In Preaching Articles: "Prayer General"

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:

4 Attributes Of Powerful Preaching

By Kevin Deyoung on Jan 29, 2025

Kevin DeYoung presents four qualities of what he calls "truly good preaching–-the kind that resonates with people and the kind God tends to employ."

Scripture: Matthew 7:28-29

Tags: Preaching, Authenticity, Clarity, Veracity, Authority, Leadership General, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

When Is A Sermon Good Enough?

By Stephen Gregory on Jul 16, 2024

What is a good sermon? How can I preach with confidence a message I have not had time to polish? Who am I seeking to please, anyway? Stephen Gregory seeks answers to these questions.

Scripture: Proverbs 16:3

Tags: Church, Preaching, pastor, Communication General, Pastor, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Do You Know The 4 Pillars Of Guest Preaching?

By Pete Wilson on Jan 6, 2023

Pete Wilson: "Don’t make controversial statements the church staff is going to have to clean up later."

Tags: Communication, Teaching, Preaching, Church General, communication, preaching, teaching  (view more)  (view less)

Allowing The Spirit To Take Control Of Your Sermon

By Leslie Holmes on Apr 17, 2025

Somewhere inside most of us who preach lingers the need to be in control. It's what we do best, but being in control is the worst thing we can be when it comes to preaching!

Tags: Holy Spirit, Preaching, Triune, Holy Spirit General, preaching  (view more)  (view less)

What Do We Mean When We Say Church?

By Dr. Rowan Williams on May 13, 2023

Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams presents a surprising--and thoughtful--view of what it means to be the church. See if you agree.

Scripture: Matthew 28:18-20

Tags: Church, Body, Church Body of Christ, Church General, church  (view more)  (view less)

7 Things Bad Leaders Say

By Carey Nieuwhof on Jun 24, 2020

Here are 7 things bad leaders say. I only know this, because, over the years, I’ve caught myself thinking or even saying some of these things.

Tags: Independence, gratitude, self awareness, Leadership General, Bad leadership  (view more)  (view less)

How Do You Lead Without Being Toxic?

By Rev Mac Mccarthy on Dec 21, 2021

When leadership does not transition to development in a timely way, it becomes toxic.

Tags: leadership, Healthy Church, Leadership General, church leadership, Leadership  (view more)  (view less)

Shut Down The Bus Tours: What Older Members Should Really Be Doing

By Carey Nieuwhof on Aug 9, 2023

What if this one generation actually just sacrificed for the sake of another? What if they gave up their preferences in music, style and taste so that others could come to know Christ?

Tags: God's family, Life Mission, mission, Intergenerational

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

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, Bible Study, Pastoral Ministry, Sermon Preparation, bible study, preaching, teaching, sermon preparation  (view more)  (view less)

14 Ways To Help Unborn Babies And Their Mothers

By Randy Alcorn on Mar 9, 2020

A practical guide offering 14 concrete ways Christians can champion the pro-life cause through service, advocacy, education, generosity, and prayer.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20, Psalm 139:1-24

Tags: Church, Preaching, Abortion, mothers, Sanctity of Life, preaching, church  (view more)  (view less)

Shake Up Your Christmas Messages: 7 New Approaches

By Peter Mead on Dec 5, 2020

You might be getting excited, or dreading another Christmas and the need to generate more messages when the obvious options feel well worn. Here are some other angles to consider.

Scripture: Philippians 2:6-11

Tags: Theme, Preaching, obvious, prophecies, preaching  (view more)  (view less)