In Preaching Articles: "Pastoral Self Care"

Your Struggling Church Can Turn Around Today – But Greatness Takes Time

By Karl Vaters on Aug 23, 2023

If you’re pastoring a church that has or is turning around, here's some great news - and possibly your greatest challenge.

Scripture: Revelation 21:5

Tags: leadership, renewal, patience, Church Health, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Some Things I Have Learned About Leadership–and Have The Scars To Prove

By Joe Mckeever on Aug 18, 2022

To serve people “for Jesus’ sake” means we ask Him how to serve them.

Scripture: Matthew 25:21-23, Romans 13:7, Luke 12:48, 2 Corinthians 4:5, Luke 22:27, Mark 10:43-44  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Humility and Pride, Leadership, leadership, serve others, pastoral leadership, selfish ambition, servant leadership  (view more)  (view less)

3 Ways Great Leaders Handle Tough Circumstances Differently

By Carey Nieuwhof on Dec 8, 2023

If you want to imitate the great leaders when you face challenging situations, do these three things.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:11, Psalm 62:5, Philippians 3:12

Tags: Tough Circumstances, Mindset, Leadership, leadership, success, Obstacles, opposition, pastoral leadership, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Preachers Never Say – Pt.2

By Peter Mead on May 8, 2024

This series looks at seven things preachers never say. Last time we thought about the burden of expectation. How about this for another: The negative outcomes of both criticism and apathy.

Tags: church ministry, Negative Response, Backbiting, criticism, Criticism, Apathy, Gossip, slander, Pastoral Ministry  (view more)  (view less)

3 Levels Of Leadership: Are Your Leaders In The Right Place?

By Brandon Kelley on Sep 5, 2022

Every church has leaders, but not every church has leaders in the right place. If there’s a person in the wrong place in leadership, extensive damage can be done.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:12

Tags: Leader of Others, Leadership, leadership, Teamwork, Dependability, pastoral leadership, servant leadership, church leadership  (view more)  (view less)

What To Do With Information Overload

By Ron Edmondson on Oct 25, 2022

"One struggle I’ve witnessed consistently with leaders – including this one – is we drown in information overload. There are more good ideas than we can ever implement."

Tags: pastoral leadership, leadership capacity, good leadership, Leadership, Technology, leadership, organization, effective, productivity  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Believe In Miracles? Part 1

By Lance Witt on Jun 11, 2024

How do you define a "win" in ministry?

Tags: church ministry, Mental Toughness, Leadership, leadership, success, goals, pastoral leadership, success in ministry  (view more)  (view less)

How To Attract And Keep Amazing Volunteers You Can’t Afford To Pay

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jul 12, 2024

If you want to attract and keep great people, value them.

Tags: church leadership, Respect, Volunteer, Volunteerism, Leadership Listening, pastoral leadership, Good leaders, Trust  (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

John Piper: Preach The Word

By John Piper on May 16, 2025

"No other pastoral duty should be treated as solemnly and forcefully as this one simple exhortation from the Apostle Paul: Preach the Word."

Tags: bible, Bible, Preaching, the word, teach, e, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

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: picture, passage, point, Preaching

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