In Preaching Articles: "Paul On Prayer"

The One Time Jesus Prayed For You (Part 2)

By Lance Witt on Apr 4, 2024

“What does true “unity” look like practically? If Jesus’ prayer was answered, what would be the evidence?”

Scripture: Romans 12:10, Acts 4:32-35

Tags: Generosity, christian unity, Church Unity, local church purpose

Does Your Soul Have A Backbone?

By Lance Witt on Aug 7, 2023

Over the last few years my single most consistent prayer has been for spiritual courage.

Tags: suffering, Courage, People pleasing, intimacy with Christ

Bivocational? 4 Ways It Makes You A Better Preacher

By Adam Russell on Oct 26, 2021

Noah built a boat, Boaz was a farmer, Peter was a fisherman, Paul was a tentmaker and Jesus was a carpenter--they all had a common life before they had an extraordinary life.

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: preaching, Preaching, work, hard work, Bi vocational  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Jesus Using The Psalms

By Jason Hood on Oct 8, 2024

Luther, Spurgeon, and Bonhoeffer saw Jesus as one of the chief subjects of the Psalms. Do you?

Scripture: Psalm 41:1-3, Psalm 119:105, Psalm 23:1-6

Tags: Meekness, church fathers, Prayer Adoration, preaching, Psalms, Praise, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

5 Excellent Reasons To Develop A Preaching Calendar And 3 Ways To Start

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 11, 2021

The fact that God knows our story--individually and corporately, from beginning to end--means we need not specialize in "Saturday night specials."

Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

Tags: Prayer, corporate worship, preaching calendar, talk to team, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

Piper: 8 Guidelines For Tough Leadership Decisions

By John Piper on Mar 28, 2025

John Piper offers a thorough list of steps to help you launch a new leadership initiative with wisdom, prayer, and excellence.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Make Your Sermon Unforgettable—three Keys

By Tim Coressel on Oct 8, 2019

From the moment you "close in prayer," that message you labored over for hours will begin to fade in the minds of your audience.

Scripture: Isaiah 11:6-9

Tags: Preaching, passion, Real, unforgettable sermon

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:

Why Preparing Sermons Takes Me So Long

By Joe Mckeever on Jul 31, 2020

A candid walk through sermon preparation, showing how prayer, Bible study, reflection, and disciplined refinement shape faithful and Spirit-led preaching.

Scripture: Exodus 14:8-14

Tags: Teaching, Study, Preaching, BIBLE STUDY, preparation, Homiletics, sermon preparation, Bible Study, Pastoral Ministry, Sermon Preparation, bible study, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Pastors: The Ceo Has To Go

By Derek Vreeland on Aug 24, 2023

I feel the impulse to forsake the pastoral vocation of word and sacrament, prayer and disciple-making, in favor of becoming a CEO who gets things done.

Tags: liturgy, Theology, church and business, consumerism

7 Marks Of Great Preaching

By David J. Lose on Feb 4, 2025

When a sermon includes the following seven central elements, and when the Holy Spirit is present, something happens—the Word comes alive and people come to faith.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:2

Tags: Preaching, BIBLE STUDY, father's will, Bible Study, Prayer General, bible study, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

The Dangers Of Self-Righteousness: Lessons From Luke 18:9-14

By Josh Read on Oct 30, 2025

In today’s world, especially in the age of social media, it’s easy to curate a version of ourselves that looks impressive—sharing successes, opinions, and spiritual highlights while hiding our struggles. But Jesus’ parable in Luke 18:9–14 cuts straight through that façade. It reminds us that self-righteousness doesn’t bring us closer to God, it drives us further from Him.

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Romans 3:23-24, James 4:10

Tags: justification, sanctification, Repentance, Justification, Confession, Sanctification, Mercy, Parable, Prayer, confession, repentance  (view more)  (view less)

Preaching When You Are Not A Mother: Honoring Moms Without Pretending

By Joe Mckeever on Apr 30, 2020

Many pastors dread Mother’s Day sermons. This article shows how to preach honestly when you are not a mom, honoring real struggles through Mary, prayer, and prodigal hope.

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56

Tags: Holidays, Preaching, pastor, mothers, mother's day, Motherhood, Pastoral Ministry, Pastor, preaching, sermon ideas, Sermon Ideas  (view more)  (view less)

Ten Principles For Pastors Leading Plateaued Churches

By Joe Mckeever on Dec 13, 2022

Many churches plateau, but pastors don’t have to. These ten principles guide leaders toward renewal through prayer, humility, small improvements, and practical, Spirit-led steps.

Tags: Church, Growth, leadership, pastor, Church Growth, Apathy, Shepherding, church, Pastoral Leadership, Plateaue, Ministry Health, Fail, Leadership General, pastoral leadership, shepherding, Pastor, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Jesus Using The Psalms

By Jason Hood on Feb 12, 2025

We can find Jesus all over the Psalms, because the Psalms are his prayer book that points to him. And when we find Jesus in the Psalms, we also find ourselves.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21

Tags: Old Testament, New Testament, Creation, Jesus, Preaching, preaching  (view more)  (view less)