal Growth, boring preaching

Do We Need A broader Definition Of Church Growth?

By Karl Vaters on Oct 13, 2023

Any definition of church growth that doesn’t allow for, even celebrate, churches that contribute in non-numerical ways is incomplete.

Tags: Church Growth, priorities, pastoral leadership, First Things First, Right Values  (view more)  (view less)

Backyard Bbq Evangelism: A New, True Parable Of Outside-The-Church-Walls Ministry

By Karl Vaters on Sep 29, 2022

"Don't force people to do ministry your way. Help them with the ministry they're already passionate about."

Tags: Evangelism, Outreach, Spiritual Gifts, Body of Christ, evangelism, Innovation, evangelism barriers, reaching the lost, evangelism planning, Conversational Evangelism, Unique Gifts  (view more)  (view less)

Pastors, Articulate Your Vision (Again)

By SermonCentral .com on May 21, 2020

In this two-minute video John Piper reminds us that vision often leaks and it's our role to articulate it in fresh new ways.

Tags: vision, leadership, Leadership General, Leadership

4 Audiences You Need To Know When Preaching

By Mark Gomez on Sep 23, 2020

Pastor Mark Gomez shares the way he sees his audience: "Suddenly, there is a much broader audience than we first believed."

Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-18

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Confronting Idols, Making Disciples

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 22, 2023

Chris Wright suggests that the way we do church may actually prop up idolatry in the church. Are there any idols in your church?

Scripture: Matthew 8:1-10

Tags: Idol, Discipleship, Disciples, Confront, chris wright  (view more)  (view less)

Journey In The Dark

By Peter Mead on Jan 14, 2022

God delights to transform lives. There are many ways to depict this journey of transformation, but let’s focus on one example from the Old Testament.

Scripture: Psalm 131:1-3, Psalm 130:1-8

Tags: Psalms, Transformation, transformed life, Christian Maturity

Weaving Gospel Fluency Into Every Sunday Message

By Jeff Vanderstelt on Nov 21, 2022

If we are going to grow people up into Christlikeness in every way, we need to learn how to speak the truths of Jesus Christ into everything.

Scripture: Luke 24:44-45

Tags: preaching Christ, guard the truth, Gospel centered, Teach His Word, church leadership, teaching, Teaching, pastoral leadership, defending the gospel  (view more)  (view less)

Are You Training Lay Preachers? You Should!

By Chris Surber on Jan 24, 2024

When we neglect to develop and maintain active lay ministry in the life of the local church, our churches miss out in at least five ways.

Scripture: Proverbs 17:17

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Forget Seminaries: What Are You Doing To Train The Next Generation Of Preachers?

By Chris Surber on Aug 16, 2025

We have a lot of people genuinely called, sincerely gifted people who struggle to find their way past the gatekeepers in our churches and denominations.

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-5, Mark 5:24-34

Tags: Discipleship, Gift, Seminary, Next Generation

Should We Try To Please Our Listeners? How Much?

By Peter Mead on Sep 18, 2025

If listeners aren't satisfied, it could be a good sign, or it could be a bad sign. In the same way, happy listeners may mean something is wrong.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, please, listener, Feedback, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)