In Preaching Articles: "Pastoral Life"

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, Preaching, repeat, twice

Great Sermons Flow From Strong Practices: Here Are 4 Of The Best

By Artie Davis on Jan 14, 2020

Veteran pastor Artie Davis gives a practical example of how intentionality makes a difference between a good sermon and consistently great ones.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Is Your Preaching Missing This Key Component?

By Lance Witt on Jan 7, 2021

As a pastor I am embarrassed to admit this, but prayer has often been a struggle for me. And yet, it is crucial to our success in preaching.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4

Tags:

10 Preaching Questions With Tim Keller

By Colin Adams on Mar 10, 2020

Tim Keller reflects on the discipline of preaching, explaining how practice, pastoral work, warmth, clarity, and Christ-centeredness shape a preacher over time.

Scripture: Matthew 7:1-5

Tags: Exposition, blood, Preaching, tim keller, Sermon Preparation, preaching, Tim Keller, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

2 Rules For Transparency In The Pulpit

By Brady Boyd on Feb 21, 2025

Pastors should be honest, but honesty must be wise. True vulnerability builds hope, not confusion, and protects both the flock and loved ones from harm.

Scripture: John 1:1-14

Tags: Preaching, Honesty, Authenticity, Struggles, Transparency, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Study: What Preachers Won't Preach About

By Toni Ridgaway on Mar 28, 2020

Over half of pastors avoid certain topics for fear of losing attendees. This report raises hard questions about courage, clarity, and faithfulness in preaching.

Scripture: Acts 20:17-32

Tags: Preaching, preaching, Biblical Faithfulness

6 Benefits To Not Changing Churches

By Dean Shriver on Jul 10, 2021

Staying with one congregation models commitment, grows maturity, deepens preaching, builds trust, reveals generational fruit, and prepares pastors for final accountability.

Scripture: Colossians 3:13-14, Colossians 3:13, John 10:11-13, James 1:2-4, Hebrews 13:17  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Ministry, Church, mistakes, affliction, Leave, ministry, church  (view more)  (view less)

Would A Ten-Minute Sermon Work?

By Ed Cyzewski on Aug 1, 2020

One parishioner said, "If a sermon were a practical, 10-minute exposition of scripture, I’d be happy." Would you be happy, Pastor?

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

Tags: Preaching

Four Dangerous Ways To Preach About Hell

By Dr. R. Larry Moyer on Aug 23, 2021

The farmer said, "Preach about the meek and lowly Jesus." The pastor answered, "That’s where I got my information about hell."

Tags: Hell, Preaching, Context, dangerous, preaching, context  (view more)  (view less)

5 Ways Ministry Leaders Start The Journey To Failure

By Ron Edmondson on Aug 1, 2022

One of the hardest things I do in ministry is interact with those who are no longer in ministry, but wish they were. They’ve been derailed. They messed up and either they got caught or the guilt got the best of them and they confessed. Watching this process over the years there appear to be some common reasons failure occurs. It doesn’t start at the failure. It starts months – and, perhaps years – prior. My hope is if we expose some of them we can catch a few people before it is too late.

Tags: leadership, e, Leadership, pastoral leadership, avoiding trouble, avoiding burnout, church ministry, Leadership Failure, Exposing Blindspots  (view more)  (view less)

Six Details To Include In Your Church Staff Bios

By SermonCentral .com on Jul 14, 2022

When we talk with first-time guests about church websites, many of them share their surprise that the website fails to include bios or any information other than a name for the church staff.

Tags: Digital Strategy, Executive Pastor, Church Bio, connect, Healthy Church, Connect, Clarity, church ministry, Church Website  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways To Collaborate In Sermon Preparation

By Joe Hoagland on Aug 5, 2022

Have you ever considered how you might collaborate in sermon prep?

Scripture: Joshua 1:1

Tags: teaching, sermon prep, working together, collaboration, Teaching Prep, Sermon Prep, preaching, Teaching, Preaching, Pastoral Ministry  (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, Leadership, Pastoral Ministry, disasters, church ministry, Leadership Failure, Moral failure, Church Crisis  (view more)  (view less)

Handling A Hurricane Part 3

By Lance Witt on May 6, 2024

In a storm, it is helpful to have a plan, but it is even more important to have clear, decisive leadership in the midst of everything being blown apart.

Tags: Leadership Failure, Relational Dynamics, Leadership, Perseverance, leadership, resolving conflict, pastoral leadership, overcoming sin, church ministry  (view more)  (view less)

What If We Made Disciples And Left Church Growth To God?

By Karl Vaters on Sep 6, 2022

If we prioritized health, not as a means to growth, but as an end in itself, would we be in a greater position to represent Jesus to the world?

Tags: great commission, pastoral leadership, church ministry, Growth Strategy, Equip the Saints, Discipleship, Church Growth, Make Disciples  (view more)  (view less)