In Preaching Articles: "Personal Life"

The Double-Edged Sword Of Ambition

By Lance Witt on Jul 10, 2024

Ambition is a blessing and a curse. When it is God-directed and Spirit-managed, it can bear tremendous fruit. But when it is hijacked by self and ego, it can leave a wake of destruction in its path.

Tags: Faithfulness, motivation, Ambition, Rest in Christ, pastoral leadership, personal holiness, entering God's rest, ministry vision  (view more)  (view less)

What Distracts You While You're Preaching?

By SermonCentral .com on Oct 6, 2021

For preachers, distractions are a way of life, but they are no less annoying.

Scripture: Nehemiah 8:1-15

Tags: Preaching, Listen, Distract

Why Growth Is Harder In A Small Church – And Change Is Essential

By SermonCentral .com on Apr 30, 2021

Big churches find it much easier to incorporate new people because the bigger the crowd, the smaller the impact each person has.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 10:19-20

Tags: Change, Visitors, Small Church, Christ in us

7 Ways To Help New Staff Members Succeed

By Ron Edmondson on Apr 23, 2022

Getting a new person started in a good way is probably equal to finding the right people – especially if we hope to keep them.

Tags: leadership, staff, church staffing, good start, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Preacher’s Tip: If You Can Keep From Preaching, Do It

By H.b. Charles, Jr. on Nov 6, 2020

Pastor H.B. Charles, Jr. shares a personal story about a powerful preaching insight he received from his father.

Tags: Preaching, advice, insight, Improve

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, work, hard work, Bi vocational, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

How Do I Study A Specific Topic In The Bible?

By SermonCentral .com on Sep 7, 2022

Studying the Bible does not need to be complex. Simple tools can help us glean amazing insights from the word.

Scripture: Proverbs 2:3-6, Jeremiah 29:13, 2 Timothy 2:7

Tags: BIBLE STUDY, Personal Growth, writing, spiritual growth, Bible Study, Spiritual Discipline, Journaling, Concordance, bible study  (view more)  (view less)

New Year, New Adjective: "Christ-Exalting”

By John Piper on Dec 27, 2022

My aim here is to encourage you to make “Christ-exalting” the featured adjective in your prayers. Let me explain what I mean. Then I’ll give you three reasons why I think this would be a great New Year’s resolution.

Scripture: Philippians 1:20, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Tags: Prayer, Resolution, Personal Growth, exalting christ, daily prayer, new years, Christ Centered, New Years Resolution  (view more)  (view less)

Leave Your Secret Sin Behind Today

By Jon Bloom on Dec 6, 2022

God can turn a day of reckoning into a day of amnesty. But he’s calling today. Come out of the dungeon.

Scripture: Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 23:19, Hebrews 3:13, Jeremiah 17:9

Tags: Character, Judgment, repentance, God's Grace, God's mercy, Confession of Sin, hardened heart, personal holiness, judgment, Repentance  (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, Growth in Christ, pastoral leadership, God's Approval, Guarding your heart, motives, soul care, personal holiness  (view more)  (view less)

It's All About The Groom

By Lance Witt on Apr 12, 2024

In a healthy church Jesus is the most famous person. He gets the most airtime, he is the most talked about, and he is clearly center stage.

Scripture: Revelation 19:7, John 3:29, Song of Songs 8:1-4

Tags: Church Health, Pastoral Character, fixing eyes on Jesus, Christ Centered

A Category You Won’t Find In The Bible: The Churchless Christian

By Thabiti Anyabwile on Oct 27, 2022

"It is important for Christians to be members of a local church because the New Testament apostles can’t conceive of anything called a Christian that’s not connected to Christ’s body."

Tags: Church, Discipleship, Christian Life, Healthy Church, Called to serve, local church, be the church, Church Body of Christ, Christian community, church  (view more)  (view less)

How To Preach Like A Combat Medic

By Chris Surber on Apr 22, 2025

Can you bring the goods when life and death are at stake?

Tags: Preaching, preaching

A Crucial Question: The Why Of Expository Preaching

By SermonCentral .com on Nov 1, 2024

It's not just academic; it's essential for life-giving sermons.

Scripture: Numbers 6:24-27, Joshua 6:6-27, Joshua 4:5-16

Tags: Preaching, Expository, Essential, Academic, preaching, expository  (view more)  (view less)

How To Review Your Year For A Better New Year

By SermonCentral .com on Dec 29, 2022

Watch your life closely. Examine it. Review it.

Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:16, Jeremiah 17:10

Tags: New Year, Time of Reflection, New Year's Reflection, setting goals