In Preaching Articles: "Pastoral Life"

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)

Liquid Teams

By Lance Witt on Nov 28, 2023

What are the makings of an exceptional team?

Scripture: Ephesians 4:16

Tags: Leadership, team building, pastoral leadership, church ministry, church leadership, Team Dynamics, e, leadership, strategy, Teamwork  (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: church ministry, Empowering Others, Effective Leadership, Leadership, leadership, relationships, Accountability, Performance, Feedback, Pastoral Ministry, Humility  (view more)  (view less)

The Most Important Ingredient For Rebuke

By Marshall Segal on Nov 1, 2022

"The recipe for good rebuke involves far more than one ingredient, but one ingredient may be the most important."

Tags: Christian Love, Biblical truth, pastoral leadership, rebuking sin, Repentance, repentance, Word of God, brotherly love, patience  (view more)  (view less)

5 Marks Of A Mature Leader

By Brandon Cox on Jul 3, 2024

Your body’s physical maturity typically peaks in early adulthood, but your spiritual maturity will keep growing even into eternity.

Tags: church leadership, Leadership Traits, Humble, godly character, Godly Leaders, Leadership Listening, Encourage Others, pastoral leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Don’t Try To Be Successful, Try To Do Good Work

By Karl Vaters on Jul 4, 2024

A minister with a well-nourished soul may or may not have a big church, but they’ll always have a healthy ministry.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-11, 1 Corinthians 4:2

Tags: leadership, Faithfulness, Good Works, pastoral leadership, success in ministry, church leadership, measuring success, serving faithfully, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

The Greatest Gift You Give Your Team- Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jul 11, 2024

This week work at paying attention to your soul. Listen to your emotions. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what is going on beneath the surface of all your “doing”.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 7:1, John 16:32, John 16:32

Tags: Approval, personal holiness, Growth in Christ, pastoral leadership, God's Approval, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care  (view more)  (view less)

When In Doubt, Don’t Quit

By SermonCentral .com on Mar 31, 2021

It may be harder to be happy in life and ministry than it’s ever been. From our earliest days, we have lived in an echo chamber, to varying degrees, of the voices of self-actualization. You can do whatever you set your mind to. Pursue your dreams. Find your passion — and make it profitable.

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:11, Colossians 4:17

Tags: Service, endurance, passion, Obstacles

How I Write A Sermon

By Bruce Frank on Aug 17, 2020

Bruce Frank, lead pastor of of Biltmore Baptist Church, one of the top 50 fastest-growing churches in America, shares his sermon prep process.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-16, 2 Samuel 11:1-15, 2 Timothy 2:15

Tags: Heart, Study, repent, circumcise, Sword, Reject  (view more)  (view less)

10 Reasons Not To Give An Altar Call

By Thabiti Anyabwile on Mar 13, 2020

This article outlines key reasons many pastors avoid altar calls, arguing that the practice lacks biblical precedent, creates confusion, and obscures true conversion.

Tags: Evangelism, evangelism, Biblical Ecclesiology

The Best Way To Avoid Ministry Burnout That You Keep Forgetting

By Eric Bryant on Aug 5, 2024

Exodus 18 exposes leadership myths that exhaust pastors and shows how shared leadership restores health, disciples others, and strengthens God’s people.

Scripture: Exodus 18:1-27, Numbers 11:16-17, Deuteronomy 1:9-13, Acts 6:1-7, 2 Timothy 2:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Team Development

The 4 Pillars Of Guest Preaching

By Pete Wilson on Jan 6, 2023

Guest speakers can bless churches or burden them. Here are practical ways to honor the pastor, respect the house, and communicate well without creating chaos.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:40, Hebrews 13:17, Philippians 2:3, 1 Peter 4:10-11, Colossians 3:23  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Communication, Teaching, leadership, Preaching, Leadership, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Rightly Dividing The Preaching Load

By Larry Osborne on Mar 19, 2025

Sharing the pulpit can strengthen a church, sustain its pastor, and deepen preaching impact by developing trusted co-preachers instead of a one-man show.

Scripture: Acts 20:28, 2 Timothy 4:2, Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 1 Peter 5:2-4  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Sermon Preparation, sermon preparation

The Strengths And Weaknesses Of Two Popular Preaching Styles

By Brady Boyd on Apr 25, 2020

Brady Boyd: "I think both approaches have merit for the local church and it’s the job of the pastor to listen to what God is saying and obey."

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16

Tags: Biblical Interpretation