In Preaching Articles: "Pastoral Character"

What Small Groups Do Best...and What They Don't

By Glenn Packiam on Jul 7, 2023

Small groups are a perfect example of how pastors may learn from researchers. At many church conferences, pastors speak confidently of their latest, greatest small group model, sure that it is the new breakthrough in discipleship.

Tags: Outreach, Learning, relationships, Church Small Groups

Sexual Fire Has Its Place: In The Home Hearth

By SermonCentral .com on Feb 14, 2023

No pastor sets out to cheat on their spouse, but it happens all too frequently. Why?

Scripture: Proverbs 6:23-26

Tags: Lust, temptation, Sex, Fire, biblical sexuality  (view more)  (view less)

Store Away The Criticisms For Tuesday Morning (And 3 More Great Suggestions)

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 30, 2019

One of the most dangerous times for a pastor are the hours following his Sunday sermon.

Tags: Preaching, Criticism, dangerous, criticism, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Power Of Simplicity… Part 1

By Lance Witt on Aug 28, 2023

I really do believe that many of the people you pastor are looking for simplicity.

Tags: focus, Simplicity, simplify, calling

Top 10 Tips For Handling Church Critics

By Charles Stone on Aug 9, 2024

Charles Stone encourages pastors to use discernment when receiving criticism with these ten tips.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Dear Preacher: Remind Us Of The Mercy

By John Blase on Oct 25, 2021

John Blase writes an open letter to pastors everywhere asking for one consistent theme.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

What It Really Means To Preach Grace

By Dr. Richard Ganz on May 3, 2025

How a chance encounter changed one pastor's preaching forever, all because of a misunderstanding.

Tags: Evangelism, Scripture, Arrogance, Share, unbeliever, evangelism, Unbeliever  (view more)  (view less)

Why Don't More Seminaries Teach A Method For Building A Sermon?

By SermonCentral .com on Aug 17, 2021

Listen to this professor of homiletics discuss what's been left undone in most pastors' education.

Scripture: John 4:34-38

Tags: preaching, Preaching, Seminary, build, dennis prutow  (view more)  (view less)

Joe Mckeever: 3 Vital Reasons To Tell Stories In Your Preaching

By Joe Mckeever on Sep 11, 2025

There are a thousand reasons for dropping the occasional story into your sermon, pastor. Here are the top three.

Scripture: Exodus 17:8-16

Tags: Preaching, storytelling, stories, preaching

Preaching Through Cultural Chaos

By Mark Dance on Oct 8, 2025

Mark Dance: “Pastors do not need to be pushy, but neither do we need to be pushovers.”

Tags: Preaching, preaching

11 Reasons To Protect Your Spirit From The Demands Of Ministry

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 8, 2021

Pastoral ministry can be hazardous to our spiritual health. But it doesn’t need to be.

Tags: Preaching

Death To Dancing Bears

By Lance Witt on May 31, 2022

“Sometimes as a worship pastor,” he said, “I feel like a dancing bear. It’s my job to get up and perform for the crowd, and as long as the performance is good, everyone is happy. Except me. Something is missing and I don’t know what to do.”

Tags: Ministry, burnout, pastoral leadership, Lost Focus, People Over Programs, ministry  (view more)  (view less)

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)

A Step-By-Step Approach To Efficient Sermon Preparation

By Brandon Kelley on Jun 27, 2022

A Step-by-Step Approach to Efficient Sermon Preparation

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

The Radical Experiment: One Year To A Church Turned Upside Down

By David Platt on Jan 14, 2025

David Platt dares pastors and their congregations to take a leap of faith and test the claims contained in the gospel.

Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38

Tags: Faith, Outreach, Gospel, Missions, Prayer, radical, Evangelism Urgency, Gospel obedience, gospel, Gospel Obedience  (view more)  (view less)