In Preaching Articles: "People Over Programs"

What Do I Do With Church Members Who Hate Me?

By Brian Croft on Nov 23, 2021

At this point, some of you may be thinking these kinds of people are a good reason to leave and start over, but I submit to you they are actually a good reason to stay and endure. Why are these difficult people a good reason to stay and endure?

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Loving Muslims Begins With Honesty

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 23, 2020

Do Christians and Muslims worship the same deity? It has become one of the most pressing and controversial questions in the world in the last fifteen years.

Scripture: 1 John 5:12, John 8:19, John 5:42-43, John 5:23

Tags: Islam, World Religions, disagreement, loving people, Identity of Jesus, what Muslims believe  (view more)  (view less)

Can We Please Stop Preaching About All The Good People In The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 29, 2019

The way we have traditionally approached character-based sermons has a tremendous flaw.

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Addressing Your Blind Spots In The Pulpit

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Jul 21, 2020

Do your sermons address the same themes over and over? You might have a few blind spots in your preaching.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 4:13-15, Ephesians 4:13

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Dallas Willard: Preaching From A Satisfied Soul

By Dallas Willard on Apr 17, 2020

True preaching flows from deep satisfaction in Christ. When pastors rest in God, their message carries peace, power, and authenticity that programs can’t produce.

Scripture: Psalm 16:11, John 7:37-38, Philippians 4:11-13, Psalm 62:1-2, Jeremiah 2:13  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Peace, Preaching, Satisfaction, soul care, preaching, Soul Care  (view more)  (view less)

How Do We (Or Should We) Motivate Our People To Read The Bible?

By Peter Mead on Oct 3, 2019

"We should be concerned when there is a lack of motivation for God's Word--both in our own lives and in those we care about."

Tags: Accountability, motivate, read Bible, preaching, Preaching  (view more)  (view less)

When People Make Up Stories About You: A Pastor’s Guide To Handling Labels

By Charles Stone on Jul 30, 2024

Pastors are often misunderstood and mischaracterized. Responding with wisdom, restraint, and Christlike character helps transform false stories into God-honoring ones.

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:12

Tags: Church Relationships

Do You Know Your Pulpit Blind Spots?

By Sherman Haywood Cox on Feb 12, 2023

Are you preaching the same thing over and over again but don't know it? Sherman Cox offers practical steps to avoid this often overlooked preaching rut.

Scripture: Ephesians 4:13

Tags: Preaching, preaching

Update Your First Impression

By Chet Gladkowski on Jun 21, 2020

Churches often obsess over greeters and giveaways while ignoring the real first impression: their digital presence, unified message, and attention to detail. These oversights quietly drive people away before they ever walk through the doors.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:8, Habakkuk 2:2, Colossians 4:6, Proverbs 11:14, Matthew 28:19-20  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: strategy, Strategy

Four Reasons To Slow Down

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 5, 2022

We cannot love what we do not linger over.

Scripture: Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:10, 2 Peter 3:9, Galatians 5:22

Tags: Transformation, Rest, soul care, Change is a Process, Looking back to go f  (view more)  (view less)

The Best Way To Promote Church Growth? Support Small Churches

By SermonCentral .com on Jan 26, 2021

I want as many people as possible, all over the world, to know Jesus. The good news of the gospel can’t be confined within the walls of my church, the distinctives of my denomination, the borders of my country, or the customs of my culture.

Tags: Support, Preaching, Church Growth, Small Church

5 Tips For Leading The Commuter Generation

By Rick Ezell on Apr 7, 2020

Long work hours and long commutes drain time, energy, and family life. Churches can adapt by streamlining programs, removing guilt, offering flexible options, redeeming commute time, and modeling unhurried lives.

Scripture: Philippians 4:6

Tags: Outreach

Pastor And Prophet

By Lance Witt on May 10, 2024

"When it comes to our preaching, we live in the constant tension between pastor and prophet. On one hand, as pastors we want to encourage and care for the sheep. So, in our preaching we want to be uplifting and hopeful. On the other hand, as prophets we must sometimes say the hard things that the sheep don’t want to hear."

Scripture: Jeremiah 5:30-31, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Galatians 1:10

Tags: Teaching, Preaching, Pride, People pleasing, pastoral leadership, selfish ambition, Pastoral Ministry, Pulpit Ministry, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

7 Phrases Christians Like To Say That Aren’t True

By Lori Hatcher on May 30, 2024

"We’ve all heard them—phrases that sound wise, insightful, and biblical. But are they really? Let’s look at some common sayings, compare them to the Bible, and see if they hold up."

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, James 1:14, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 John 3:10, Daniel 10:11, Psalm 148:2  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Theology, Know the Truth, Biblical truth, chosen people, Enduring Hardship, help in temptation, guard the truth, Contending for truth  (view more)  (view less)

10 Disciplines Of A Godly Pastor

By Dr. R. Kent Hughes on Jul 8, 2022

Our ultimate trust is always in God's persevering grace, nevertheless, we are called to cultivate godly action in our lives. Here are 10 disciplines shared by a pastor with over 40 years of experience in faithfully serving the Lord and shepherding God's people.

Tags: Perseverance, endurance, leadership, Accountability, pastoral leadership, Discipline, Pastoral Ministry, church ministry, The Long View, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)