In Preaching Articles: "Pastoral Character"

How Your Calendar Is Killing You (And What To Do About It)

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jul 1, 2024

Here’s the sad truth: when your calendar is out of control, so are you. And so is your life.

Tags: Schedule, Busyness, Time Management, productivity, Personal Life, Balanced Life, Workplace Balance, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

You Can’t Force Teamwork

By Lance Witt on Jul 5, 2024

"When your car is aligned, it runs more efficiently, creates less wear and tear, and operates more smoothly. The same is true in creating alignment and teamwork within our ministries. It takes intentionality; you never drift into alignment. People with skill know how to get down inside the organization and align its systems and structures to increase effectiveness, minimize wasted effort, and achieve greater health."

Tags: Communication, leadership, strategy, Teamwork, Alignment, pastoral leadership, servant leadership, Effective Teams, Leadership, communication  (view more)  (view less)

Slaves In Your Church's Backyard

By David Batstone on Dec 14, 2022

Activist David Batstone urges pastors to focus ministry against the terrible prevalence of human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world.

Tags: Culture, Slavery, Justice, traffic, injustice, culture  (view more)  (view less)

4 Reasons Why I Preach

By Ken Collins on Jul 27, 2020

Have you ever taken the time to define the "why" of your weekly task? Here's one list from a veteran pastor.

Tags: Preaching, motivation, goals, education, Leadership General  (view more)  (view less)

Preacher To Preacher: Three Vital Questions Before You Quit The Ministry

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.

Tags: Ministry, Preaching, quit, ministry, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Why Your Congregation Is Your Second Text

By Mike Glenn on Oct 27, 2020

Pastor Mike Glenn suggests every sermon requires us to exegete our audience as well as the Biblical text. Here's why.

Tags: Preaching, Congregation, role, second text

Last-Minute Messages: How To Craft A Short Devotional With No Notice

By Rob O'lynn on Sep 7, 2021

"Hey, Pastor, could you say a few words..." Use this strategy to deliver short, meaningful talks with little or no prep time.

Scripture: Luke 19:1-19

Tags: Preaching, picture, passage, point

People Have Five Senses: Why Not Preach To All Of Them?

By Bob Hostetler on Oct 17, 2019

One pastor's list of how he has engaged all the senses through his preaching. Have you ever tried?

Tags: Preaching, sight, Touch, Five Senses, Smell, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Long Should I Preach

By Brian Croft on Aug 22, 2023

The answer to this question largely depends on the kind of pastor you are, the quality of preacher you are, and the kind of congregation you serve.

Tags: Preaching, sermon prep, good sermon, poor preaching, Sermon Prep, preaching, Sermon prep  (view more)  (view less)

5 Things God Never Said

By Dr. Larry Moyer on Jan 1, 2025

Larry Moyer advises pastors to beware of five misconceptions of God’s Word that can adversely affect our outreach to non-Christians.

Scripture: Revelation 3:20, John 20:31, Ezekiel 3:18-19, John 6:44, Matthew 10:32-33  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Evangelism, Witness, Outreach, Salvation, Gospel, Preaching, myth, Bible Influence, Evangelism The Lost, evangelism, gospel, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Eight Ideas For Reaping The Fruit Of Your Vacation Bible School

By Hal Seed on Jul 8, 2024

Hal Seed helps pastors and church leaders measure the success of their children’s ministry outreach events and retain unchurched families as a result.

Tags: Church, Children, Outreach, family, VBS, Evangelism How To, church  (view more)  (view less)

Urban Preaching Myths In The Pulpit

By Trevin Wax on Feb 6, 2025

Trevin Wax uncovers seven often used urban preaching myths and encourages pastors to verify sources, illustrations, and stories before preaching.

Scripture: Mark 10:25

Tags: Preaching, false teaching, urban legend, preaching

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

Tags:

Preacher’s Tip: If You Can Keep From Preaching, Do It

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 6, 2020

Pastor H.B. Charles, Jr. shares a personal story about a powerful preaching insight he received from his father.

Tags: Preaching, advice, insight, Improve

Go Ahead: Preach The Same Sermon Twice

By Joe Mckeever on Jun 10, 2021

"As a young pastor, I couldn't repeat a sermon any more than I could eat yesterday's breakfast again."

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:12-13

Tags: Preaching, repeat, twice, preaching